The EWS is back for another week of doubleheader racing. For the first race of the week, riders will take on four stages over 30km with 2,700m of descending. In the U21 racing, there were two big winners today, Simonka Kuchynkova securing a lead of over 40 seconds on Sophie Riva and Luke Meier-Smith winning every stage today.
For the Elite Women, it was a close battle between Melanie Pugin and Isabeau Courdurier until the final stage, where a 19th place finish for Isabeau knocked her back to sixth in the overall making way for Melanie Pugin to take her second overall win in 2021. Another big result was Harriet Harnden coming fresh off racing the XC World Cup in Les Gets to take a solid second-place finish in the Elite Women's overall.
Richie Rude and Jack Moir were again the riders to watch with some incredibly close racing again in La Thuile. Rain began falling as the top-ranked men hit stage 3 and it was getting pretty heavy on the fourth and final stage of the day. The final stage shoke up the results, but it was Richie Rude who just edged ahead to take his second Overall win of the season.
Check out the full results from racing in La Thuile.
Elite Women
1st. Melanie Pugin: 27:59.39
2nd. Harriet Harnden: 28:22.82
3rd. Andreane Lanthier Nadeau: 28:25.39
4th. Morgane Charre: 28:28.66
5th. Noga Korem: 28:45.83
Elite Men
1st. Richie Rude: 23:40.31
2nd. Jack Moir: 23:42.12
3rd. Adrien Dailly: 23:55.53
4th. Jesse Melamed: 24:10.05
5th. Vid Persak: 24:17.98
U21 Women
1st. Simonka Kuchynkova: 31:09.06
2nd. Sophie Riva: 31:50.85
3rd. Helen Weber: 33:29.92
4th. Justine Henry: 37:17.27
U21 Men
1st. Luke Meier-Smith: 24:29.43
2nd. Jamie Edmondson: 24:43.71
3rd. Jackson Goldstone: 25:19.62
4th. Alexis Icardo: 25:26.11
5th. Tarmo Ryynanen: 25:26.82
Full ResultsElite WomenTop 50 Elite MenU21 WomenU21 Men
Live Updates
4:56 am PDT
Richie Rude Wins Stage 4 for the Elite Men
Richie Rude just takes the win on the final stage of the day with less than a second back to Jack Moir.
1st. Richie Rude: 8:56.31
2nd. Jack Moir: +0.98
3rd. Vid Persak: +1.04
4th. Adrien Dailly: +6.34
5th. Kasper Woolley: +11.03
Richie Rude Wins the Fourth Round of the EWS in La Thuile
1st. Richie Rude: 23:40.31
2nd. Jack Moir: 23:42.12
3rd. Adrien Dailly: 23:55.53
4th. Jesse Melamed: 24:10.05
5th. Vid Persak: 24:17.98
4:52 am PDT
Adrien Dailly has come the closest to Vid Persak's time so far, but no one has come within five seconds.
4:48 am PDT
Martin Maes has crossed the line in 56th place, this will definitely affect his place in the overall standings today. We hope he has not had any serious problems on the fourth stage and we will provide an update if we hear more.
4:35 am PDT
As we wait for the top-ranked Elite Men to hit Stage 4 the current top five is:
1st. Vid Persak 8:57.35
2nd. Kasper Woolley: +9.99
3rd. Brady Stone: +11.24
4th. Juan Gabriel Torralba Garasa: +16.58
5th. Edgar Carballo Gonzalez: +17.01
4:32 am PDT
Harriet Harnden Wins Stage 4 for the Elite Women
Harriet Harnden dominates the fourth and final stage with a massive ten-second margin on Melanie Pugin.
1st. Harriet Harnden: 10:33.83
2nd. Melanie Pugin: +10.04
3rd. Andreane Lanthier Nadeau: +13.87
4th. Morgane Charre: +24.59
5th. Noga Korem: +31.25
Melanie Pugin Wins the Third Round of the EWS in La Thuile
1st. Melanie Pugin: 27:59.39
2nd. Harriet Harnden: 28:22.82
3rd. Andreane Lanthier Nadeau: 28:25.39
4th. Morgane Charre: 28:28.66
5th. Noga Korem: 28:45.83
4:28 am PDT
Harriet Harnden now goes fastest on stage four by a huge 13-second margin.
