The first Enduro World Series (EWS) race of the year took place in Switzerland this weekend and, in true 2020 style, it wasn't easy. Marcello Pesenti, Italian Enduro champion, concludes with an excellent 21st place.
Jesse Melamed took his second EWS victory in one of the toughest stages in history. With only two PS to run, mistakes were not an option and riders had to walk an even thinner line than usual between pushing for speed and minimizing risk. And it's safe to say that Jesse Melamed (Rocky Mountain Race Face Enduro Team) held a masterclass in both. The Canadian driver stormed the first stage, leaving a comfortable ten-second margin before the second stage. Times were tight behind him with Robin Wallner (Ibis Enduro Team), Elliot Heap (Team Chain Reaction Cycles Pro Team) and Martin Maes (GT Factory Racing) all within the same second in places two, three and four respectively.
In the first 50 we find 3 other Italians: 39th Erwin Ronzon, 45th Matteo Raimondi and 49th Mirco Vendemmia.
Maes bounced back to win the second stage, but the 2019 Zermatt winner couldn't find enough time to deprive Melamed of the win and had to settle for second place, with Melamed finishing the day four seconds ahead . In third place Theo Galy (Sunn Enduro Factory Team).
In the field of women, the story does not change: Isabeau Courdurier again to lay down the law.
In the women's race, reigning champion Isabeau Courdurier (Lapierre Zipp Collective) did what she does best: clear the stages and win the race by a convincing margin. Morgane Charre (Pivot Factory Racing) made an outstanding debut for her new team and Scottish cyclist Ella Conolly took third place to score her second time on an EWS podium.
The series is now heading to Italy and to a new location, Pietra Ligure, on the beautiful Italian Riviera. Hosting a round of EWS and EWS-E, the event is open to professional riders only and runs throughout the weekend of 19-20 September.
Full results are available here
