Team USA and France conquer the Trophy of Nations

September 29th, 2019 12:00am

Team USA and France conquer the Trophy of Nations

The Bluegrass Trophy of Nations powered by SRAM marked a new chapter in the story of the Enduro World Series.

For the first time in the history of the sport UCI jerseys and medals were on offer - and their prestige was reflected in the intensity of the racing on display on Finale’s iconic trails. As riders worked together in teams of three with their fellow country men and women, the sport was turned on its head as personal ambitions were shed in pursuit of national pride.

Five stages high in the Ligurian hills stood between the racers and the podium, and 24 different nationalities battled it out in front of thousands of fans who lined the track to cheer on their home nations. In the men’s competition, the much hyped French Team’s hopes were dashed when Florian Nicolai (Canyon Factory Racing) flatted on the very first stage.

TEam USA Richie Rude

Team USA's Richie Rude bombing down the classic Italian terrain

Team USA put the hammer down straight from the start gate, and the theme was continued throughout the race - they proved untouchable. The winning team of Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Shox Factory Racing), Shawn Neer ((Yeti/Fox Shox Factory Racing) and Cody Kelley rode into the finish arena to a hero’s welcome securing their place in the history books. Team Sweden put up a valiant fight, with Robin Wallner (Ibis Cycles Enduro Race Team) Zakarias Blom Johansen (Cube Action Team) and Alexander Kangas rewarded with second place. The podium was completed by Team Canada in third place, featuring Jesse Melamed (Rocky Mountain/Race Face Enduro Team), Remi Gauvin (Rocky Mountain/Race Face Enduro Team) and Rhys Verner (Kona Factory Racing).

Isabeau Courdurier sending it down the run for Team France

Isabeau Courdurier sending it down the run for Team France

In the women’s race the times were tighter - going into the fifth and final stage of the day Team Great Britain led Team France by just under six seconds. However the combination of Isabeau Courdurier (Intense Mavic Cycles), Morgane Charre and Melanie Pugin proved too strong for the Brits, and Katy Winton (Trek Factory Racing), Bex Baraona (Ibis Cycles Enduro Race Team) and Becky Cook (Orbea Enduro Team) had to settle for second place. Team Canada was comprised of Miranda Miller (Kona Factory Racing), Andreane Lanthier Nadeau (Rocky Mountain/Race Face Enduro Team) and Jennifer McHugh who rode consistently for some well deserved bronze medals.

In the U21 competition Team New Zealand blew away the competition, with the combination of Brady Stone, John Richardson (BBCL NZ Arapi Enduro Team) and Nils Heiniger proving unstoppable. Team Italy, (Hannes Alber, Simone Pelissero, Matteo Saccon) delighted their home crowd with a second place finish, with Canada in third after fielding a team of Kasper Woolley, Jacob Tooke and Evan Wall. Team Great Britain was triumphant in the U21 Women - with Harriet Harnden, Ellen Flewitt and Polly Henderson leading from stage one and holding it throughout the race. Team USA (Anna Newkirk, Lauren Bingham and Isabella Naughton) finished in second.

There was also an Industry Trophy on offer - with some of the biggest brands in mountain biking out to prove they were the fastest in the business. In the men’s competition Julbo Eyewear fielded an unbeatable team of Jerome Clementz, Fabien Barel and Francois Bailly Maitre. In second place was Ibis Cycles, featuring Lewis Buchanan, Niklas Wallner and Evan Geankoplis. E*13 Urge BP Enduro Team took third with their team of Clement Benoit, Theo Dumas and Baptiste Gaillot.

In the women’s Industry Trophy it was the aptly named Les Trois Baguettes (Julie Duvert, Estelle Charles and Morgane Jonnier) who took the win ahead of the Vittoria Team Girls (Alessia Missiaggia, Francesca Luccini, Virginia Cancellieri). In the mixed category Tribe Rocky France-Urge BP scooped the win with their team of Levy Batista, Charlotte Rey and Irenee Menjou. Second place went to Marin Bikes who fielded a team of Matt Jones, Morgane Such and Jonny Ashelford with Team Lapierre in third - Nico Vouilloz, Chloe Gallean and Yannick Pontal.

Chris Ball, Director of the Enduro World Series, said: “What an incredible weekend of sport.

“It’s been amazing to see the riders embrace the team format and work together, and to see the winning teams on the podium wearing those jerseys and medals. It marks the start of a very exciting new event to the EWS calendar.”