Round three of the series began with a phase of the Prologue which saw two regular EWS runners getting top marks, Lapierre Zipp Collective teammates Isabeau Courdurier and Adrien Dailly.
However, with eight more stages to follow on Sunday, things went very differently for the French drivers. In the women's competition Courdurier led the race for 6 stages on Sunday, extending his lead throughout the day, stage after stage. At this point, series leader Alia Marcellini (Fulgur Factory Team Valdinievole) had retired due to illness, leaving a three-way battle between reigning champion Laura Charles (Miranda Factory Team) and Florencia Espineira (Orbea FOX Enduro Team).
However, the seventh stage, the penultimate stage of the race, was the downfall of Courdurier, who suffered a foot injury that ended his race. Espineira continued to push but it wasn't enough to beat Laura Charles who took her second win of the season, with Espineira in second place.
In the men's race Dailly's winning streak seemed to continue at the start of the race as he won the first two stages of the day, but from then on the race leader changed stage by stage. Alex Rudeau (Commencal Enduro Project), Antoine Rogge (Lapierre Overvolt Team), Charlie Murray (Specialized Racing) and Jerome Gilloux (Lapierre Overvolt Team) all scored stage wins, but it was Rudeau's margin of victory in PS 5 and 7 to secure his first EWS-E victory. Dailly won the last stage of the day securing second place and Antoine Rogge's consistency was rewarded with third.
The Italian Andrea Garibbo finished in 6th place: a good result given the level of the athletes in the first places.
The EWS-E is now taking a break and will return for round four on September 15th in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
MEN'S RANKING
FEMALE RANKING
COMPLETE RESULTS