4:23 am PDT
Georgia Astle currently leads out the Elite Women by over two seconds as the top riders are hitting the stage.
4:00 am PDT
As the top-ranked Elite Women make their way to the final stage the current top five is:
1st. Rachel Pageau: 11:13.98
2nd. Lena Arndt: +39.74
3rd. Nadine Ellecosta: +41.94
4th. Chloe Taylor: +46.69
5th. Leah Maunsell: +48.37
3:57 am PDT
Martin Maes Wins Stage 3 for the Elite Men
Martin Maes has won the third stage of the day by nearly two seconds over Adrien Dailly.
1st. Martin Maes: 5:10.21
2nd. Adrien Dailly: +1.90
3rd. Jesse Melamed: +3.02
4th. Jack Moir: +3.35
5th. Richie Rude: +3.74
Overall after Stage 3:
1st. Richie Rude: 14:44.00
2nd. Jack Moir: 14:44.83
3rd. Martin Maes: 14:46.36
3:53 am PDT
Adrien Dailly is the first to come within two seconds of Maes' time. There are some big gaps at the top but there are still a few riders to take on the third stage.
3:45 am PDT
Rain has started to fall in La Thuile as the top 30 Elite Men are taking on Stage 3. Racing was shifted to earlier in the day to avoid some storms predicted for this afternoon, but with the bad weather already hitting the course it will be interesting to see how this shakes up the results.
3:43 am PDT
Martin Maes is again an early front runner on Stage 3 as he goes nearly seven seconds faster.
3:33 am PDT
As we wait for the top-ranked Elite Men to hit Stage 3 the current top five is:
1st. Vid Persak 5:17.19
2nd. Kasper Woolley: +0.06
3rd. Brady Stone: +2.27
4th. Edgar Carballo Gonzalez: +3.51
5th. Connor Fearon: +3.66
3:30 am PDT
Isabeau Courdurier Wins Stage 3 for the Elite Women
Isabeau Courdurier bests Melanie Pugin on the third stage to take her second win so far in La Thuile. The overall is going to be very tight between the two riders.
1st. Isabeau Courdurier: 6:05.05
2nd. Melanie Pugin: +2.33
3rd. Noga Korem: +5.19
4th. Morgane Charre: +6.56
5th. Harriet Harnden: +9.78
Overall after Stage 3:
1st. Isabeau Courdurier
2nd. Melanie Pugin
3rd. Morgane Charre
3:28 am PDT
The times keep falling with each rider as Noga Korem takes the top time by four seconds on Harriet Harnden who bested the previous fastest time of Andreane Lanthier Nadeau.
3:26 am PDT
It's now Andreane Lanthier Nadeau who takes the top spot and Ella Conolly goes into second ahead of Katy Winton.
3:25 am PDT
A great ride from Katy Winton now slots her into the top spot so far on Stage 3. Katy found over four seconds on Estelle Charles' time and over 16 seconds separates the top five.
3:22 am PDT
Estelle Charles now goes into the lead with a gap of nearly eight seconds to Georgia Astle.
3:21 am PDT
Georgia Astle has had a great run on Stage 3 and sits fastest by over eight and a half seconds.
3:18 am PDT
As the top-ranked Elite Women hit Stage 2 the current top five is:
1st. Laura Battista: 6:47.66
2nd. Isabella Naughton: +0.90
3rd. Louise Margareta Paulin: +2.48
4th. Rachel Pageau: +8.26
5th. Chloe Taylor: +15.06
3:16 am PDT
Luke Meier-Smith Wins Every Stage for the U21 Men
Luke Meier-Smith has dominated today taking the win on all four stages. Jamie Edmondson came second on the final stage of the day, just over a second back.
