The 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series action keeps coming after the first of four back-to-back race weekends kicked off with the UCI Downhill (DHI) World Cup at Fort William. This weekend, the final mountain bike format joins the action with the first UCI Enduro and E-Enduro (EDR) World Cups of the season at Finale Outdoor Region, Italy.

We look at everything you need to know about the Finale Outdoor Region round of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series races, including when the Enduro and E-Enduro events are scheduled to take place, who is racing and how to follow the action. 

WHEN?

The 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Finale Outdoor Region, Italy starts with the UCI Enduro World Cup at 8:30 (UTC+2) on Saturday, May 11 and concludes with the UCI E-Enduro World Cup at 8:30 (UTC+2) on Sunday, May 12.

Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC+2 (EST+6/BST+1/CET):

• Saturday, May 11: 8:30-17:30 – UCI Enduro World Cup
• Sunday, May 12: 8:30-17:30 – UCI E-Enduro World Cup

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION

The sprawling and often remote nature of an Enduro race makes a live broadcast difficult. While there won’t be a direct feed from the mountains of the Finale Outdoor Region, it will be possible to keep up to date with all the action through the live timings on the official WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series website. Highlights will also be shared across the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series’ Instagram and Facebook channels, while the top stories from the race weekend will be published on the YouTube channel on Monday, May 13.

RIDERS TO WATCH

Enduro racing is back for 2024 and there have been some exciting changes in the paddock in those eight months: new outfits like Simplon Trailblazer and Commencal x 7mesh have come on board to ensure there’s a stacked field for the first UCI Enduro World Cup of the year. Greg Callaghan (Ibis HD6), Bex Baraona (Gowaan Racing) and Jack Menzies (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Enduro Team) are the highest profile athletes piloting new bikes for the first time in the Finale Outdoor Region.

And what an event it's set to be. A favourite amongst riders and the format’s incredibly passionate fans, the spiritual home of Enduro is welcoming back Enduro and E-Enduro racing to its iconic limestone trails with a mixture of classic trails, new sections and renewed old favourites. Its shift from its traditional season-ending spot to the opener means everything’s still to play for too, so expect high-octane racing from the off.

In the women’s field, reigning UCI Enduro World Cup overall winner Isabeau Courdurier (Lapierre Zipp Collective) remains a dominant force, but the Frenchwoman is yet to win in the Finale Outdoor Region, opening the door for someone else. Her closest rival from last season, Morganne Charre (Pivot Factory Racing), has won the last three Finale Outdoor Region rounds, and few would rule out the Canadian from recording a fourth consecutive victory on the Italian Riviera. Those trying to stop her include Raphaela Richter (Simplon Trailblazers), who finished 4^th last year in the Finale Outdoor Region and was 6^th in the overall before she had to miss the final two UCI Enduro World Cups through injury; and Harriet Harnden (Trek Factory Racing Gravity).

Speaking to Josh Carlson as part of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series preview, Harriet Harnden said: “I’m really excited. I thought that the course looked great and a couple of stages I’ve not done before so I think it’s great to do something a bit different and there’s always tons of trails here so might as well make the most of all of them”.

Speaking at the press conference ahead of the race, Isabeau Courdurier said: “I've never won in Finale. I did very well in the Trophy of Nations, but I think I missed something every single time. Most of the time it might be the physical aspect, but I've been improving so much through the years. Part of me really wants to win here and getting on the top step in this main stage must be quite special. But I know it's a tough one, especially to start with it. It's the first race of the season so you don't want to go out full fire and mess up the season. I think I'll try my best but keep my eyes on the overall and if I can make it, I’ll make it.”

For the men, Jesse Melamed (Canyon CLLCTV Factory Enduro Team) is the only rider to have won at Finale Outdoor Region twice – his most recent victory coming last year. The Canadian will be facing a stern test from other previous winners Richie Rude (Yeti/Fox Factory Race Team), Jack Moir (YT Mob) and Martin Maes (Orbea Fox Enduro Team), while Rhys Verner (Forbidden Synthesis Team) and Alex Rudeau (Commencal Enduro Project) were within 10 seconds of Melamed last time out.

Jesse Melamed said: “We’re comfortable here – we know it, we have the beach, the weather, the trails, the people, the food, the gelato, everything is just so lovely and nice and I think it’s just such a good place to return to.”

Speaking at the press conference ahead of the racing, Richie Rude said: “I feel like I'm almost the same as I was when I started. Every year it feels quite similar and you always want to push yourself in different ways and you know, try to perfect yourself so it's definitely still there to try and win. Seeing the course map this year is pretty classic Finale. Knowing that we've raced a few of them brings back like good memories. I’m excited to get like back on on the course.”

In the UCI E-Enduro World Cup it’s hard to look beyond the overall title winner Florencia Espiñeira (Orbea Fox Enduro Team) but with an intense nine stages of racing across an  84km course (including liaisons) that will push riders and their bikes to their limits, anything could happen.

Speaking at the press conference ahead of the racing, Florencia Espiñeira said: “I try not to get under pressure side I just to keep enjoying driving my bike I make my best performance no matter what has happened in the past. So in that sense, my approach has always been the same but I do my best on the best preparation I can.”

Racing gets underway on Saturday, May 11 in Finale Outdoor Region. 

Full schedule and event details are available HERE.