Italy doubles up as U.S. women make Six Days history

Italy left the 100th FIM Six Days Enduro of Nations with both the World Trophy and Junior World Trophy, while the United States claimed a record seventh Women’s World Trophy. The October 17 finale took the field onto the sand at Praia Vasco da Gama in Sines, Portugal, for the decisive final cross test. ^[1]

Brandy Richards, Korie Steede and Rachel Gutish delivered the American women’s win by nine minutes, 23 seconds over Australia, with France third. Italy’s junior trio of Alberto Elgari, Manuel Verzeroli and Kevin Cristino also retained its title. The United States finished second in that category, ahead of Spain. ^[1]

The senior World Trophy podium was Italy, France and Sweden. Sweden held off the United States by just 24 seconds for third, leaving the Americans fourth and Spain fifth. That close podium fight offered a sharp contrast to the much larger winning margin in the women’s team competition. ^[1]

A week-long Italian effort

Italy’s success was built across the week. The organizer’s October 18 wrap-up describes a World Trophy campaign led from the opening day, with the defending champions keeping control through the finish. Andrea Verona added his first outright individual Six Days victory, giving the Italian celebration an individual headline alongside its two team crowns. ^[2]

A fresh organizer update on October 21 puts the wider event into perspective: 465 riders started and 385 finished. Club Team competitors accounted for 325 starters and 266 finishers, making them the majority of the field and of those reaching the last-day celebration. The Finisher by 24MX program, introduced in 2021, recognizes that achievement with a trophy and a finish-line photograph. Across six days of riding, special tests and riders’ own mechanical work, the results sheet tells only part of the story. For many of those club entrants, reaching Sines was its own reward. ^[3]