1st. Luke Meier-Smith: 9:05.05
2nd. Jamie Edmondson: +1.22
3rd. Alexis Icardo: +13.38
4th. Simone Pelissero: +13.66
5th. Jackson Goldstone: +17.22
3:03 am PDT
Simonka Kuchynkova Wins Stage 4 for the U21 Women
Simonka Kuchynkova wins the last stage of the day and takes the overall for the first race of the week in La Thuille.
1st. Simonka Kuchynkova: 11:47.93
2nd. Sophie Riva: +23.50
3rd. Helen Weber: +25.04
4th. Justine Henry: +2:36.10
3:00 am PDT
Richie Rude Wins Stage 2 for the Elite Men
Richie Rude takes another stage win but this time it is only by 0.28 seconds over Jack Moir. The gap between the top two Elite Men has been so close so far today.
1st. Richie Rude: 4:32.97
2nd. Jack Moir: +0.28
3rd. Martin Maes: +4.70
4th. Jesse Melamed: +5.63
5th. Jose Borges: +7.59
Overall after Stage 2
1st. Richie Rude
2nd. Jack Moir
3rd. Martin Maes
4th. Adrien Dailly
5th. Jesse Melamed
2:58 am PDT
Richie Rude goes fastest by nearly five seconds with just Jack Moir to go.
2:53 am PDT
Adrien Dailly has come the closest to Maes' time so far but he is still over three seconds off the pace.
2:44 am PDT
Martin Maes takes another early lead on Stage 2 as he goes over seven seconds faster than Gustav Wildhaber.
2:35 am PDT
As we wait for the top-ranked Elite Men to hit Stage 2 the current top five is:
1st. Kasper Woolley: 4:46.04
2nd. Alexandre Cure: +0.11
3rd. Vid Persak: +0.44
4th. George Brannigan: +1.96
5th. Brady Stone: +2.39
2:34 am PDT
Melanie Pugin Wins Stage 2 for the Elite Women
Melanie Pugin takes her first stage win on the day and with Isabeau Courdurier just behind in second place it looks like there is going to be a close fight in the Women's racing as well.
1st. Melanie Pugin: 5:15.61
2nd. Isabeau Courdurier: +3.96
3rd. Morgane Charre: +7.49
4th. Noga Korem: +9.75
5th. Andreane Lanthier Nadeau: +10.66
Overall after Stage 2:
1st. Melanie Pugin: 11:08
2nd. Isabeau Courdurier: 11:10
3rd. Morgane Charre: 11:18
2:30 am PDT
Isabeau Courdurier now goes fastest by over three and a half seconds.
2:29 am PDT
Andreane Lanthier Nadeau takes the lead on Stage 2 by over three seconds, but Noga Korem just bests her time by 0.91.
2:26 am PDT
Estelle Charles is the closest so far to Morgane as she goes just three seconds back.
2:24 am PDT
Morgane Jonnier takes a big lead so far on Stage 2 with an 11-second gap to Veronika Bruchle, the current second-placed rider.
2:20 am PDT
The top-ranked Elite Women are now taking on Stage 2.
2:19 am PDT
Luke Meier-Smith Take his Third Win for the U21 Men
Luke Meier-Smith is fastest on the third stage, going three for three on stage wins so far today.
1st. Luke Meier-Smith: 5:21.40
2nd. Martino Lani: +5.60
3rd. Jamie Edmondson: +5.66
4th. Tarmo Ryynanen: +6.37
5th. Nans Arnaud: +9.70
2:17 am PDT
Sophie Riva Wins Stage 3 for the U21 Women
After falling back on Stage 2 Sophie Riva is back at the top on the third stage today.
