A memorable weekend began on Friday evening with the Parade of Nations and Opening Ceremony, before the E-Enduro riders took centre stage on Saturday. Helen Weber (GER) and Adrien Dailly (FRA) claimed the weekend’s first two rainbow jerseys, setting the tone for Sunday’s Enduro showdowns.
The Enduro competitors duly delivered, with both Elite titles going down to the wire and the medals only decided on the final, iconic DH Men stage. Gilchrist secured the Men’s Elite rainbow jersey by just four seconds over Elliot Jamieson (CAN), with Richie Rude (USA) taking bronze. In the Women’s Elite race, Richter prevailed by an even finer margin, edging Isabeau Courdurier (FRA) by a single second, while home favourite Nadine Ellecosta (ITA) completed the podium.
The Junior titles went to the pre-race favourites and 2026 UCI Enduro World Cup overall winners, Nežka Libnik (SLO) and Hugo Marti Montessinos (FRA).
Finale Ligure and Finale Outdoor Region are internationally recognised as the birthplace of modern enduro, with the destination having hosted enduro competition every year since 2008. For its first UCI Enduro and E-Enduro World Championships, dedicated spectator zones along some of the course’s most exciting sections gave fans a front-row view of two days of world-class racing.
The UCI Enduro World Championships course put riders to the test across six timed stages and 60 kilometres, featuring 1,850 metres of pedalled elevation gain and 2,850 metres of descending within the timed stages. The route showcased the distinctive character of Finale Outdoor Region, weaving through a trail network carved into the landscape and shaped by the area’s history. Racing began in the hills of the Melogno area before descending towards the venue’s iconic finish beside the Mediterranean Sea.
Gilchrist Holds His Nerve to Claim UCI Enduro World Title
Ryan Gilchrist claimed his first UCI Enduro World Championship title after an impressive and remarkably consistent day of racing in Finale. Having taken his maiden UCI Enduro World Cup victory earlier this season, the Australian carried that stellar form into the UCI World Championships to secure the coveted rainbow jersey.
Defending champion Richie Rude (USA) returned to Enduro competition for the first time in 2026, having spent the season racing downhill, and arrived in Italy looking to retain the rainbow jersey he had won 12 months earlier. But Gilchrist immediately signalled his intentions, edging Rude by just three tenths of a second on the opening Megaroller stage. Elliot Jamieson was third, nine seconds behind.
The loose terrain of Finale proved well suited to the Australian contingent, who locked out the top two positions on the following 930-metre Oribago test. Luke Meier-Smith (AUS) edged Gilchrist by just eight tenths of a second, while Rude conceded three seconds.
After losing 15 seconds to the leader on the opening stage, Meier-Smith continued to claw back time with victory on the newly created Little Dog. Jamieson kept himself firmly in podium contention with the second-fastest time, while Mirco Vendemmia (ITA) placed third.
The battle intensified on the short and powerful Groppo test, where Meier-Smith claimed his second stage win of the day, finishing just one tenth of a second ahead of Rude. Gilchrist, meanwhile, did enough to retain the overall lead.
Blitz provided the toughest test of the day, and Jamieson kept his title hopes alive with an emphatic stage win, going 4.8 seconds faster than his nearest rival. Gilchrist finished second to hold onto the overall lead heading into the decisive final stage, while Meier-Smith’s third place moved him to within a single second of Rude in the battle for bronze. With just eight seconds separating the top four riders, everything remained up for grabs heading into the iconic DH Men stage.
Rude ensured his return to Enduro would end with a medal, charging through the rough terrain to set the fastest time on the final test. Jamieson gave everything in pursuit of the title, finishing just five tenths of a second behind Rude, while Meier-Smith took third. Gilchrist’s fourth-place finish was enough to seal the rainbow jersey, four seconds ahead of Jamieson, with Rude taking bronze just three tenths further back.
The victory earned Gilchrist the second rainbow jersey of his career, following his UCI Pump Track World Championship title in 2024, and his first at the highest level of Enduro.
Following his victory, Gilchrist said: “This is the most iconic stage in Enduro. Racing down DH Men and then making the liaison back to the square, with the sun setting and my friends by my side, was just incredible. I’ve been able to call my family and my girlfriend back home, and everything I need is right here. It’s all amazing. This is my second rainbow jersey, and to win it in Enduro, which is my passion, makes it even more special. I love this sport.”
2026 UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Championships – Men Elite results here.
Richter Wins Finale Thriller by a Single Second
Raphaela Richter claimed the biggest victory of her career as she secured her first UCI Enduro World Championship title in Finale Outdoor Region. The German arrived at the season’s showcase event in excellent form, having finished inside the top four at each of the final three UCI Enduro World Cup rounds, including two podium appearances. She also had fond memories of racing in Finale, having won the Enduro World Series event at the iconic venue 10 years earlier.
Richter drew on all her experience on the opening Megaroller test, a 6.69-kilometre stage featuring more than 900 metres of descending. The German immediately laid down a marker, opening an advantage of almost 10 seconds over French pair Isabeau Courdurier and Mélanie Pugin.
Ella Conolly (GBR) entered the UCI World Championships among the favourites after successfully defending her UCI Enduro World Cup overall title with three victories from six rounds. After conceding 17 seconds on the opening stage, however, the British rider had ground to make up. Conolly responded immediately, using her descending skills to win the second stage, Oribago, and claw back several seconds on her rivals.
Nadine Ellecosta, who had also stood on a UCI Enduro World Cup podium this season, then came to the fore on the newly created 1.73-kilometre Little Dog stage, setting the fastest time. Richter hit back on the short Groppo test to claim her second stage victory of the day and retain the overall lead, but her advantage over Courdurier was down to just four tenths of a second with two decisive stages remaining.
