On a wet and muddy final day six, France rode to victory in the World Trophy class at the NOCO 2024 FIM ISDE 6DAYS® in Galicia, Spain. Bringing the ninety-eighth FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) to a close, France topped the overall podium ahead of the United States and Spain. The United States secured top honours in the Women’s World Trophy, while Sweden claimed an emotional win in the Junior World Trophy.
• NOCO FIM 6DAYS® concludes with muddy Final Cross Test Galicia
• France top the World Trophy podium
• Spain’s Josep Garcia (KTM) secures historic fourth consecutive individual victory
The sixth and final day of racing at this year’s NOCO FIM 6DAYS® in Spain, saw competitors take on the Final Cross Test Galicia. Rain throughout the day ensured conditions would be extremely testing. Deep mud left riders scrambling for traction.
France ride to victory in World Trophy class
Returning to the top step of the World Trophy podium for the first time in seven years, France put in a champion’s ride on the Final Cross Test Galicia on day six. Facing horrendously wet and muddy conditions, they managed their advantage over closest rivals the United States to perfection. With the United States taking the final day win, France followed them home in second to win the World Trophy.
“It’s been an incredible week,” told France’s Hugo Blanjoue (Honda). “All week we rode together as a team and did everything necessary to take this victory. Today was one of the toughest races of my life. The mud was insane, but we fought and fought. Thank you to everyone who has made this result possible, we did it!”
Giving it their all on day six, outgoing champions United States faced too tall a task to topple the French in Galicia. Content with winning the Final Cross Test Galicia, they ended their week as vice-champions, five-minutes-and-thirty-eight-seconds behind.
With the support of their home crowd behind them, Spain took the third and final step of the podium in Galicia. Australia weathered the mud to take fourth overall, while the Czech Republic rounded out the top five. With Belgium sixth, Austria seventh and Finland eighth, Portugal and Poland completed the top ten nations in this year’s World Trophy classification.
United States successfully defend Women’s World Trophy crown
Determined to secure their fifth Women’s World Trophy victory in style, the United States powered ahead to claim the Final Cross Test Galicia win on day six, and with it, successfully defend their crown in Spain.
“That was one of the toughest 6DAYS® I’ve ever done,” told the United States’ Brandy Richards (KTM). “Today was crazy in the mud. I knew I needed the holeshot and managed to do that and stay clean for as long as I could.
“Overall, it feels incredible. To keep the United States on top was our goal starting out the week, and I’m so happy we’ve been able to do just that!”
Placing second today, Australia finished this year’s race as vice-champions. Sweden made no mistakes and crossed the line to finish on the final step of the podium in third overall. France battled their way through the mud to secure fourth overall, while Italy completed the top five in the final Women’s World Trophy classification. With Great Britain sixth, Canada finished as the seventh and final nation to reach the finish line with all three competitors.
Sweden clinch victory in Junior World Trophy competition
Through the mud came tears of joy as Sweden raced to victory in the Junior World Trophy. Following their agonising loss on day six in 2023, the trio of Max Ahlin (KTM), Albin Norrbin (Fantic) and Axel Semb (Fantic) made no mistakes this time around and won. Fittingly, it was Norrbin who rode to the eventual race win in the Final Cross Test Galicia, as Sweden led home outgoing champions France, with the United States in third.
Australia ended their week in fourth overall, with Great Britain completing the top five. Host nation Spain took sixth, with Portugal and Canada placing seventh and eighth. Team FIM LA and Belgium rounded out the top ten.
Historic fourth consecutive victory for Garcia
Arriving at the Final Cross Test Galicia, Spain’s Josep Garcia (KTM) looked to put the finishing touches to what has been an incredible NOCO FIM 6DAYS®. Finding his way to the front of the field, he dominated the final race, to take a record-breaking fourth consecutive individual win in the NOCO FIM 6DAYS®.
“It’s a dream come true to win four times in a row,” said Garcia. “With rain almost every day, it has been one of the toughest 6DAYS® that I’ve done. From the deep mud to the slippery special tests, it was a huge challenge. Many thanks to everyone who has supported me this week, it’s been amazing.”
As the only rider to take a day win from Garcia, Great Britain’s Steve Holcombe (Honda) ended his week in second overall. France’s Theo Espinasse (Beta) completed the top three. In the battle for top Junior World Trophy rider, Sweden’s Max Ahlin (KTM) took fourth overall, beating Italy’s Kevin Cristino (Fantic) in fifth by just two seconds.
The Enduro1 category went to Garcia, securing a five-minute-and-twenty-one-second margin of victory over Espinasse in second. United States’ Grant Davis (KTM) took third. Holcombe took the top step of the podium in Enduro2, with Ahlin second and Sweden’s Albin Norrbin (Fantic) third. In Enduro3, Cristino claimed the overall win, ahead of France’s Leo Le Quere (TM) in second, with Italy’s Matteo Cavallo (TM) third.
The final day of racing saw the United States’ Brandy Richards (KTM) win again in the Women’s classification to firmly assert her position as best female rider in the NOCO FIM 6DAYS®. New Zealand’s Rachael Archer (Kawasaki) performed flawlessly in her debut NOCO FIM 6DAYS® to finish as runner-up, with Australia’s Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) completing the podium in third. Spain’s Mireia Badia (Rieju) was fourth, with Canada’s Shelby Turner (GASGAS) rounding out the top five.
Team Italy victorious in Club Team Award
With a strong lead in the Club Team Award (CTA), Team Italy opted to play it safe in the mud on day six. Xausa Sped claimed the CTA victory in the Final Cross Test Galicia, over GTBN in second, with Team Italy fourteen seconds back in third. But for Team Italy that didn’t matter as they ultimately won this year’s Club Team Award competition in the NOCO FIM 6DAYS®.
“All week has been fantastic,” said Team Italy’s Lorenzo Macoritto (TM). “Despite the tough conditions, we did our best each day and were able to control the race lead. It was super muddy today, but we rode smart and won. I’m so happy, it’s a great result for us.”
While Team Italy rode ahead to victory, the biggest change in results on day six came with GTBN edging out Moto Club Puy En Velay by seven seconds to claim the runner-up result. Despite maintaining second all week, Moto Club Puy En Velay endured a tough day six and ended third overall. XC Gear and RFME Club Team rounded out the top five
In the Veteran Club Team class, it was Lynn Vally Dirt Riders who secured the overall victory. They topped the podium by twelve-minutes-and-twenty-six-seconds over Gottbros Team 2 in second, with Jesus Plaza Freyer third.
Eric Cleveland Memorial raced their way into the record books as winners of the inaugural Women’s Club Team competition in the NOCO FIM 6DAYS®. Builth Wells MCC Ladies followed them home for second place, with Halton Off Road Riders AS third.
With the ninety-eighth edition of the NOCO FIM 6DAYS® complete in Galicia, Spain, enduro fans can look forward to next year’s race in Bergamo, Italy, from 24-29 August.
Results
Stage 6 Overall
ISDE RESULTS
Race Report by FIM ISDE – Feature Image courtesy of Future7Media
