The 2023 UCI Enduro World Cup (EDR) season will conclude on September 17 in Haute-Savoie, France.
Richie Rude of the United States is most likely to be crowned series winner. His nearest rival, Frenchman Alex Rudeau, would have to win the race along with every stage in it, to pull an upset. Even then, a sixth-place result or higher would still hand victory to Rude.
It's the duel for the remaining two spots on the podium where things are could very well heat up. Just 84 points separate Rudeau from Sea to Sky contenders Jesse Melamed and Rhys Verner. All three are in contention for second, and with just seven stages standing between them and the final podium of the year, they’ll be leaving it all out on Châtel’s iconic trails.
Melamed and Verner hope to finish strong in what has been a banner campaign for them both. The close friends led a home-soil podium sweep at this year's Canadian Open Enduro in July, with Verner winning his first EDR race a month prior in Austria.
Meanwhile, Isabeau Courdurier is almost certain to lift the trophy in the women’s competition. The French athlete has a nearly unassailable lead in the point and is all but guaranteed triumph so long as she crosses the finish line. Runner-up Morgane Charre is in good shape to retain her position in the overall, but behind her, the fight for third will be fierce.
Harriet Harnden goes into Sunday’s race third in the points, but with both fellow British rider Bex Baraona and Italian Gloria Scarsi within shouting distance, her place on the podium is in no way guaranteed.
Find more information on this weekend's festivities here.