With 67 metres of climbing packed into its 4.13 kilometres, Blitz proved pivotal in the battle for the medals. Ellecosta strengthened her podium challenge by taking the stage win, three seconds ahead of Richter, to pile further pressure on the overall leader. Courdurier, meanwhile, conceded 12 seconds and dropped to third overall ahead of the final test.
The French rider responded in style on the iconic DH Men stage, setting the fastest time by six seconds over Pugin, with Richter and Ellecosta a further second back. But Richter had done just enough. The German held on to claim the rainbow jersey by a single second from Courdurier, while Ellecosta secured bronze just three seconds behind the new UCI Enduro World Champion.
The silver medal marked a remarkable result for Courdurier, coming just a year after she gave birth.
Following her victory, Richter said: “The day was pretty good. I was feeling calm and a little nervous in the morning, but not as much as I have at other points in my career. I know that as soon as I sit on the bike, everything will be fine, so I just tried to do my best. I’m always proud to be in the mix at any World Cup, but to have made it all the way to the top today, I honestly still can’t believe it.”
2026 UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Championships – Women Elite results here.
Marti Montessinos Completes Stellar Season with Rainbow Jersey
Hugo Marti Montessinos continued his dominant season in the Men Junior category, adding the UCI Enduro World Championship title to his UCI Enduro World Cup overall crown. The Frenchman won three of the day’s six stages in Finale Outdoor Region to build a commanding advantage, while the battle for the remaining medals went all the way to the final stage.
The physically and technically demanding Megaroller opened proceedings, with its 6.69 kilometres immediately setting the tone for a closely fought contest. The top four riders were separated by just over two seconds, with Marti Montessinos setting the fastest time, only two tenths of a second ahead of fellow Frenchman Jules Janniaud (FRA). Nolan Weiss (CAN) and Harper Nelmes (AUS) were also firmly in contention after the opening test.
Marti Montessinos doubled up on the short and fast 930-metre Oribago stage. Nelmes and Weiss kept the pressure on the leader by finishing second and third respectively, while Janniaud conceded three seconds with the seventh-fastest time.
The newly created Little Dog stage shook up the order as Lois Eller (GER) went fastest, edging Janniaud by just two tenths of a second, with Marti Montessinos two seconds further back. Eller carried that momentum onto the short and punchy Groppo test, taking a second consecutive stage win, just five tenths of a second ahead of Marti Montessinos.
The Frenchman reasserted his authority on the physical 4.1-kilometre Blitz, producing a decisive performance to win the penultimate stage by almost 10 seconds. Janniaud kept his medal hopes firmly on track with the second fastest time, while Nelmes finished third.
The fight for the remaining podium places came down to the final DH Men stage. Weiss delivered when it mattered most, producing a superb run to win the fast final test by more than three seconds. Nelmes finished second on the stage, but the result saw him narrowly miss out on the podium as Weiss secured bronze. Janniaud held on to silver by less than two tenths of a second, while Marti Montessinos capped a dominant season by claiming the UCI Enduro World Championship title with a 13-second winning margin.
Following his victory, Marti Montessinos said: “It was so hard and physical. The first stage [Megaroller] was brutal. I managed to save more energy for stage five [Blitz] which was also really tough. Jules [Janniaud] was behind me and pushing me to ride faster. It’s insane.”
2026 UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Championships – Men Junior results here.
Libnik Rules Again to Retain Rainbow Jersey in Finale
Nežka Libnik capped a dominant season in the Women Junior category by successfully defending her UCI Enduro World Championship title in Finale. The reigning UCI Enduro World Champion arrived in Italy having already claimed the 2026 UCI Enduro World Cup overall title and produced another commanding performance to retain the coveted rainbow jersey.
The gruelling 6.69-kilometre Megaroller provided the perfect platform for Libnik to launch her title defence. The Slovenian set the fastest time by 14 seconds over Daisy James (USA), while third-placed Bélinda Baudet (FRA) conceded 43 seconds to the leader.
Libnik continued to stamp her authority on the race, winning each of the next three stages, Oribago, Little Dog and Groppo, to steadily extend her advantage. With two stages remaining, she held a 27-second lead over James, with Baudet 54 seconds adrift in third.
The battle for bronze remained much closer, with Chloe Cres Clement (FRA) sitting just 13 seconds behind compatriot Baudet with two lengthy stages still to come. But on the demanding Blitz test, Libnik once again demonstrated her strength, taking another stage victory and adding a further 35 seconds to her advantage.
James and Baudet strengthened their grip on the remaining podium positions, although Cres Clement remained within striking distance of bronze, just 15 seconds back heading into the final stage. She threw everything at the final 2.3-kilometre DH Men test and was rewarded for her efforts, going 16 seconds faster than Baudet to snatch the bronze medal from her compatriot. James finished second on the stage to secure silver, while Libnik overcame a small crash to finish fourth and successfully defend her UCI Enduro World Championship title by a commanding 59 seconds.
Following her victory, Libnik said: “It was such an amazing race and very hard. The day started really well, although the first stage was very tough. I continued to have a good day, and then stage five [Blitz] was so hard, but we made it through. The sixth stage [DH Men] was so iconic. I just couldn’t follow my lines and I fell, but it was still pretty amazing. I’m really happy.”
2026 UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Championships – Women Junior results here.
Fans can relive the weekend’s action through key moments shared across the UCI’s Instagram and YouTube channels. Dedicated Enduro race highlights will be published on YouTube, while the E-Enduro highlights can be watched here.
The weekend’s racing will also be broadcast on Eurosport on Friday, 23 October, and TNT Sports 4 on Saturday, 24 October.
For more information on the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike Enduro and E-Enduro World Championships, Finale Ligure, Liguria, visit the official website: events.finaleoutdoor.com
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