Jérémy Tarroux claimed victory at the 2026 Trèfle Lozérien AMV after overturning Killian Lunier’s lead on the final day. Lunier finished second, just over two seconds behind, with Antoine Magain completing the podium on his debut in the French enduro classic.

With Josep García absent — the first foreign rider to break French dominance at the Trèfle Lozérien AMV and a four-time winner in 2019, 2022, 2024 and 2025 — victory returned to French hands in a historic edition. One of the world’s most popular enduro classics celebrated its 40th anniversary with 623 riders, the traditional three clover-shaped loops that give the race its name, starting and finishing in Mende, close to 200 kilometres per day and 15 special tests of every kind.

Tarroux completes the comeback in the Gorges du Tarn

The final day of the 2026 Trèfle Lozérien AMV took riders to the spectacular Gorges du Tarn, south of Mende, with 190 decisive kilometres ahead of them. After two days opening fresh terrain in the Margeride and Aubrac, the front-runners finally found more marked-out special tests, with ruts and clear reference points — conditions especially welcomed by the international riders.

Jérémy Tarroux started Sunday seven seconds down on Killian Lunier, leader after the opening two days and the big local hope. But the Team KTM Elite Moto 15 rider used all his experience and ambition to turn the race around. Five top-five results in the special tests, including an outright test win midway through the day, allowed him to wipe out the deficit and take victory by just over two seconds.

The win carried huge symbolic weight. Tarroux claimed his second Trèfle Lozérien AMV victory, after his first in 2017, on the event’s 40th edition, shortly before turning 40 himself and in what he had announced would be his final appearance. Lunier, meanwhile, lost the race in the closing stages, although the Team Triumph Saint Étienne rider still delivered his best result yet in the French classic and proved he has the pace to fight for victory on home soil in the future.

“I thought about it all day long. It was the only thing on my mind. I told myself I wanted to experience it one last time. And the 40th edition for my 40th birthday… it was written! I gave everything I had, Killian did too, but this year it was my turn and I’m proud of it,” said the winner.

Magain makes the podium as Macdonald charges to fourth

Behind Tarroux and Lunier, Belgium’s Antoine Magain and New Zealand’s Hamish Macdonald were the standout riders on Sunday. Both Sherco Factory Team riders were making their Trèfle Lozérien AMV debuts and built momentum throughout the weekend before dominating much of the final day, consistently running inside the top three on the long and demanding special tests.

Magain turned that effort into a final podium, while Macdonald gained three positions to finish fourth overall. Valérian Debaud, who had started Sunday firmly in the podium fight, paid the price for the late charge from the two international riders, although the Triumph rider still secured a strong top-five result.

Jérémy Miroir and Hugo Blanjoue finished sixth and seventh respectively, while Léo Le Quéré gained two places on Sunday to take eighth. Mathis Juillard held off Till de Clercq in the battle to complete the top 10 of an edition marked by tiny gaps and constant changes in the standings.

Day 3 video — Sunday

Day 2: Lunier leads the Aubrac before the final showdown

The race headed into Sunday with Killian Lunier as the rider to beat. On Saturday, in the Aubrac loop, the rider from Mende once again set the pace on the longest and most demanding day of the weekend. With good weather and a varied course, riders faced all kinds of obstacles, including SP2 with a motocross-style group start and a surprise sixth special test run in the opposite direction to the opening test of the day.

Lunier won three of the first four specials and managed his position at the front without major mistakes. Tarroux lost seven seconds during the day, struggling for traction, although he responded by winning the final special and clawing back three crucial seconds before Sunday.

Antoine Magain also began to show his hand in the Aubrac. The Belgian was the second-fastest rider of the day, won SP5 and climbed three positions in the overall standings. Valérian Debaud moved into third overall, just five seconds behind Tarroux and 12.4 seconds off the lead, leaving everything open for the final battle.

Day 2 video — Saturday

Day 1: Margeride opens a tightly fought anniversary edition

The 40th edition kicked off on Friday in the Margeride with a tricky opening day. The 623 riders faced 211 kilometres and five special tests on delicate terrain, marked by Thursday’s rain, with slippery grass, dirt and mud making conditions difficult from the start.

Lunier came out strong, determined to make up for the crash that ended his hopes the previous year. The local rider won SP1 and SP3, and only lost out by a few hundredths to Valérian Debaud in the second special. By the end of the day, he led by just 0.157 seconds over Tarroux, setting up the duel that would eventually decide the race.

Hugo Blanjoue, who opened the course, finished fifth, 8.6 seconds off the lead, close to Jérémy Miroir and Valérian Debaud. Hamish Macdonald was sixth, Antoine Magain seventh despite two early crashes and a special test win, while Till de Clercq, Mathis Juillard and Romain Boucardey completed an already tight top 10.

Day 1 video — Friday

The event concluded with the traditional Thierry Castan Trophy on the heights above Mende, where Hugo Blanjoue took a consolation victory in front of the crowd. A fitting festive finish to an anniversary edition of the Trèfle Lozérien AMV that had it all: a French duel, a final-day comeback, international debutants on the podium and a race decided by just a handful of seconds.

Full results

Photo credit: Mastorgne