GRÂNDOLA, Portugal — The penultimate day of the centenary FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) brought dramatic shifts across the leaderboards as punishing coastal sands tested machine durability and rider fitness. Navigating a modified 140-kilometer course through the Grândola and Alcácer do Sal loop, Team Spain capitalized on grueling conditions to claim a commanding Day Five victory in the premier World Trophy category, while defending champions Italy managed their pace to protect a slender overall lead ahead of the final motocross sprint.

Spain Masters the Sand as France Closes In

Entering the final full day of traditional enduro test racing, teams adapted setup strategies to conquer deep sand tracks that favored specialists in loose terrain. Led by Red Bull KTM standout Josep García, the Spanish contingent found extra gear, winning the day by 47 seconds over a resurgent French squad. The performance reinforced Spain’s hold on fourth position in the cumulative standings, showcasing their strength across high-speed sand sectors.

France utilized the soft conditions to mount an aggressive challenge of their own, shaving critical seconds off Italy’s overall buffer. While the Italian squad settled for a calculated third-place finish on Friday, their strategic pacing preserved an overall cushion of just under three minutes entering the final day. Sweden remains on track for the final step of the podium in third overall, successfully fending off sustained pressure from the United States despite an intense test-by-test battle.

Individual Showdowns: Pichon Breaks Through, Verona Protects Edge

The individual overall classification featured rare parity on Day Five, with five separate riders topping each of the day's five timed special tests. While García took the opening test and Italy’s Andrea Verona struck back on test two, it was France’s Zach Pichon (TM MOTO) who delivered the cleanest performance over the full distance. Pichon secured his career-first 6DAYS individual day win, edging García by four seconds.

Despite Pichon's day victory, the broader championship duel focuses squarely on Verona and García. Heading into the Day Six Final Cross Test, Verona holds a razor-thin ten-second advantage over García in the overall individual standings. In the class breakdowns, García took top honors in Enduro1, Pichon paced Enduro2, and Great Britain’s Brad Freeman dominated Enduro3 by 43 seconds aboard his Beta to snatch the class lead heading into the finale.

Junior and Women's Trophies: Italy and USA Poised for Gold

In the Junior World Trophy division, Italy heads into the final showdown with a comfortable lead of two minutes and fifty seconds over the United States. Although Australia pushed hard to claim the Day Five stage win, the Italian junior roster managed their machinery effectively to take fourth on the day, preserving their commanding advantage. Spain sits in third overall, prioritizing a steady run to secure bronze over a chasing Australian squad.

Meanwhile, the United States Women’s World Trophy team moved within touching distance of a historic seventh title. Powered by another dominant run from Brandy Richards—who notched her fifth consecutive individual day win—alongside teammates Korie Steede and Rachel Gutish, the Americans extended their cumulative lead over Australia to more than six minutes. France maintains a distant third overall in the women's category, ahead of New Zealand.

The Final Sprint to the Centenary Crown

With five grueling days of forest transfers and special tests completed, the 100th edition of the historic endurance contest concludes at the purpose-built motocross circuit in Sines. The traditional Day Six Final Cross Test leaves zero margin for mechanical failure or starting-gate mistakes, as full national rosters battle elbow-to-elbow in mass-start heats to determine who lifts the coveted FIM World Trophy.