Enduro (Mountain Biking)
Enduro is a type of mountain bike racing where the downhills are timed, and the uphills are mandatory but not timed. Riders are timed in stages that are primarily downhill, with neutral “transfer” stages in between. The transfer stages usually must be completed within a time-limit, but are not part of the accumulated time.
Enduros typically take place over one or two days, however, week-long competitions also exist such as the Trans-Savoie (France), the Andes Pacifico (Chile), and the Pisgah Stage Race (United States).
A typical one-day enduro consists of 3 to 5 timed stages which take place on technically demanding, generally descending terrain, and often with sections of singletrack.
These stages are linked by predominantly ascending “transfer” stages. Although a rider’s performance on the physically demanding transfer stages does not affect his or her result, they often have a time-limit, or a latest allowed arrival-time for the start of the next stage.