French mountain biking sensation Alex Rudeau powered to the Men Elite victory at the fourth Monduro Mountain Biking Competition that concluded in Tawang, India’s Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday.

Czech Republic’s Matej Charvet took second, with Frenchman Perisse Merlin completing the podium, pushing Nepal’s Rajesh Magar to fourth in a fiercely competitive race.

The six-day event, which began on November 9, saw 39 riders from eight countries battling it out across five categories. The race plunges riders into a demanding course, starting at 14,400 feet before descending to a rugged finish at 8,000 feet.

This year’s race spans two days and consists of eight challenging stages. Day 1 featured four technical downhill stages and four uphill liaisons. Day 2 added another four stages and liaisons, pushing competitors to their limits until the finish.

Rudeau, the UCI Enduro World Champion, delivered an impressive performance, finishing with a combined time of 28 minutes and 45.53 seconds. The Commencal rider was unstoppable from the start, dominating Day 1 with a time of 15:31.01, where he won all four Special Stages.

On Day 2, he clocked an exceptional 13:14.52, becoming the only rider to complete the course in under 14 minutes, leaving his rivals with little chance of catching up.

“It’s my first time racing in India, and it’s been an incredible experience. The trails in Tawang are unique, and it’s been exciting to race here,” said the new Monduro champion. “I just enjoyed the ride, and it was great to share the experience with all the amazing riders. I’m thrilled with the win and grateful for the warm welcome.”

Czech national champion Charvet put up a strong fight, securing second place with a total time of 29:53.08. The Charvat Bross/Banshee rider finished Day 1 with 15:43.85, followed by a 14:09.23 on Day 2. While he kept the pressure on Rudeau, he could not overcome the Frenchman’s dominance.

The battle for third was fiercely contested, with Merlin (31:13.16) edging out defending champion Magar of Nepal by just 0.29 seconds.

After finishing Day 1 in fourth place with 16:56.86, Merlin improved on Day 2 with 14:15.30, while Magar, who won two of the last three Men Elite titles in Tawang, managed 16:48.25 on Day 1. In a thrilling display, Magar closed in on Merlin’s time during the final stages of the race, but could only manage 14:24.20 on Day 2, settling for fourth.

Kathmandu-based British rider Christopher Keeling made an impressive comeback to secure fifth place with a combined time of 32:44.74. After finishing sixth on Day 1 with 17:29.89, Keeling showed resilience on Day 2, posting a 15:14.85 to climb the rankings.

The competition for sixth and seventh was incredibly tight, with Taiwanese rider Sheng Shan Chiang of Giant Racing edging out Indonesia’s Rama Teguh Ady Pratama by just 0.08 seconds, clocking a combined time of 33:03.56.

At the mid-pack, Bhutan’s Tandin Wang and Nepal’s Tenzing Gurung displayed their growing talent, finishing eighth and ninth, respectively. Wang, riding for Kona Bikes Bhutan, completed the course in 35:52.32, while Gurung finished in 37:15.56. Apshai Niangti was the fastest of the host nation’s riders, rounding out the top ten, while Nepal’s downhill champion Nirav Shrestha finished 13th.

Darian Dazzles in Junior battle

In the Junior category, Darian Darian triumphed with a combined time of 47:22.26. He set a strong pace on Day 1 with 24:31.55, followed by a commanding 22:50.71 on Day 2. Despite tough competition, Darian maintained his lead throughout the race, securing first place. Samarpan Samarpan finished second with a time of 65:57.47, while Satyadeep Satyadeep took third in 68:09.10.

Syrti stands out among Men Masters

Nicholas Syrti of Pedal Compass clinched the Men Master title with a total time of 46:56.54. He finished Day 1 with 26:30.86, followed by a 20:25.68 on Day 2.

In a tight race for second, Vinay Vinay secured second place with a combined time of 49:48.05, while Phurb Dorji of Bhutan finished third with 59:57.31. Nepal’s Aakash KC, representing his country in the category, finished in eighth place with a combined time of 1:20:21.74.

The Asian Enduro Series heads to Nepal for its fifth and final leg, the Himalayan Enduro, set for December 6-7 in the scenic Nagarkot Hills near Kathmandu.