The prestigious FIM 6Days Enduro of Nations roars into life tomorrow, and the Great Britain squad has been boosted by a helping of Manx two-wheeled talent.
Jed Etchells was named in the team after scoring a dramatic overall win in the 2026 British Enduro Championship, where he pipped Jack Edmondson to the title by just three points to secure his second triumph in the season-long contest.
Jamie McCanney had initially missed out on selection, but was handed a surprise late call-up after 10-time FIM World Enduro Champion Steve Holcombe was forced to withdraw with a wrist injury. The Manxman is himself a former world champion.
The event runs from October 12-17.
In Fine Form
The pair bolster a GB outfit widely regarded as one of the strongest fielded in recent years, as the team look to reclaim the World Trophy they won in 2022, their first triumph at the ‘Olympics of Motorcycling’ for 69 years.
Etchells and McCanney made up 50% of that winning side in 2022, and are well placed to repeat that historic success, having been joined my 10-time FIM World Enduro Champion Brad Freeman and sand racing specialist Nathan Watson.
McCanney has ridden the race on six previous occasions, while Etchells will be making his fourth appearance at the contest.
A Hell of a Ride
The event is one of the most challenging in the sport of enduro, and celebrates it’s 100th anniversary in fitting fashion, as the riders take on a picturesque yet fearsome test in Grandola, Portugal.
The route covers 1500km, and will see the athletes from 30 nations take on a host of challenging special stages over the course of five days, before concluding with a motocross-style mass start finale on the sixth and final day of competition.
A rich tapestry of history is woven into enduro’s blue riband event, which was first run in 1913. The British have won the most titles, level with Germany on 16 if the East and West German’s wins during the time the country was divided are added together.
The event also has Hollywood pedigree, as the first USA team to compete was led by iconic actor Steve McQueen, of Great Escape fame, in 1964.
You can find further details on the ISDE here.