The final day of racing in Fafe crowned the first world champion of the 2026 season, as Rieju Factory Team’s Rachel Gutish secured the Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship title. Finishing second behind Enduro Engineering’s Shelby Turner, Gutish wrapped up the championship with one round still remaining on the calendar.
Just like on Saturday, the battle for victory came down to Canada versus the United States, with Turner and Gutish setting a relentless pace and pulling clear of the rest of the field.
Gutish made the stronger start, winning the opening two special tests. However, Turner turned the race around during the first Cross Test, gaining 22 seconds on her rival and building a 12-second overall advantage as the riders headed into their second and final lap.
Fastest in both the Extreme Test and Enduro Test, Gutish reduced the gap to just 2.53 seconds before the final Cross Test. Under pressure, Turner responded perfectly, topping the timesheets once again to hold off the Rieju rider and claim another victory.
Although she had to settle for second place, Gutish achieved her main objective by securing the world title with one round to spare. The American rider is now a two-time Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Champion.
Rieju Factory Team’s Rosie Rowett completed the podium in third place, edging out WP Eric Auge’s Joana Gonçalves by just 1.34 seconds and denying the Portuguese rider a second podium finish on home soil. Electraction TM Moto’s Elizabeth Tett rounded out the top five while taking victory in the Expotrade Junior Women’s Enduro category. The British rider appears to have returned to her best form.
Marine Lemoine (KTM) finished sixth ahead of fellow French rider Justine Martel (Beta). Martel remains in contention for the final championship podium heading into the season finale.
Lorna Lafont (Husqvarna) ended the day in eighth overall and second in the Junior Women’s category. She will arrive in Wales with a 19-point advantage over her closest rival as she chases a second consecutive junior world title.
It was a disappointing weekend for Nieve Holmes (Sherco), who finished ninth ahead of Maria San Miguel (Rieju) in tenth. Mauricette Brisebard (Beta) placed eleventh, while Charlene Boudon (Fantic) completed the Junior category podium. Boudon will be Lafont’s main challenger in the fight for the title at the final round.
The 2026 Women’s Enduro World Championship will conclude in Wales from August 7–9.
