Lagares Hard Enduro opener forced into late schedule changes

Due to the last minute Covid-19 restrictions in Portugal, the schedule for this weekend’s Hard Enduro season opener in Lagares has been changed.

After a spike in Covid-19 cases and the changing of restrictions by the Portuguese government which now state that all international sporting events must be held behind closed doors.

Even though the cases in Portugal are quite low, a large portion of the track is located in a Covid hot spot, which means both the prologue – planned to go ahead on Saturday – and the main race on Sunday have both been cancelled.

All amateur riders can move their entry over to the 2022 event, and also race for free with the alternate format this weekend.

The event’s new format will begin with the Endurocross qualifying for amateurs today (Friday May 7th) and the Pro Class riders will continue tomorrow (Saturday May 8th).

The event organisers will create a Hard Enduro loop within the military compound and around the paddock area, forming a Covid-19 secure area using sections of the Endurocross track, which will then be used for Sunday’s main race.

A statement from the organisers reads:

Due to a regional Covid hot spot, and the subsequent ruling by Portugal’s General Health Directorate on Thursday, May 6 that requires all international sporting events to now be held behind closed doors, Extreme XL Lagares has been forced to make significant changes to the planned event format.

Despite the overall number of covid infections in Portugal being very low, this hot spot is in an area through which a large section of the planned Extreme XL Lagares course passes. As such, the decision affects both the prologue planned for Saturday and the Main Race, both of which have been cancelled.

However, the Extreme XL Lagares organiser, the series promoter WESS Promotion GmbH, and the FIM have together designed an alternative event schedule, ensuring all 350 competitors, including the 56 entries into the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, will be able to race in Portugal as planned, within a Covid-safe bubble.

All amateur competitors will be allowed to roll their entry over to the 2022 running of Extreme XL Lagares and compete this year for free.

This is possible due to the fact the event’s paddock and planned Endurocross track are located within a closed military area with independent administration and based on the fact that all riders and assistance personal have been tested for Covid when entering the facility.

The event’s new format will start, as originally planned, with Endurocross qualifying for amateurs today, Friday, May 7, and for pro class riders tomorrow, Saturday, May 8. On Sunday, May 9, the event organisers will create a Hard Enduro loop within the military compound and around the paddock area, using sections of the Endurocross track, which will then be used for Sunday’s main race. Sunday will see three finals for the 20 top qualified pro Riders. The rider with the best combined results will be the winner of round one of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.

WESS Promotion GmbH acknowledges that the alternative event schedule is significantly different to that originally planned by the event organisers but is fully supportive of the new schedule.