Garcia edges Holcombe in Sicilian EnduroGP thriller
By Team TMX on 12th Apr 26
The 2026 Paulo Duarte FIM EnduroGP World Championship roared into life with a spectacular opening day in Custonaci, Sicily, where Josep Garcia claimed a hard-fought EnduroGP victory after an intense duel with Steve Holcombe.
Set against the dry, rocky terrain of southern Italy, the opening round delivered exactly what fans expect from EnduroGP - tight margins, relentless action, and world-class performances across all categories.
Riding for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Garcia wasted no time asserting himself, carrying momentum from his Super Test win into the main event by topping the opening Extreme Test.
However, the Spaniard was pushed all the way by Holcombe, now racing for Sherco Racing Factory, who showed impressive form on his return from injury. The pair traded fastest times throughout the day, with just seconds separating the leading group after more than an hour of timed special tests.
Despite Holcombe winning key late tests, Garcia responded when it mattered most -extending his advantage before the final stage and managing the gap to secure victory and begin his title defence in perfect fashion.
Holcombe settled for second but looked back to his best, while Andrea Verona completed the podium after a late push saw him edge out Antoine Magain.
Holcombe’s performance was further rewarded with victory in the Enduro3 category, marking a strong comeback season after injury. Garcia doubled up with the Enduro1 class win, while Verona dominated Enduro2 with a convincing 15-second margin over Zach Pichon.
The Expotrade FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship saw a landmark moment as Justine Martel claimed her first-ever world championship victory.
Martel took control after the opening lap and steadily built her advantage, ultimately winning by 48 seconds. Behind her, Rachel Gutish secured second place after a late charge, with Italy’s Sara Traini impressing on home soil to complete the podium and take the Junior Women’s class win.
Early leader Lorna Lafont dropped to fourth, while Britain’s Nieve Holmes rounded out the top five.
In the Tsubaki Junior Enduro category, Alberto Elgari delivered a standout performance to secure his debut victory. The Italian fought off strong competition from Romain Dagna, with Maxime Clauzier completing the podium.
The Putoline Oil Youth Enduro class produced late drama as Pietro Scardina capitalised on a final-stage mistake from race leader Riccardo Pasquato to snatch victory. Pasquato recovered for second, with Simone Cagnoni finishing third.
With tight margins across the board and multiple contenders showing winning pace, the 2026 EnduroGP season is already shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent years.
If day one in Sicily is anything to go by, the fight for world championship honours is wide open.
