Day two at the 2024 NOCO FIM ISDE 6DAYS® saw France claim the World Trophy win to extend their overall race lead to over four minutes as host nation Spain move up to second. The United States remain out front in the Women’s World Trophy classification, while Sweden hold firm in the Junior World Trophy in Galicia.
• Competitors put through their paces with a wet start to day two
• France extend World Trophy lead
• Steve Holcombe (Honda) tops outright classification
After a dramatic opening day at the ninety-eighth edition of the FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) in Galicia, Spain, which saw Italy and Great Britain exit the World Trophy race, competitors settled into racing for day two.
A wet start to the morning ensured slippery and muddy conditions for those first to arrive at the early special tests. But as the five-hundred-and-forty plus competitors completed lap one of two of the Santiago loop, the afternoon’s conditions proved drier and more predictable.
France lead everyone home on day two in Galicia
Beginning day two with a two-minute lead in the World Trophy standings over the United States, France were determined to build on their advantage throughout the day. Mastering the slippery mud on the opening special test, they extended their lead, as Spain closed in on the United States.
Completing test three to end lap one, France were out to an overall lead of over three minutes, with Spain now charging hard in second and gradually gapping the United States. A perfect final lap from the French saw them take the win on day two to lead the NOCO FIM 6DAYS® by four-minutes-and-fourteen-seconds over Spain.
Spain will be pleased with their efforts today to move into second, while defending champions United States will hope to regroup tomorrow. Australia remains unchanged in fourth and are now over twelve minutes behind France in the classification, with the Czech Republic fifth.
Always a welcome nation at the NOCO FIM 6DAYS®, Canada sit just outside the top ten in eleventh. Led by Tyler Medaglia (Honda), their goal is to keep fighting and climb up the leaderboard as the week progresses.
“It’s been a physical two days so far,” told Medaglia at the end of day two. “There’s been a lot of tree stumps, rocks and roots to deal with on the special tests, and the transfers are so wet in places too.
“The 6DAYS® has started with a bang. It’s cool to be out here racing with the best. My goal is to fight for a top-ten time on the special tests where I can and help Canada to finish inside the top ten.”
United States win Women’s World Trophy on day two
The Women’s World Trophy classification saw the United States win on day two to double their lead to three-minutes-and-twenty-nine seconds over Australia in second. The United States were once again led home by Brandy Richards (KTM), who continues to place as the fastest individual women competitor.
Third-placed Sweden slipped further behind the leading two nations but have established a firm ten-minute advantage over France in fourth. Spain maintained their gap over Great Britain to close out the top five in fifth.
For Spain’s Mireia Badia (Rieju), she is fighting for the individual win with Richards, although with her teammates less experienced in the NOCO FIM 6DAYS®, their overall goal is simply to reach the finish line on Saturday, in what is proving to be wet and difficult conditions.
“It’s normal to see the weather we are getting here in Galicia,” explained Mireia Badia. “The tracks are always difficult to ride without mistakes, especially when the level is so high. I’m fighting every corner and giving it my best. As a team, Spain’s goal is to reach the finish. My teammates have less experience, so there is no pressure for a result, just finish.”
Sweden maintain Junior World Trophy lead
In the Junior World Trophy standings, Sweden found the measure of close rivals France and extended their lead to one-minute-and-thirty-one seconds. Boosted by both Max Ahlin (KTM) and Albin Norrbin (Fantic) placing inside the top fifteen, the Swedes are increasingly looking like the nation to beat this year. Defending champions France are not giving up without a fight and know that there is still an awfully long way to go in this year’s race.
“Today we were able to start further ahead and it was a good feeling,” said Max Ahlin (KTM). “The conditions this morning were much wetter than yesterday and quite slippery. It dried out better towards the end of the day. It feels good to be leading and challenging for the overall victory at the end of day two. France are strong, so we can’t let off the gas.”
Although holding onto third, the United States dropped further behind Sweden and France. With just over one-minute between them and Australia in fourth, the battle for the final step of the podium is alive and well as the race approaches day three. Spain completed the top five, with Great Britain close behind in sixth.
Holcombe edges out Garcia for day two win
In the overall individual classification, the NOCO FIM 6DAYS® was treated to a thrilling battle between Spain’s Josep Garcia (KTM) and Great Britain’s Steve Holcombe (Honda) for the day two win. Holcombe came out charging and won the opening two tests, before Garcia responded with the fastest time on tests three and four. Winning the final test, Holcombe claimed the day two win by just two seconds over Garcia. Italy’s Kevin Cristino (Fantic) put in an incredible ride to finish third overall, and best-placed Junior World Trophy rider.
“I’m delighted to get the win on day two,” told Steve Holcombe (Honda). “I got off to a great start this morning, but then made a couple of mistakes on the penultimate cross test and lost some time. I went all-in on the final test and was able to pull the victory out of the bag.”
Despite losing the overall, Garcia still topped Enduro1 by an astonishing fifty-five seconds over France’s Theo Espinasse (Beta), with the United States’ Grant Davis (KTM) third. Holcombe rode clear to a commanding one-minute-and-seven-second victory in Enduro2 over Sweden’s Max Ahlin (KTM). Australia’s Jonte Reynders (Sherco) completed the top three on day two. Thanks to his overall results, Cristino put his Fantic on top of Enduro3 on day two. Fellow Italian Matteo Cavallo (TM) placed third, with just half a second separating him from Belgium’s Antoine Magain (Sherco) in third.
The Women’s classification saw the United States’ Brand Richards (KTM) make it two wins from two starts in this year’s NOCO FIM 6DAYS®. A close battle behind her resulted in New Zealand’s Rachael Archer (Kawasaki) beating Spain’s Mireia Badia (Rieju) by three seconds for the runner-up position on day two.
Team Italy lead the way in Club Team Award
Beginning to stamp their authority on the Club Team Award category, Team Italy secured their second day victory. They now lead Moto Club Puy En Velay by almost nine minutes. GTBN are third overall, but only thirty-five seconds behind, with XC Gear a further thirty-five seconds back in fourth. RFME Club Team round out the top five at the end of day two.
Lynn Valley Dirt Riders lead the Veteran Club Team class by over seven minutes from Gottbros Team 2, with Jess Plaza Freyer in third. Eric Cleveland Memorial now lead the Women’s Club Team by over thirty-one-minutes from Builth Wells MCC Ladies, with Halton Off Road Riders AS third.
After a tough two days to start to this year’s NOCO FIM 6DAYS®, competitors will welcome fresh trails and special tests for racing on day three. However, a revised schedule due to course and weather conditions, will see riders compete on the Vilatuxe-Lalin course, originally planned for day four.
Results
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Results by Class
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Words by the FIM – Feature Image by Pole Position Communication