1st. Sophie Riva: 6:46.99
2nd. Simonka Kuchynkova: +6.98
3rd. Helen Weber: +29.64
4th. Justine Henry: +1:51.05
1:47 am PDT
As we wait for the top-ranked Elite Women to hit Stage 2 the current top five is:
1st. Rachel Pageau: 5:53.04
2nd. Chloe Taylor: +10.41
3rd. Sidonie Jolidon: +12.06
4th. Kate Lawrence: +20.96
5th. Lea Salome Rutz: +30.56
1:44 am PDT
Luke Meier-Smith Secures Another Stage Win for the U21 Men
Luke Meier-Smith is once again fastest on Stage 2 as he finds over four seconds on Jamie Edmondson.
1st. Luke Meier-Smith: 4:49.25
2nd. Jamie Edmondson: +4.29
3rd. Alexis Icardo: +6.44
4th. Nans Arnaud: +9.15
5th. Francescu Camoin: +9.29
1:42 am PDT
Simonka Kuchynkova Takes a Big Win on Stage 2 for the U21 Women
Simonka Kuchynkova dominates the U21 Women on the second stage as she secured a huge 27 second lead on Sophie Riva.
1st. Simonka Kuchynkova: 5:52.33
2nd. Sophie Riva: +27.98
3rd. Helen Weber: +1:04.55
4th. Justine Henry: +1:06.20
1:38 am PDT
Richie Rude Wins Stage 1 for the Elite Men
Richie Rude take his first stage win today as he edges 0.94 seconds ahead of Jack Moir. It looks like we will once again see a close battle between the two Val Di Fassa race winners.
1st. Richie Rude: 4:57.08
2nd. Jack Moir: +0.94
3rd. Martin Maes: +1.40
4th. Adrien Dailly: +2.74
5th. Ed Masters: +2.92
1:32 am PDT
The times are getting closer to Maes as Adrien Dailly and Ed Masters both coming within two seconds of the current top time.
1:23 am PDT
Martin Maes is back racing in La Thuile this week and he has already taken the top time so far on stage one with a 10-second gap to Mckay Vezina.
1:15 am PDT
As the top 30 Elite Men make their way down stage one the current top five for the stage is:
1st. Mckay Vezina: 5:08.53
2nd. Tommaso Francardo: +2.17
3rd. Connor Fearon: +3.1
4th. Clement Charles: +3.66
5th. Kasper Woolley: +4.11
1:10 am PDT
Isabeau Courdurier Wins Stage 1 for the Elite Women
Isabeau Courdurier just takes the victory on stage one as she pulls a two-second margin on Melanie Pugin with a large gap of five seconds back to Morgane Charre.
1st. Isabeau Courdurier: 5:50.45
2nd. Melanie Pugin: +2.08
3rd. Morgane Charre: +5:08
4th. Andreane Lanthier Nadeau: +5.87
5th. Estelle Charles: +8.76
0:25 am PDT
As we wait for the top-ranked riders to hit stage one the current Elite Women's top five on the first stage is:
1st. Rachel Pageau: 6:19.12
2nd. Chloe Taylor: +15.52
3rd. Kate Lawrence: +22.67
4th. Nadine Ellecosta: +25.53
5th. Sidonie Jolidon: +27.57
0:20 am PDT
Luke Meier-Smith Wins Stage 1 for the U21 Men
Luke Meier-Smith comes out on top after the first stage of the day with Jamie Edmondson three second behind. Jackson Goldstone comes across the line in third.
1st. Luke Meier-Smith: 5:13.73
2nd. Jamie Edmondson: +3.11
3rd. Jackson Goldstone: +4.50
4th. Nans Arnaud: +10.42
5th. Tarmo Ryynanen: +10.50
0:20 am PDT
Sophie Riva Wins Stage 1 for the U21 Women
After taking on the first stage of the day Sophie Riva has come out on top with a sizeable 2.71 second margin on Simonka Kuchynkova.
1st. Sophie Riva: 6:32.12
2nd. Simonka Kuchynkova: +2.71
3rd. Helen Weber: +31.32
4th. Justine Henry: +44.55
Richie served his time.
You don't beat one of the fastest WCDH riders with special sauce, you do it with skill, which, considering Rude's record as one of the most successful EWS racers, he's got plenty of. Bottle or no bottle.
