'26 UCI EDR World Championship
RAINBOW STRIPES LOOK GOOD IN TURQ
Ryan Gilchrist claims his second UCI Enduro World Championship, keeping the title in the Yeti family following Richie Rude's 2025 victory.
A year after Richie Rude claimed the UCI Enduro World Championship, teammate Ryan Gilchrist arrived in Finale Ligure, Italy, determined to keep the title in the Yeti family. The Australian had weathered a season of highs and lows, but six demanding stages later, he'd earned his second rainbow jersey, leading from start to finish.
Defending World Champion Rude joined him on the podium in third, while JT Fisher finished sixth, putting three Yeti / FOX Factory riders inside the top six. Sidelined with a broken wrist, Sławomir Łukasik was on hand to support his teammates.
The opening stage was a monster. Nearly seven kilometers long, with more than 900 meters of descending and a finishing time approaching 15 minutes. Gilchrist came out swinging, taking the stage win by just three-tenths of a second over Rude. Fisher followed in fifth, putting all three teammates inside the top five.
Gilchrist maintained his lead through the next three stages, but Rude kept the pressure on. By the end of Stage 4, just 2.6 seconds separated the two at the top of the standings.
Stage 5 packed three punishing climbs into 4.13 kilometers, testing riders already deep into a grueling day. Gilchrist finished second, while Rude's fifth-place result dropped him to third overall. With one stage remaining, less than nine seconds separated the top four, and the rainbow jersey was still up for grabs.
Rude saved his best for last, winning the final stage by half a second and securing bronze.
For Gilchrist, the final stage was about finishing the job. Fourth on the stage, he crossed the line with a cumulative time of 36:20.262, securing his second UCI World Championship title.
"It's been an odd season. I've had really high highs and some big crashes and weird injuries, but this race was always a big goal for me to try to improve on last year," said Gilchrist.
"The preparation was already there, and it was just execution from there. It's a huge team effort, and I couldn't be happier."Ryan Gilchrist
While Gilchrist and Rude battled for the podium, Fisher put together a remarkably consistent ride of his own. Fifth on the opening stage, fourth on Stage 2, and never outside the top 10, Fisher finished sixth overall, just 29.712 seconds off the winning time.
Across six stages, all three Yeti / FOX Factory riders finished inside the top 10 on every stage, with Gilchrist and Rude each claiming a stage win.
Richie Rude in 2025. Ryan Gilchrist in 2026. Two consecutive Enduro World Championships, two teammates, and another rainbow jersey staying in Turq.