Team GB wins ISDE enduro team gold, Garcia takes individual honours
The 96th running of the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) saw Team GB take victory in the World Trophy, while Spain's Josep Garcia won overall.
Team United Kingdom came out on top in the International Six Days Enduro in France last weekend, with the team of Steve Holcombe, Nathan Watson, Jamie McCanney, and Jed Etchells.
The International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) is the most famous race of the year in the world of enduro. In fact, it is the oldest race in the world, and this year celebrated its 96th running.
ISDE is such a celebrated event that when KTM launched its 2023 enduro range earlier this year they did so with ISDE tribute paint jobs on the special edition models.
The 96th edition was won by Team United Kingdom (this is how they are referred to on the official results sheet, although the team gear says Team GB), and their lead quartet of Honda’s Steve Holcombe, Fantic-mounted Jed Etchells, Husqvarna’s Jamie McCanney and Beta Factory Enduro rider Nathan Watson.
Watson - who raced MXGP for part of last season, and was on the British team for the 2019 Motocross of Nations which finished third overall - was not the only top-level motocrosser (not that Nathan Watson has ever limited his career to just motocross) to find success at this year’s ISDE. Former Grand Prix rider Samuele Bernardini was also present for Team Italy, who - also with thanks to their star rider, GasGas’ Andrea Verona - took second place from Team Spain on the final day.
Like all three British riders, Bernardini and Verona - and their Team Italy teammates Alex Salvini and Thomas Oldrati - rode on Metzeler tyres. The German manufacturer, then, had a successful time in France.
Verona and Watson were also on the individual podium in second and third place, respectively, but the overall individual winner was Josep Garcia, also on Metzelers, who had individual triumph to add to Spain’s bronze medal in the World Trophy.
