Enduro was born back in 2013 and has grown from strength to strength under the Enduro World Series banner since then. For 2023, it will be elevated to the same billing as the other race formats in the UCI World Cup and be known as the UCI Enduro World Cup (EDR).
Out of all the formats of mountain bike racing, Enduro perhaps best represents what the wider off-road riding population does at their local trails every weekend - ride up, ride down as fast as possible, repeat. And as such, it will always represent one of the most accessible entry points into mountain bike racing.
Here is everything that you need to know:
What are Enduro races like?
There are multiple timed downhill stages and competitors must take them on, in order, having ridden their way to the top of each to create one big loop. At the start of the day they are given a start time for each stage. Any late check-ins at the top of stages equal time penalties.
Courses can be around 50km total distance and typically feature five stages (although this varies depending on the venue). Passionate local organisers design these to not only link together to provide the ultimate test but to also showcase the region's best trails.
The winner is the racer with the fastest cumulative time on the stages.
What is the toughest thing about winning an Enduro?
When compared to the deep set psychology of Downhill or the elbow-to-elbow argy-bargy of cross country racing, Enduro features quite a high level of camaraderie between competitors. All the racers are out on a huge course at the same time but the bit where the winning and losing happens is taken on an individual basis.
Winning Enduro races is about consistency and seeing the big picture. Just as in golf, it’s all about the whole scorecard, not just about single victories. Of course you can win a stage, but if you finish outside the top twenty on the other four, your chances of winning the race are nil.
And just as that applies to single rounds, so too does it apply to the UCI World Cup overall title. A true test, to take the title a racer will have to master a year's worth of challenges across just about every terrain imaginable.
What are the bikes like?
Full suspension bikes of between 150-180mm of suspension travel rule the roost. Geometry-wise, enduro race bikes are the sweet spot between Cross-country distance-munching and Downhill descending. Big brakes and soft tyres rule the roost but, equally, competitors need to spend 50km+ and a maximum of 2250 vertical metres to contend with so efficiency is important too. More than any other format, enduro bikes are about balance and compromise.
There is an e-bike category (E-EDR) which includes timed uphill stages.
Many courses will feature a pass through the pits where the racers can take on technical assistance. Other than that, aside from themselves, the only people who can help with mechanicals are other racers. And everyone is on a tight schedule…
Who are the riders to watch
In the world of pro women’s Enduro racing, France rule the roost. Isabeau Courdurier took her second Enduro World Series overall title in 2022 after suffering a horrific stick-through-foot injury racing her e-MTB in the middle of the season. Courdurier’s tenacity and grit is bettered only by her bike handling and ability to round out wins, stage after stage. Her biggest challenger was Morgane Charre who took her to a final race decider.
The pro men’s Enduro World Series landscape has become dominated by four main superpowers; overall title winner, Jesse Melamed from Canada, America’s two-time champ, Richie Rude, Australia’s Jack Moir and Belgium’s Martin Maes. Pretty much any of the top 15 pro’s can get on a roll and make a claim to a win but as 2022 progressed, it was these four who really turned the screw and established themselves as the riders to beat.
