| By dominating the GP of France, Garcia claims both world titles with one round to spare. Andrea Verona retains the Enduro2 lead, while Thibault Giraudon wins his home GP in the Junior category Since 2005, Metzeler MCE 6 Days Extreme tyres have secured 71 Enduro world titles, including the nine won with Garcia and the eight claimed by Verona |
| At the GP of France, the penultimate round of the 2026 FIM EnduroGP World Championship, held from 17 to 19 July in Saint-Agrève, Josep Garcia (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) set the pace on Metzeler MCE 6 Days Extreme tyres to be crowned World Champion in the EnduroGP and Enduro1 classes with one round still to go. For the Spanish rider and for Metzeler, this marks a third consecutive title in the EnduroGP category and a fourth in a row in the Enduro1 class. This latest success takes Garcia’s tally of world titles in enduro to nine, including three overall EnduroGP crowns, all achieved on Metzeler tyres. The race programme opened with Friday evening’s Super Test, welcomed by a huge crowd which, in keeping with the well-established tradition of the French rounds, turned the event into a true celebration of enduro. The route was laid out on hard terrain and featured a long and very fast Cross Test, followed by a demanding Enduro Test through roots and stones in the woods. Completing each lap was a spectacular Extreme Test, as technical as it was challenging, with numerous artificial sections made up of logs and rocks. In the EnduroGP class, Josep Garcia (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was crowned World Champion thanks to a second place and a win, while his rival and team-mate, Andrea Verona, lost several points. With his twelfth consecutive victory and yet another double win, Garcia also secured the world title in the Enduro1 class. Another Metzeler-equipped rider, Morgan Lesiardo (Triumph Italia Racing), collected two third places in France and currently sits second in the provisional standings for this category. Completing an all-Metzeler podium, Jeremy Sydow (Triumph Factory Racing) finished second on both days of racing. In the Enduro2 class, Andrea Verona lost a few valuable points in the provisional standings but remains in the lead. His final score at the GP of France was one second place and one third place. Brad Freeman (Beta Factory Enduro), meanwhile, lost the provisional lead in the Enduro3 class. Despite a strong performance that saw the British rider take a third and a second place, he did not retain the leader’s red plate. However, with only six points separating him from the top and one GP still to go, the title fight remains wide open. At the GP of France, the home riders stole the show. In the Junior class, the standout performer of the weekend was Thibault Giraudon (Fantic Racing Enduro), who claimed one win and one third place. Also on the podium on both race days was Leo Joyon (Triumph Factory Racing), with two second places. With the GP of France now concluded, the next and final appointment is scheduled from 7 to 9 August in Rhayader, Wales, where the last and decisive round of the 2026 FIM EnduroGP World Championship will take place. Overall standings (METZELER riders in bold): EnduroGP Enduro1 Enduro2 Enduro3 Youth Women |
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