Over 40 Vets rider to have new official World Cup classification at FIM Hard Enduro World Championship races with the introduction of a Senior World Cup category for the 2026 season.

With the Junior category already established, and the recent announcement of the new Women’s category, the breadth of the riders who will be attracted to and officially categorised in the Hard Enduro World Championship races increases further with the new old boys, over-40 class.

*Enduro21 editorial note: if 50 is the new 40 then isn’t the O-40/Vets class too young? Asking for a friend (who is past O-40!).

The new category, aimed at recognising experienced riders aged 40 and above, creates a dedicated platform for veteran competitors to be officially ranked, acknowledged and rewarded across the 2026 HEWC season. Candidates could include riders like Graham Jarvis and Taddy Blazusiak for example.

Format and details

• The Senior World Cup is open to riders aged 40 or older on the day of the event.
• Best six of nine HEWC rounds to count.
• To compete, riders must hold a valid FIM Enduro License and register either for the Full HEWC Championship or Senior World Cup classification.
• Senior riders compete in their chosen class (Gold, Silver or Bronze) and their finishing position among other 40+ riders determines World Cup points.
• Season-long leaderboard will track all eligible riders and crown the overall winner at the final round of the 2026 season.
• Open to all experience levels, from ex-factory racers to long-time amateurs who simply refuse to slow down.

Off-road racing doesn’t come with an expiry date

“Hard Enduro is a sport that rewards skill and consistency, qualities that don’t disappear with age,” said Ross Whitehead, HEWC Championship Director. “The Senior World Cup is about celebrating those riders who continue to take on the world’s hardest enduro races year after year and getting rewarded for it.”

Points and Classification

The Senior World Cup uses the official HEWC points system, awarding points to the top 15 senior finishers at each round. Points are assigned based on finishing position among other Senior-registered riders, regardless of class and standings are updated after each round and published on the official HEWC results page.

The series organisers say part of the aim is to elevate the presence of senior riders, but also encourage greater participation and community across the paddock, showing that elite off-road racing doesn’t come with an expiry date.

A great example highlighted already is Anita Hauksdottir has convinced her father to enter the Senior Championship and share a year travelling to races around the world together. But our minds also extend to the many riders we know already competing in major international races and, of course, not least the old GOAT himself.

The Senior World Cup classification will operate as a single, unified ranking across all rider classes (Gold, Silver, Bronze). This means: All eligible riders aged 40+ will be classified together, regardless of which race class they enter.

Course difficulty takes priority: A rider who finishes a more difficult class (e.g. Gold) will be ranked above those who finish easier classes (e.g. Silver or Bronze), regardless of finish time.

Within each class, riders are ranked based on their official results as approved by the FIM Jury.

Only finishers are eligible for points. A DNF in a higher class does not rank above a finisher in a lower class, unless checkpoint-based classification is issued and approved.

If checkpoint-based rankings are used, as sometimes happens in Hard Enduro, seniors will be classified accordingly.

Just like the Women’s World Cup, this structure rewards both commitment and performance, while still recognising the increasing number of senior riders participating across different ability levels.

Photo Credit: Enduro21