Jesse Melamed wins EWS Petzen Jamnica Pro Stage

Canadian riders are looking at home in Petzen Jamnica. Jesse Melamed and Emmy Lan both won the Pro Stage, a special stage held the Saturday of every Enduro World Series weekend, of their respective categories.

Melamed and Lan were followed by a fast flock of Canadians Saturday, with nine Canucks in the top 10 across four categories going into Sunday’s racing.

Jesse Melamed: Slovenia practice POV

Pro Men and Women

Jesse Melamed (Rocky Mountain Race Face) will start Sunday’s racing with an 8.68 second advantage over 2021 EWS overall winner Jack Moir (Canyon CLLCTV). The Whistler local stormed through Saturday’s Pro Stage with the day’s fastest time, finishing in 13:03. Richie Rude (Yeti Fox), winner in Tweed Valley two weeks ago, is another 2.1 seconds back in third.

B.C.’s Jack Menzies (We Are One) is biting at the heels of those three EWS legends, placing fourth Saturday. Menzies finished 17.02 seconds behind Melamed on the long, 13-minute stage. Rhys Verner (Forbidden Synthesis) joined Melamed and Menzies in the top ten, placing eighth on Saturday.

Remi Gauvin (Rocky Mountain Race Face) is the next best Canadian in the Pro Men’s field, in 21st. Elliot Jamieson (Norco Factory Racing) followed in 40th and Mckay Vezine (Giant Factory) in 49th.

Andréane Lanthier Nadeau (Rocky Mountain Race Face) leads the Canadian women, sitting eighth behind race leader Isabeau Courdurier (Lapierre Zipp) after Saturday’s racing. ALN’s joined by fellow Canadians Julia Long in 26th, Lucy Schick (Norco Factory Team) in 30th and Angeline McKirdy 32nd.

Under 21 Men and Women

Emmy Lan (Norco) won Saturday’s Pro Stage in the under-21 women’s category. The Vancouver Island rider is carrying momentum from her season-opener win at EWS Tweet Valley. Lan is a solid 54 seconds ahead of local Tina Smrdel on the 16-minute stage. Lily Boucher is third after Saturday.

Johnathan Helly (We Are One) is poised for a podium after placing second behind Luke Meir-Smith (Propain Factory Racing) on Saturday. The B.C. rider is trailing the Brit by 8.26 seconds. Helly’s teammate, Emmett Hancock, sits fourth. World Cup downhill cross-over Seth Sherlock (Intense Factory Racing) is currently seventh.