Jack Moir (YT MOB) was the surprise package on an adrenaline-filled opening day of the revamped UCI Enduro World Cup in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region (Italy) as he took control of the men’s elite race against favourite and reigning overall winner Richie Rude (Yeti / Fox Factory Team).
The spiritual home of Enduro provided the perfect setting for the discipline to return to its roots with seven stages spread across two days, that extended schedule putting more emphasis on the adventure, exploration and self-sufficiency that make the Gravity-based format such a hit.
However, that shake-up couldn’t upstage the unflappable Harriet Harnden (AON Racing - Tourne Campervans) in the women’s elite race as the reigning UCI Enduro World Cup winner stamped her authority over a new season of the competition.
And as JT Fisher (Yeti / Fox Factory Team) and Simona Kuchyňková graduated to the elite ranks, there were new pacesetters in the juniors with Melvin Almueis and Lucile Metge in pole position for day two.
Picture: © FOR Nicola Damonte
MOIR STEALS THE LIMELIGHT ON OPENING DAY
Ahead of the event, Jesse Melamed appeared the favourite to capitalise if Rude became unstuck having won here two years ago and also beaten the 2024 overall winner in Squamish last month. But Melamed hit major trouble on the opening stage as the final starter and finished dead last on Isallo Extasy, as instead Jack Moir and Sławomir Łukasik (Yeti / Fox Factory Team) set the pace over the opening 5.9km.
The towering 50-metre beech forests providing a backdrop for the opening salvos couldn’t have contrasted any more with the microscopic difference at the top as Moir led Łukasik by less than half a second before riders embarked on a tough, pioneering transition to the start of stage two with Daniel Booker and UCI Enduro World Champion Alex Rudeau the next best challengers.
Picture: © FOR Nicola Damonte
Hiroshima Mon Amour served up more of the same as Rude struggled and even a rain shower couldn’t stop Moir, as the Australian stretched his overall lead to a more comfortable three seconds and his compatriot Ryan Gilchrist moved into the top five.
Melamed found redemption on the medieval streets of Radzi village, winning on a Dolcenera stage that highlighted the best of old and new in Pietra Ligure as the most recent trail zone added to the extensive Finale Outdoor Region network.
The margins were extremely tight once again on the 1km stage as Dmitri Tordo missed out by less than half a tenth with Moir and Booker also finishing within a second of the Canadian meaning Moir holds a lead of 4.2 seconds overnight ahead of Łukasik, with Rude 20 seconds adrift.
Picture: © FOR Nicola Damonte
HARNDEN LEADS CONOLLY IN BRITISH ONE-TWO
Despite an initial wobble, Harriet Harnden had no such trouble showing she remains the rider to beat in the women’s elite category.
Ella Connolly sprung a surprise on Isallo Extasy, beating both Harnden and Morganne Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) by over four and one second respectively, though that proved to be a false dawn as her fellow Brit came roaring back on Hiroshima Mon Amour with a huge margin of victory.
Connolly still finished second as Charre arguably lost out the most, coming in almost 20 seconds back and behind Winnifred Goldsbury, before Simona Kuchyňková announced herself to the elite ranks on Dolcenera.
Last season’s U21 overall winner finished third, ahead of Charre and within three seconds of the all-conquering Harnden as Connolly was the bridesmaid yet again - though not quite by the same hair’s breadth as in the men’s stage.
A tough start for Kuchyňková means she’s likely out of the running for the overall win with Connolly 9.8 seconds away from Harnden and Charre the only other rider within half a minute, meaning day two already looks like a three-horse race for the first victory of the season.
Picture: © WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series
JUNIOR RACES REMAIN FINELY POISED
The race to lead the men’s junior standings overnight went right down to the wire thanks to Gabriel Santhuile’s stage three win helping to evaporate the monster seven-second advantage Melvin Almueis had held earlier in the day.
The Frenchman dominated the opening stage but saw his wings clipped over the next two stages as Santhuile finished just 0.336 seconds behind overall, with stage two victor Cooper Millwood in third.
Meanwhile Lucile Metge is in pole position in the women’s junior despite finishing last on Dolcenera - Elise Porta (Lapierre Gravity Collective) was quickest there and on Isallo Extasy but a torrid stage two cost her 18 crucial seconds.
205 riders took to the startline in the Enduro and E-Enduro Open events held across the four stages that the elite and junior riders will tackle on day two in Pietra Ligure, Finale Outdoor Region.
The action continues tomorrow with Enduro the sole focus this weekend in Italy, kicking off a run of five consecutive weekends of WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series thrills and spills. Harnden, Moir, Metge and Almueis will defend their overall leads across four stages on Sunday including the fearsome Fedeli alla Linea, featuring almost 700m of elevation drop over just a 3.5km trail.
