Red Bull KTM rider Josep Garcia takes maiden victory at the Rand’Auvergne French Classic Enduro ahead of EnduroGP rivals Andrea Verona (GASGAS) and Antoine Magain (Sherco).

The 34th edition of the French enduro classic drew over 600 riders for a gruelling weekend of heat, dust, and intense competition, with the podium fully occupied by World Enduro Championship stars.

Held in Ambert, France, the Rand’Auvergne welcomed more than 600 competitors to a demanding 400-kilometre route spread over two days. Featuring 10 special timed tests through grassy meadows, fast tracks, dense woods, and muddy sections in shaded valleys, it was a course as scenic as it was technical.

With top EnduroGP talent lining up alongside a strong French contingent, the event delivered a Grand Prix-worthy podium. World champion and current EnduroGP series leader Josep García — fresh off victory at the Trèfle Lozérien — took the overall in his first appearance at the Rand’Auvergne, ahead of Italy’s Andrea Verona and Belgium’s Antoine Magain.

Garcia takes control from day one

Saturday’s route featured a 220-kilometre loop north of Ambert, with five timed special tests. García set the tone early, opening a gap from the first test and ending the day with a 29.5-second lead over Verona. Morgan Lesiardo was third (+37s), followed by Hugo Blanjoue (+40s) and Jérémy Tarroux (+41s).

Sunday's leg, covering another 160 kilometres to the south and five new tests, brought even tougher conditions, with rising temperatures and thick dust. García again set the day’s fastest overall time, extending his margin over Verona by seven more seconds, with Magain a further 10 seconds behind.

“It’s been two great days of racing,” said García after completing his sixth event in just seven weeks. “On Saturday I managed to build a solid lead, and Sunday was all about managing that advantage. It was my first time here and I really enjoyed it. Compared to EnduroGP, it’s still enduro — but it’s different. Huge credit to the organisers for putting on an event like this.”

Day 1 highlights:

 

Verona Wins DAFY Trophy Showdown

To wrap up the weekend, Moto Club Livradois staged the DAFY Trophy, a two-moto cross-country shootout for Saturday’s top 30 riders. The 16 best from those heats qualified for a grand final held on a mixed grass-and-asphalt track beside the Ambert Carrefour Market.

In front of a lively local crowd, Andrea Verona held off García to take the final victory, capping off a spectacular weekend of racing in the French heartland.

Overall, Hugo Blanjoue was the top French rider, finishing fourth just 1m29s off García, followed closely by compatriot Killian Lunier, fifth at +1m34s. Morgan Lesiardo (Triumph) was sixth, 1m40s back, with Jérémy Miroir in seventh — a mere 819 thousandths behind the Italian. Rising French talents Thibault Giraudon, Valérian Debaud, and Romain Boucardey rounded out the top 10, all more than two minutes adrift of the winner.

Rand’Auvergne 2025 - classification (Top 10):

1. Josep García

2. Andrea Verona +0:37.402

3. Antoine Magain +0:57.225

4. Hugo Blanjoue +1:29.858

5. Killian Lunier +1:34.425

6. Morgan Lesiardo +1:40.077

7. Jérémy Miroir +1:40.896

8. Thibault Giraudon +2:17.254

9. Valérian Debaud +2:19.421

10. Romain Boucardey +2:26.05

 

Photo Credit: Mastorgne