After a thrilling Cross-Country and Downhill double header in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France), the Enduro and E-enduro action resumes to conclude six weekends of back-to-back mountain biking action. There’s no letup either, and riders will be tasked with tackling the trails of Aletsch Arena - Bellwald, Valais, Switzerland – the third new venue of the 2024 series.
What’s more, while it might only be mid-July, we’re now entering the crucial phase of this year’s WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Each format has just one or two UCI World Cup rounds remaining, and every position or point could make all the difference; championships could be won or lost in the blink of an eye.
Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team), Isabeau Courdurier (Lapierre Zipp Collective), Ryan Gilchrist (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) and Florencia Espiñeira Herreros (Orbea Fox Enduro Team) lead their respective series, but if the last round in Combloux, Haute-Savoie, proved anything, it’s that there are a long line of riders ready to pounce when the opportunity arises.
EPIC, DESCENT-HEAVY DAYS OUT
Although Aletsch Arena - Bellwald, Valais, is making its WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series debut, it’s the second time the series has visited the Swiss canton this year, following Crans-Montana’s hosting of the Endurance action back in June’s hosting of the Endurance action back in June.
The Enduro and E-Enduro events will add some Gravity to proceedings and take place on Alestch Arena - Bellwald’s extensive trail network. Situated in the alpine-forested foothills of the mesmerising Alestch Glacier, riders and fans can expect amazing scenes around every berm and bend.
For the Alestch Arena - Bellwald, Valais’ WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series debut, the UCI Enduro World Cup will see athletes take on five stages during a 54.5km course featuring 4,591m m descent and 1,583m of total elevation gain (including liaisons), while the UCI E-enduro World Cup has nine stages across a 76.3km course with 5,899m descent and 2,677m of total elevation gain (including liaisons).
Finally, this weekend’s racing could also be an indicator of who’s likely to be a future rainbow band wearer, with Alestch Arena - Bellwald, Valais set to host the 2025 UCI Enduro and E-enduro World Championships. It will be the second UCI World Championships for the formats – the inaugural Enduro and E-enduro rainbow jerseys to be contested at Val di Fassa Trentino, Italy, in two months (14-15 September)
CAN ANYONE STOP RUDE AND COURDURIER?
Richie Rude and Isabeau Courdurier are sitting pretty at the top of their respective UCI Enduro World Cup overall standings, and it looks like it will take an almighty upset for 2023 overall title winners to not retain their crowns.
They aren’t infallible though. Rude won in Combloux, Haute-Savoie, by the skin of his teeth after being pushed all the way by Alex Rudeau (Commencal Enduro Project) – the pair both crashed on the final stage but the American had enough of a buffer to reign supreme in France. Rude’s teammate Slawomir Lukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) and Charles Murray (Specialized Enduro Team) are best placed to pounce if Rude does slip up in Switzerland, while a resurgent Rudeau has come into form just at the right time.
Courdurier also showed a chink in her armor last time out and her compatriot Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) dominated, winning five out of six stages. The Lapierre Zipp Collective rider had to settle for second-best on the day and will be looking to make amends this weekend. Her closest competitor in the overall, Harriet Harnden (Trek Factory Racing Gravity), will also be keen to bounce back after her fourth place in Combloux, Haute-Savoie, with Charre and Ella Conolly aiming to keep the pressure on.
BORGES AND GILCHRIST RESUME THEIR BATTLE, WHILE HERREROS CAN BE CROWNED CHAMPION
The UCI E-enduro World Cup has thrown up two contrasting competitions for the 2024 series. In the Men Elite, the top spot has switched numerous times between Manuel Soares José Borges (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Enduro Team) and Australian Ryan Gilchrist, and only 24 points separate the pair going into the penultimate round. While the Australian returned to the top spot after his third place in Combloux, Haute-Savoie, this one looks like it’s going to the wire and won’t be decided until Loudenvielle - Peyragudes, France, in September.
The Women Elite racing meanwhile has been a one-horse race – Florencia Espiñeira Herreros running away with the overall lead since her main rival, Tracey Moseley, confirmed she wouldn’t be competing at every round of this year’s series. While the Chilean met her match in Combloux, Haute-Savoie, with Estelle Charles (Specialized Enduro Team) doubling up to race the E-enduro and Enduro UCI World Cups, Espiñeira can claim her second consecutive series title in Aletsch Arena - Bellwald, Valais this weekend.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ENDURO ACTION UNFOLD
There will be several ways to watch the action unfold at Switzerland’s only Gravity UCI World Cup of the 2024 Series. For Sunday's Enduro and E-enduro racing, there will be live timings on the official WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series website and highlights on the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ Instagram and Facebook channels, with top stories from the race weekend to be published on the YouTube channel on Monday July 15th and broadcast on Eurosport 1 at 6.15 CET on Thursday July 18th.
