racing

'24 EDR.5
Aletsch Arena, Switzerland

EDR.5 Aletsch Arena, Switzerland

Momentum continues for the Yeti / FOX Factory and Yeti / Shimano EP Racing Teams after taking four more podiums this past weekend in Aletsch, Switzerland.

EDR.5 2024 - Aletsch Arena - Richie Rude

EDR: Enduro World Cup

Fresh off a stellar performance in Combloux two weeks prior, the Yeti / FOX Factory team arrived at the Aletsch Arena with sights set on cementing their rank as the team to beat in 2024. New to the EDR calendar, the race venue is famous for its chunky, pedal-heavy, high-alpine terrain and sweeping vistas. Riders would be pushed to their limits, navigating nearly 34 miles of trail (liaisons included) and 10,286 feet of descent over the course of five stages.

Thanks to some mindful tactics and adeptness for tech-heavy terrain, Richie Rude continued his trend of persistently quick riding. He was able to keep himself in the top four throughout all five stages and secured P1 in Stage 2. Landing in 3rd overall for the weekend, Rude retains the leader’s jersey with 2,226 points heading into the seven-week respite before EDR.6 in Loudenville.

“It was a tough day – I feel like I didn’t perform that well on Stage 1 and Stage 4; my legs just didn’t feel like they were there. But when it came to the downhills, I felt like I was on it. It was a demanding race for sure. As for the overall standing, this is the perfect place to be, right alongside Sławomir [Łukasik] and Charlie [Murray].”
Richie Rude

Sławomir Łukasik came out of the gate swinging with a commanding 12-second advantage after Stage 1. Riding confidently throughout the next four stages, Łukasik was able to keep himself within the top three positions, seating himself in 2nd place for the weekend. He currently sits just behind Richie in 2nd overall, 1,884 total points.

“After Stage 1 I realized it was going to be a demanding day, so I tried to push hard and stay smooth on each stage and it worked. I’m so happy about second place. Richie’s a great teammate and I’m happy to be riding alongside him and competing for the number one spot. I don’t feel any ‘battling’ with him, just mutual happiness when we both race well. It’s a great feeling.”
Sławomir Łukasik

U21 rider JT Fisher secured his fifth podium this season by clinching second place, and was able to keep himself in the top four throughout the five stages. While he relinquished the leader’s jersey with a 2-point deficit to Christie Bailey (Theory Racing) after this weekend, the battle for first overall will be a fierce one in the upcoming EDR.6. U21 teammate Joe Millington secured a solid 7th place this weekend, and seats himself in 19th place overall.

After a postponed start to the EDR season thanks to a broken collarbone, Tom Locke was finally able to put tires to dirt in in his first race of the season. Getting back in the flow of racing, he secured a P59 after the 5 stages.

Nailing Stages 1&2, U21 Women’s rider Lacey Adams was a DNF for the weekend after a costly mistake resulted in a fractured collarbone. All of Yeti is wishing her a speedy recovery.

E-EDR: E-Enduro World Cup

Over the span of 9 pedal-heavy high-alpine stages, the Yeti / Shimano EP Racing Team looked to retain their overall lead in the series.

Ryan Gilchrist took gold this weekend, finishing with a commanding 26-second difference from the competition, and continues to hold the leader’s jersey with 1,760 points overall. Thrilled with his success in E-EDR this season, he has sights set on the remaining races to secure the gold medal for the Yeti / Shimano EP Racing Team.

“It just feels really good to know the prep is there to lay down the watts when necessary. I really like being able to win in a fashion where it’s convincing – it feels really, really good. I love battling with these riders and being able to come out on top is always special. leader’s jersey doesn’t lie – I’m happy about it, I’m proud of it, and I want to keep it.”
Ryan Gilchrist

Teammate Mick Hannah also rode in top form, procuring 6th place and an additional 252 points. A nice boost to his overall standings, Hannah now sits in 12th place overall with 973 points total.

Having another go at pedal assisted racing, George Swift traded bikes this weekend and landed just off the podium in a respectable P4, and sits in 7th overall for Women’s E-EDR. Considering she’s only raced two of the five races in this category this season, she’s proving she’s got the chops to be competitive in multiple disciplines.

Another hugely successful weekend of racing for the Yeti / FOX Factory and Yeti / Shimano EP Racing Teams. Richie Rude and Sławomir Łukasik cement themselves at the top of the series overall leaderboard thanks to their phenomenal riding and continued consistency, proving they’re still the top riders to beat for the 2024 season. Ryan Gilchrist has found his rhythm with the 160E and continues to wear the leader’s jersey well. JT Fisher shows he’s got what it takes to be top dog in the U21 category.

Up next: Riders have a seven-week interlude from EDR and E-EDR racing before taking tires to dirt for EDR.6 in Loudenvielle–Peyragudes, France (September 6–8). Many will use the time to rest, recover, and train for a strong push in the final few races of the year. Ryan Gilchrist is headed to Crankworx Whistler (July 19-28), looking to continue his domination as “King of Crankworx”.