The substances he tested positive for are relatively common in sports energy mixes. They are stimulants or bronchodilators, not steroids'. Readily available and widely prescribed ADHD and Asthma medications do the same thing. For all we know, plenty of former WC champs and EWS racers have had the stuff in their system but never got tested for it.
You really want people in your professional life ragging on you about a mistake you made years ago?
Asking for my friend R.Sterling.
Top man Guy Martin but quotes like that are his currency now. Also he’s extremely honest so read the first sentence.
20 million people watched England on Wednesday not including the 60000 in the stadium, are you jealous as I don’t see what football has to do with EWS results?
Don't even start on how this should have been a penalty before you imagine the same situation went Denmark's way. You wouldn't shut up about it for months to come
Granted England played better that night and I like seeing better teams win. I don't like blind refs deciding results though.
They all do so still happy we won!
I was talking about the Scottish poet; Richard Sterling.
Written on the side of Loch Lomond in 1914
LONELY I linger'd when you went,....... this is the guy going before me on my race run
Recalling how the days had fled ......... This is about my training and pracitce
Each with its mingled treasure pent...... going for podium
Of shine and shade rememberèd. . . .
Oh, how I crush'd the grapes divine,.... that 29er rear wheel just hit something
Blending a flood of wakeful wine. ......... dang, I just pedal slipped and got my shins
Next look'd I on the well-lov'd scene, ..... I can see the finish line
Eager its ready wealth to glean:............ going pinned to the final straight
And forg'd therefrom a cup of gold--...... gold is beyond me, but you know, everyone else gets a flat you never know
Red hills, blue loch, and islands green--
(Rare alchemy!). So could it hold .......... will my time be enough for the win
That vintage of our joy, and I ................. Podiums time.
Drink deep the draught of memory. ....... that mistake cost me a place or 2
Ok, so I found that poem on google and made up some random s#!t.
Raheem dived, great player and England have been the best team in the tournament, but cheating is cheating and makes whatever happens after the dive pretty hollow. Best thing the Ref could do is crack down on diving from both sides in the final from the start (although the Italians think its part of the beautiful game).
It's just that in this specific case VAR showed no touch at all the first time, and the second defender's thigh was just there when Raheem was already falling. The ref was wrong, no way around that. Kind of a shame because I know England was perfectly capable of winning without his help.
Anyway, the final should be a good watch. I was already thinking a few games back that it was gonna be ENG-ITA, both stood out from the beginning.
Enjoy the game and hope you had a few ££ on that final prediction :-)
And the guys getting married and having kids are struggling at 33 and 35.
Say no more, I know what my life goals are.
I wish Sam confidence and strong legs, as this could be the missing puzzel to this years races.
But not only he is struggeleing look a Maes, no kids and also not where he could be.
I think the competition just got more serious this year.
And for men, we are fertile well into our fifties, so doing both is not impossible.
For women it is different, I can well understand the descisions of Rachel Atherton and Cathrine Pendrel for example.
Also Florien Nicolai,what's up with him?
Also, if Slawek doesn't get a team after this season, I swear to god, I'll make a team for him! ... But money....
He used to race iXSs Cup in previous years, won or podiumed many times, he also was European DH Champion in 2017. Many times he beat guys like Kolb, Trummer - they both landed decent deals already. It's hard to compete at this level if you can't afford to go to all the races, me thinks. Hence all the frothing on my behalf
I keep my finger crossed for him to complete this seasson the best possible!
Anyway Fearon nice work for a side hustle with a 21st and 14th mate.
RAdelaide.
My man.
* not sure that was actually in english....
www.enduroworldseries.com/live/#live-result
Thanks !
Ban the TS !
Harriet Harnden seems amazing - she was at les gets last week doing well in xc.
Surely they could set up some shirt off live stream
I think it would be too difficult (and expensive) to set up good coverage on a race venue that big. However, I do think they could maybe show the queens stage and just run that like a dh broadcast.
WHERE YOU AT UCI !?