Two weeks after the opening race in Rotorua, New Zealand, the second race of the Enduro World Series will be held in Derby, Tasmania. The annoying similarity with the race in Rotorua - the heavy rain, which makes the task more difficult for the participants. Once again, the unfortunate conditions made for an exciting race, as often as the intermediate standings in the men's race changed. In the end, it was Adrien Dailly (Lapierre Gravity Republic) who celebrated his first elite victory after riding in the U21 class in 2016. However, Ireland's Greg Callaghan (Cube Action Team) was in the lead until after the sixth stage. However, a crash on the final stage cost him victory. After a rocky start, Australian Sam Hill got off to a better and better ride. Thanks to the best times on stages five and seven, he took third place behind Callaghan.

Somewhat overwhelmed after his victory, Dailly said: "I'm over the moon, but also really surprised. After winning at U21 level in 2016, my first elite victory is a huge thing. But I also liked the courses here in Derby and the spectators created an incredible atmosphere despite the rain!"

The race was not so lucky for Maxime Chapuis. In fact, his misfortune began before the race when his and his Swiss colleagues' bikes were stolen. Chapuis has to start with a borrowed bike. He started well in twelfth place, but then crashed twice and once heavily on the fourth stage. "I had a lot of pain in my knee afterwards and just wanted to finish the race," said the Frenchman, who still finished 51st despite everything.

First victory for Courdurier and Gehrig's wild spare tube

In the women's race, things are not going according to plan for serial winner Cecile Ravanel (Commencal Vallnord Enduro Team). Her compatriot Isabeau Courdurier (SUNN), on the other hand, is on top form and wins the first three stages. Ravanel comes close for a short time with the best times on stages four and five, but Courdurier strikes again on the last two sections to take her first World Series victory. Just as surprised as Dailly in the men's race, Courdurier said: "After the race in Rotorua, where I was ill, I never expected this. Today I felt very good, but I was careful to come down safely so that I wouldn't have another clear round. I have no words for the fact that I have now won."

Canyon Factory Team rider Ines Thoma has to concentrate on third place. The German was never far ahead of Noga Korem from Israel throughout the race. But she shows strong nerves and takes another podium place in the still young season. Carolin Gehrig rides her best race to date and the podium is within sight, but things turn out differently. Neither a crash nor a defect interfered, but the spare inner tube attached to the bike took on a life of its own and got tangled up in the wheel. This incident costs a lot of time and despite catching herself and then riding cleanly again, the podium is too far away. Nevertheless, Gehrig finishes the race in a good seventh place.

Happiness also eludes her sister Anita on this day. Problems with her rear brake became apparent early on and she dropped out completely before the halfway point of the race. However, Anita Gehrig still finishes the race with a few points. After her third place in Rotorua, however, 19th place in Derby is a bitter disappointment. Camille Balanche, who came fourth in Rotorua, fared no better. Like Chapuis, her bike was also stolen. Thanks to a borrowed bike, she was able to start, but an irreparable tire defect knocked Balanche out of the day's decision altogether.