2025 UCI MTB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 1 WRAP
The kiwi enduro riders got the New Zealand campaign underway in the 2025 UCI MTB World Championships in Switzerland today.
The two-week campaign is based in and around Valise in Switzerland, near the Italian border, for the championships comprising several MTB disciplines including downhill, enduro, cross-country, marathon and pump.
With severe weather forecast for the region, as witnessed at the MTB World Cup in near-by Les Gets in France at the weekend, the enduro competition got underway today.
A single key stage was brought forward in the stunning surrounds of Aletsch, but the skies remained clear in the backdrop of the famed Aletsch Glacier. The remaining stages will be run tomorrow.
Leading the kiwis in the enduro competition is the in-form Canterbury rider Charles Murray who was third fastest in the stage, four seconds down on leader and World Cup champion Slawomir Lukasik (Poland).
American Rich Rude Jnr, returning to enduro competition where he was a back-to-back world series champion, was second fastest, 2.63s behind the Polish rider.
Murray (Specialized Gravity) will be pushing for a podium, after last week securing third place overall in the UCI World Series.
It was not such good news for Alexandra junior rider Cooper Millwood. Fresh from finishing runner-up in the UCI World Series in enduro, the Yeti Development NZ rider crashed on the stage. He made it to the end of the stage, 23 seconds down on leader and world series champion Melvin Almueis from France and may not be able to start on the second day.
Nelson’s George Swift (Yeti Fox Factory) was second in the women’s E-Enduro competition
The enduro riders start at 1050m altitude with six stages in all with over 3000m of descents and over 20kms of liaison between stages, with potential of the longest stage, the Lord of the Rims, expected to be shortened from its current 7kms and 584m drop.
Today’s stage results:
Stage 1: Men: Slawomir Lukasik (POL) 3:40.61, 1; Rich Rude Jr (USA) at 2:53s, 2; Charles Murray (Specialized Gravity, NZL) at 4:01s, 3. Also NZers: Joe Millington at 10:54, 11; Ed Masters (Pivot Factory) at 21.91, 46; Lachie Ross at 26:33, 62; Matt Walker (Pivot Factory) at 3:15.93, 108. Junior: Melvin Almueis 3:53.17, 1. Also: Cooper Millwood (Yeti Development NZ) at 23.18, 22
Women E-Enduro: Tracy Moseley (GBR) 4:38.72, 1; George Swift (Yeti Fox Factory, NZL) at 1.91, 2. Women: Ella Conolly (GBR) 4:20.05, 1; Also NZer Xanthe Robb at 29.59, 21. Junior: Elise Porta (FRA) 4:32.92, 1; Iley Nuns (NZL) at 2:05.51.