Canazei in Val di Fassa, Italy, will host the double opener of the 2021 Enduro World Series. One race on Wednesday, one race on Friday and Saturday. The first competition brings no surprises, but nevertheless exciting stages. With two best times and a second place on the Queens Stage, Richie Rude (USA) takes victory by a razor-thin margin ahead of Australian Jack Moir. Jesse Melamed came third, also only 14 seconds behind after a total of around 27 minutes. Among the Swiss, only Patrick Lüthi was able to keep up with the densely packed field of riders, finishing in 41st place.

The women's race was also close. The winner, Isabeau Courdurier, is not a surprise. In view of the fact that her father was recently killed in an accident, her performance is by no means a matter of course. The Frenchwoman wins by a narrow margin and a good 14 seconds ahead of her compatriots Morgane Charre and Melanie Pugin. After a difficult first stage, Carolin Gehrig turns up the heat and fights her way to a respectable seventh place. Anita Gehrig, on the other hand, didn't really get into the flow and rode to 13th place with the handbrake on at the start.

Full results EWS 1

Winner at last!

The second race of the Enduro World Series in Val di Fassa starts with the Pro Stage on Friday afternoon. It is once again the American Richie Rude who wins this. And the two-time overall EWS winner also starts the race day on Saturday with a stage win. But then the tide turns. Jack Moir wins the last two stages and takes the long-awaited victory after coming close so many times last year. Third place behind Rude went to the up-and-coming New Zealander Charles Murray. 41st place once again goes to the best Swiss. This time, however, it is Maxime Chapuis. Patrick Lüthi takes 48th place.

At the Pro Stage on Friday afternoon, a Swiss rider, Camille Rast, is at the top of the rankings. This is not a misprint, but can be attributed to the weather and the distribution of the field of over 40 female riders. Rast, like many of the other riders, started much earlier than her otherwise faster colleagues and benefited from dry conditions. These change abruptly with the approaching thunderstorm and the favorites end up in the midfield.

On Saturday, fair conditions prevailed again and the favorites fought their way back. In the end, Melanie Pugin won ahead of Morgane Charre. Isabeau Courdurier narrowly missed out on the podium, which was surprisingly taken by Great Britain's Harriet Harnden. And Carolin Gehrig also fights her way back. After her 28th place in the Pro Stage, she manages tenth place this time. Her sister Anita Gehrig has to miss the start on Saturday. She dislocated her elbow in a crash on the Pro Stage on Friday, but fortunately suffered no serious consequences.Full results EWS 2

Second double event in La Thuile

The third and fourth races of the Enduro World Series will also take place in Italy. The EWS will be held in La Thuile from July 7 to 11. Since 2014, the enduro race in the Aosta Valley has been one of the most popular events on the circuit and boasts varied trails in the face of the Mont Blanc massif.

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