Almost seventy years in the making, Great Britain have won the FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) World Trophy team as and Women’s Trophy competition while Italy wrapped up the Junior Trophy.
A landmark victory, it marks the first time they have won the World Trophy competition since 1953, while also adding to the Women’s World Trophy victory, secured earlier today by Great Britain.
In a dramatic turn of fortune, Italy clinched the vice-champion position in the final moments of the Final Cross Test. With team leader Andrea Verona winning Day Six, the Italians beat Spain to the runner-up result by an incredible five tenths of one second after almost thirteen hours of racing, over six days.
Entering the sixth and final day of racing on the cusp of victory, Great Britain faced a nervous wait for their turn to race the Final Cross Test, late this afternoon. With a four-minute and twenty-two second lead over closest rivals Spain, they were all but assured of a World Trophy victory, but still needed a trouble-free ride to claim the win.
With all four riders – Nathan Watson, Steve Holcombe, Jamie McCanney, and Jed Etchells – contesting the final race of the day, everyone held their collective breath as the start gate dropped. Safely through lap one inside the top twenty, they settled into the race.
After eleven nerve-wracking laps, all four riders were home and dry and the celebrations could finally begin, Great Britain were now FIM ISDE World Trophy champions.
“It is an incredible feeling to win the FIM ISDE,” told Great Britain’s Nathan Watson. “It’s a long time since 1953 when Great Britain last won, so it is a big honour for us to do it.
“We prepared well, came with a strong team and got the job done. We were consistent all week, winning multiple days and being there when it counts.
“We’re massively proud of what we achieved today. It’s a real team effort both on and off the track to get this result. So, a big thank you to everyone supporting us along the way!”
With Great Britain, Italy, and Spain completing this year’s FIM ISDE World Trophy podium, it was host nation France who took fourth, with the United States in fifth.
Junior World Trophy
Making it two wins in a row, Italy have added another win to the Junior World Trophy victory they secured at home in 2021, securing the top step of the Junior World Trophy podium in Le Puy-En-Velay.
Leading the class from Day One, the Italians remain unfazed as they entered the sixth and final day of racing to take victory.
“It feels amazing to win the FIM ISDE with Italy,” told Morgan Lesiardo. “I’m very proud to take this victory for my country.
“We worked hard all week to put ourselves in a good position to take the win. Of course, as defending champions you want to finish on top again, but it is not so easy. It’s been a long and tough FIM ISDE, but a very enjoyable one.”
Despite holding an outside shot at beating Italy, Finland were unable to overhaul their rivals and had to settle for the runner-up result. With a sizeable lead over their closest rivals for the final step of the podium, Australia enjoyed a strong Day Six to take third.
Great Britain took fourth overall, with Spain rounding out the top five Junior World Trophy teams.
With the traditional Final Cross Test, it was the United States’ Austin Walton who claimed the final day win of the week.
The American looked good on the fast-paced test, racing clear to a five second margin of victory over Italy’s Morgan Lesiardo , with United States’ Mateo Oliveira one second behind in third.
After winning all five days so far, many expected France’s Zach Pichon to try for a clean sweep. But Pichon opted to settle for fourth to cement his position as the fastest outright Junior rider in the event’s outright individual classification.
Women’s World Trophy
It was a historic day for Great Britain as they won the Women’s World Trophy competition for the very first time.
First introduced to the FIM ISDE in 2007, Great Britain had yet to take a win in the Women’s World Trophy category but finally, following a determined team performance that all changed today.
Entering the sixth and final day of racing with a healthy fourteen-minute lead over nearest rivals France, GB held a virtual grasp on the title, yet still needed to get it over the finish line in the Final Cross Test to become champions.
A nervous day indeed for Jane Daniels, Nieve Holmes, and Rosie Rowett, but the trio kept their cool and got the job done.
“This is a big moment for everyone involved here and it is going to take a little while for it to sink in,” told Daniels. “This FIM ISDE has been amazing, tough, and everything in between.
“We knew starting today that the main objective was to keep it safe and get everyone across the line. It’s a relief to see that chequered flag, we’ll definitely celebrate tonight!”
In the final Women’s World Trophy classification, FIM ISDE hosts France finished as runner-up. Australia joined Great Britain and France on the final step of the podium in third.
The outcome of the Final Cross Test went to United States’ Korie Steede, who led for the majority of the race to claim a six second victory over Canada’s Shelby Turner, with Rachel Gutish in third.
In the battle for the individual classification, there was added delight for Great Britain with Daniels taking outright individual victory. After six days of racing, she won by two minutes and nineteen seconds over Steede, with Spain’s Mireia Badia third.
With the ninety-sixth edition of the FIM ISDE complete in France, attention will soon turn to the ninety-seventh edition in San Juan, Argentina in November 2023.
Scratch Final Result
Junior Scratch Final Result
