The final round of the UCI Enduro World Cup in Loudenvielle – Peyragudes was an unforgettable showdown, with both the men’s and women’s overall titles hanging in the balance. The challenging conditions of the Louron bike park in the French Pyrenees, paired with some seriously unpredictable weather. High winds on the upper mountain resulted in Stage 3 being canceled and moments of heavy rain created a sloppy, muddy unforgiving course.
Stage 1: Couralets
In the women’s category, the battle for the overall title was fiercely competitive. Harriet Harnden (Trek Factory Racing Gravity) and Isabeau Courdurier (Lapierre Zipp Collective) were separated by just 63 points coming into the final round. Harnden made a strong start, winning the muddy 2.7km opening stage, while Courdurier finished third, keeping the fight alive with a 17-second gap.
For the men, Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) aimed for his fourth overall title. Slawomir Lukasik (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team) and Charles Murray (Specialized Enduro Team) were the only riders who could challenge Rude, but he showed dominance right from the start, finishing the stage in 7:01.468, placing him in a strong position for the overall title.
Stage 2: Nabias
Stage 2 brought even more chaos as the track conditions worsened. The mud caused havoc for the riders. Mélanie Pugin was the only woman to finish under 10 minutes, while Harnden struggled, finishing 56 seconds behind Pugin. Courdurier faced even worse luck, suffering multiple mechanicals and falling two-and-a-half minutes behind, dropping to 11th in the overall standings.
The men’s race saw riders slipping and sliding through the mud, but Richie Rude remained steady, finishing second behind Belgian rider Martin Maes. Lukasik and Murray’s chances of claiming the title were diminishing, as Rude maintained his consistent performance.
Stage 4: Zebre
Stage 4, the shortest of the day, was crucial for Courdurier, who needed every point to have a shot at retaining her title. She secured the stage win, but Harnden’s seven-second deficit was enough to keep her comfortably ahead. Meanwhile, Pugin maintained her lead in the day’s overall standings, with Morgane Charre close behind.
In the men’s race, Maes won the stage, extending his lead, while Rude’s third-place finish kept him in contention for the overall title.
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