The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series continued this weekend in the third new venue of the 2024 series: the trails of the Aletsch Arena in Bellwald, Valais, Switzerland. Poor weather in Valais pushed the weekend’s action back by a day, so Sunday saw a double-header of brilliant action across the UCI Enduro and E-enduro World Cups, happening on the same day for the first time.
The UCI Enduro World Cup featured five stages totalling 54.5km, including 4,591m of descending and 1,583m of total elevation gain (including liaisons), while the UCI E-enduro event involved a gruelling nine stages totalling 76.3km course with 5,899m descent and 2,677m of total elevation gain (including liaisons).
The Alpine hills of the Aletsch Glacier witnessed a thrilling day of racing and will host the riders once again next year, as the home of the 2025 UCI Enduro and E-enduro World Championships. The inaugural battle for the rainbow stripes across these disciplines takes place in just two months’ time, as the riders will descend on Val di Fassa Trentino, Italy on 14-15 September for the sport’s biggest prizes.
In the Men’s Elite UCI Enduro World Cup, Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) continues to hold prime position to defend his 2023 overall title, but the American couldn’t pull off the series win in Valais, coming third. He was 21 seconds behind Jack Moir (YT MOB), who won the final three stages of the five-stage course and came second on the first two to log an impressive win.
Rude’s teammate Slawomir Lukasik bested him to second place, coming in 14 seconds down on Moir and with the teammates sharing the spoils at one stage win each. But Rude still has a 342-point lead over the Pole and the teammates still look poised to make it a Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team one-two at the end of the UCI World Cup. It was another good weekend for Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team, who remain top of the Team Standings.
Speaking after the race, Rude said: “It was tough, I feel like I didn’t perform that great on stages 1 and 4, my legs didn’t feel like they were there. When it went downhill on stage 2, I felt like I was on it, it was a tough day for sure. I wanted to be up there, and I definitely had the confidence to do that but struggled to find the pace on 1 and 4 and Jack (Moir) was just on it all day, so it was hard to keep that pace. But for the overall, this is the perfect place to be.”
Isabeau Courdurier (Lapierre Zipp Collective) had been looking strong at the top of the Women’s Elite UCI Enduro World Cup overall standings, but with just one series left to decide the title there’s still time for one of her challengers to spring a surprise.
And that’s what happened in Valais: the 2023 title winner finished third in the Aletsch Arena as Harriet Harnden (Trek Factory Racing Gravity) inched closer to her in the overall standings by taking victory this weekend, her second of the series.
The Brit won stages 1 and 4, while compatriot Ella Conolly kept the pressure on Courdurier as she pipped her to second place by less than two seconds. The Frenchwoman came in 30 seconds down and now has just a 63-point advantage over Harnden in the overall, while Conolly moves into third another 322 points back.
Speaking after the race, Harden said: “It’s amazing, I can’t believe I actually put it together. A lot of mistakes but obviously it was still really good. One more race left, the overall is super tight so it’s really exciting. I’m just going to be giving it my best for the overall.”
In the Women’s U21 race Canada’s Elly Hoskin got the better of Simona Kuchynkova, who had to settle for third place despite winning one stage. Hoskin produced a brilliantly consistent performance to take her first series win, which was all the more impressive because of some early mistakes including a crash on stage 1. She took second on the first three stages before winning the final two to edge out compatriot Emmy Lam (Forbidden Synthesis Team) by 37.466 seconds to the overall victory. Kuchynkova was another 11 seconds behind but remains top of the overall standings, 160 points ahead of Hoskin.
Hoskin said: “It feels exceptional, that was such a hard day, and I wasn’t expecting it to be my day at all! Everything came together from a crash in the first corner of the first stage, I was like, I guess I’m shooting for stage wins now. Priorities shifted but it was a good day. Stage 2, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy that stage as much, but it came together really well in the race. That’s when I was like, maybe this is a good day.”
The top three in the Men’s U21 race came home in exactly that order, with just under 12 seconds the leading trio after a tightly contested battle across the nine stages. Bailey Christie (Theory Racing) is now just two points ahead of Jt Fisher (YETI / FOX FACTORY RACE TEAM) in the overall standings, with the Australian’s victory in stages 1 and 4 sealing the series as he finished eight seconds ahead of his American rival.
Third-placed Sascha Kim (Giant Factory Off-Road Team-EDR) now sits 168 points off Christie’s pace but produced another consistent performance – including a win on stage 3 – to make it a thrilling three-way contest. He moved 33 points clear of Wei Tien Ho in the overall standings after the Canadian – who had topped the table in earlier rounds – could only finish 39th.
In the Men’s Elite UCI E-Enduro World Cup, Australia’s Ryan Gilchrist (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) resumed his battle for overall top spot with Manuel Soares José Borges (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Enduro Team).
The two have swapped places numerous times over the course of this series and this time the Australian came out on top. Gilchrist won three of the nine stages to emerge victorious in Bellwald, ahead of Kevin Marry (Lapierre Zipp Collective) in second and Borges in third. The Australian now has a healthy 119-point lead over his Portuguese rival in the overall standings with Marry a further 438 points back in the bronze medal position as it stands.
Speaking after the race, Gilchrist said: “Everyone was hurting just as much but it feels really good, knowing the prep’s there to be able to lay down the watts where necessary. I really like being able to win in a fashion that’s convincing. I love battling with these riders and to come out on top is special. To be able to have this win and this jersey on my shoulders a little bit more firmly than last race feels great. Leader’s jersey doesn’t lie, I’m happy about it, I’m proud of it, and I want to keep it!”
In the Women’s Elite Florencia Espiñeira Herreros (Orbea Fox Enduro Team) continued her total dominance of the competition, winning her second consecutive series title. The Chilean logged four 1st places, three 2nd places and two 3rd places across the nine-stage course to finish nearly half a minute ahead of closest challenger Raphaela Richter. She now has what feels like an impassable 721-point lead over Laura Charles, who sits second overall but could only manage 7th in Bellwald, Valais.
Speaking at the end of a physical and challenging race, Espiñeira Herreros said: “I’m happy for getting through this day, it was very tough, even happier to take the win. It was a big battle with Rapha so, good day! I took it stage by stage, trying to go fast in every single one. I never stopped attacking.”
After this penultimate weekend of racing the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series now takes a break to focus on the upcoming Paris Olympics. The series will resume in Loudenvielle - Peyragudes on 6-8 September to crown the UCI Enduro World Cup winners.
