Women’s Enduro World Championship – competitive line-up of rider’s for Round 1 this weekend at Fafe, Portugal. With a total of 9 women racing the Opening Round starting April 5 – 7, anticipation builds on who will bring their A game amidst equally determined competition to gain pointy end of results heading into the 5 Round Series.
For certain, the 15th edition of Women’s Enduro World Championship has garnered alumni rider’s from the founding year in 2010 to the present day, marking significant milestones in the careers of the 5 Champions.
French rider Luivine Puy won the Title in 2010 and 2011, Spanish rider Laia Sanz claimed victory in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2021, Germany’s Maria Franke won the Championship in 2017, Finland’s Sanna Karkkainen won the Title in 2018, and British rider Jane Daniels clasped victory in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023.
If the historical records highlight the best Women Enduro World Champions, 2024 line-up of rider’s boasts new era of competitors whose race calendars extend across multiple disciplines within one season. These women have not only established their race-craft competing in Enduro/Cross Country Championships, including ISDE National Teams, but have also embraced new opportunities to compete in alternative energy based Series – namely E-Xplorer FIM World Cup.
Starting with Italian rider Francesca Nocera and British rider Nieve Holmes who finished P3 and P6 in 2023 Women’s Enduro World Championship. Both rider’s have extensive experience racing on track, with Francesca honing her race-craft skills in WMX and Nieve winning European Enduro Championship in 2022 along with taking ISDE Women’s World Trophy with Team GB the same year.
With Francesca and Nieve racing 2024 E-Xplorer Rounds as well, a shift in dynamics has occurred with women tapping into their capabilities to increase their racing potential for seasons to come. Such principle of thought has been put into action by this weekend’s rider’s who have manifested knowledge, experience, and insight on what it takes to gain upward trajectory of their respective racing careers.
Undoubtedly, there will be aplenty eyes on the prize for Spanish rider Mireia Badia, British rider Rosie Rowett, and French rider’s Elodie Chaplott and Justine Martel. All 4 women finished in the top 10 in 2023 Women’s Enduro World Championship – P7, P4, P8, and P9 respectively, and all 4 rider’s have made definitive decisions to race with Brands: Rieju – Mireira and Rosie, and Beta for Elodie and Justine.
Notwithstanding the facts that Mireia and Rosie stood on the podium in 2022 in P2 and P3 overall, coupled with Elodie and Justine racing 2023 ISDE with Team France finishing P4 – debut race entry of America’s Rachel Gutish has all talent, know-how, and strength of conviction to match her competitors in Round 1 at the weekend.
With 13 years experience racing GNCC WXC, along with competing in ISDE Women’s World Trophy for Team USA – and taking the overall win in 2023 – Rachel will ramp up the pressure on the class-act field. Will she come out on top – let’s wait and see as racing kicks off in just over 24 hours time.
FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship Round 1 April 5 – 7, Fafe, Portugal. Header photo: Mireia Badia Credit: @oxa_95
Words: Sharon Cox.
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