The 2022 season of the Enduro World Series picked up right where it left off at the end of 2021 in Tweed Valley, Scotland. However, this time around, the conditions were completely different – instead of wet, muddy tracks, racers were treated to dry, fast racing on some of the best Scottish trails. This EWS season kicked off later than usual, leaving fans and athletes alike anxious to begin racing.

The EWS-E was held Friday. E-bike racing is becoming more and more popular, leading to increased competition in 2022. Defending EWS-E Champion Laura Charles (Miranda Factory Team) wasted no time in reaffirming her dominance, taking the Elite Women’s win. Orbea Fox Enduro Team rider Edgar Carballo earned his first EWS-E victory in the Elite Men’s field.

Saturday brought the beginning of the EWS race with the Pro Stage. This stage gives valuable extra points to the winners and determines the starting order on Sunday. Ella Conolly (Cannondale Bikes) placed second with new Yeti Fox Factory Team member Bex Baraona in third. In Elite Men, Jesse Melamed (Rocky Mountain Race Face) slid into second, Richie Rude (Yeti Fox Factory Team) was fourth, and Martin Maes (Orbea Fox Enduro Team) was fifth.

On Sunday, five stages were scheduled, but Kasper Woolley (Yeti Fox Factory Team) had a bad crash and one stage was canceled. Times were tight with not a second to spare in the remaining four stages. When the dust settled, there were a whole lot of Maxxis-sponsored riders on the top steps of the podium.

Richie Rude looked eager to take his revenge on the Tweed Valley course, placing first in Elite Men. Melamed was not far behind in second, only five seconds off the winning pace. New Maxxis athlete Martin Maes also had a strong start to the season in fourth. The Elite Women’s category saw Ella Conolly take her first-ever EWS win, running Maxxis Assegai and DHR II tires. Baraona took her momentum from the Pro Stage into Sunday, placing second. Andreane Lanthier Nadeau (Rocky Mountain Race Face) also looked excellent, slotting into fifth and rounding out a very competitive Elite Women’s field.

Round 2 is approaching fast, so don’t miss EWS Petzen Jamnica on June 18-19!