There was no change at the top of the World Trophy standings in the NOCO FIM ISDE with France continuing to lead. The United States extended their advantage in the Women’s World Trophy, with Sweden continuing to lead Junior World Trophy, despite France stealing the win on day four.
With day four marking the beginning of the second half of this year’s NOCO FIM ISDE, competitors from the thirty-two nations entered repeated the Vilatuxe-Lalin course from the previous day. Overnight rain made for wet and slippery conditions, with repeated rain showers throughout the day continuing to test riders further.
United States up to second in World Trophy as France continue to lead
With three day wins from three starts, France set about making it four today in ISDE World Trophy. The French have proved both impressive and consistent in the mud and ruts of Galicia and again found their way to the top of the classification on day four. Entering the fifth and penultimate day of racing, they lead the United States, now in second, by almost eight minutes.
“It’s really good for the French team, we pulled another minute on our rivals and have moved into a very good position,” told Leo Le Quere (TM). “Tomorrow is the last full day on the trail. We’re looking forward to it but know not to take anything for granted.”
The biggest change of day four saw the United States move past host nation Spain in the fight for vice-champion. Despite Josep Garcia (KTM) winning the individual classification, the United States performed better as a team and moved over one-minute-and-forty-seconds clear of their rivals. Australia maintained their position of fourth, with the Czech Republic fifth.
Day four win for United States in Women’s World Trophy
The Women’s ISDE World Trophy class saw another close battle between leaders the United States and Australia in second. The United States managed to win again and increase their lead on day four by another twenty-one seconds to three-minutes-and-fifty-five-seconds over Australia.
Sweden remains third in class and are now over ten minutes in front of France in fourth, with Spain now thirty minutes behind France in fifth.
“It was a good day for Sweden, much better than yesterday,” said Hedvig Malm (KTM). “Overall, we are in third and happy with our advantage over France. Tomorrow is the last full day, and we have a new course to ride, so we are all looking forward to that now.
France grabs Junior World Trophy win on day four
France emerged as the day four winners in the Junior ISDE World Trophy class, following a titanic battle with Sweden. Topping the standings by just one tenth of a second, the defending champions will be pleased to see themselves on top and will be motivated to attack on the penultimate day. With only two-minutes-and-eight-seconds separating the two nations, day five will be a crucial one for both.
Gaining one minute on rivals Australia, the United States look increasingly solid in third. Team rider Grant Davis (KTM) enjoyed a great ride in the mud for seventh outright.
“I had a great result today, finishing seventh overall and inside the top ten,” said Grant Davis (KTM). “The United States are third overall. It will be hard to catch France, but we will keep pushing.”
Behind the top four, Great Britain move up to fifth, as Spain slip down the leaderboard to sixth. Problems for the Spanish saw their three-and-a-half-minute advantage beginning the day turn into a thirty-five-second deficit as they rolled back into the NOCO Parc Fermé at the end of the day.
Rain adds to the challenge of day four
Day four saw Spain’s Josep Garica (KTM) claiming a commanding thirty-two-second margin of victory to extend his overall race lead to one-minute over Great Britain’s Steve Holcombe (Honda) in second. The Spaniard was in a league of his own, winning five of the day’s six special tests. Sweden’s Max Ahlin (KTM) was the best-placed Junior World Trophy rider with third overall. France’s Theo Espinasse (Beta) edged out Italy’s Samuele Bernardini (Honda) by one tenth of a second for fourth.
“Today was not so easy,” explained Garcia. “The special tests were full of water on lap one from the overnight rain. It was tough not to crash in those conditions.”
The Enduro1 category again belonged to Garcia, with the KTM rider taking a commanding win on day four. Espinasse was second, with the United States’ Grant Davis third. Holcombe topped the Enduro2 classification over Ahlin in second, with Bernardini third. Times were tight in the Enduro3 category, with Italy’s Morgan Lesiardo claiming a two-second margin of victory over France’s Leo Le Quere (TM). Matteo Cavallo (TM) placed five tenths of a second behind Le Quere in third.
Day four saw the United States’ Brandy Richards (KTM) win again in the Women’s classification. New Zealand’s Rachael Archer (Kawaski) kept her honest throughout the day, placing an eventual fifteen second behind as runner-up. Australia’s Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) took third, with the United States’ Rachel Gutish (Sherco) and Australia’s Danielle McDonald (Yamaha) completing the top five.
