Enduro star from Gamehl: Leon Thoms is European champion!

Enduro star from Gamehl: Leon Thoms is European champion!

A new star in the enduro sky: Leon Thoms from Gamehl near Wismar has secured the title of European champion in the E3 class. The 22-year-old rider recently triumphed at the European Enduro Championship in Grado, Italy, leaving his competition in the dust. How Baltic Sea newspaper reported, Thoms took over the overall ranking after two victories in Hungary in July and was able to further extend his lead in the Italian race.

Thoms had an easy time as he completed five laps, each with three tricky special stages. A stage in the forest was particularly challenging, where groundwater collected and made the route even more difficult. In the end, Thoms left the course with an impressive win, more than a minute ahead of second-place finisher Nico Poutsaari of Finland. This gave him a valuable four point lead in the overall standings.

A remarkable path to the top

The success in Grado is not his first coup. Thoms had previously achieved good placings at the competition in Lisbon and Porto this year - third and fourth places were his results before he found his way back to his old strength in Hungary. Winning the European Championship in the E3 class is the greatest success of his career after his victory at the German Junior Championship in 2024. In the E3 class he joined prominent names and showed that he has what it takes to take off in international competition.

During the championship in Italy, the course offered a varied mix of high-speed beach sprints and technical forest sections. Thoms showed not only speed, but also skill and control on the demanding terrain types. The event is part of the Enduro World Championship, which has been held in various countries since 1990 and is considered one of the most important competitions in enduro sport Wikipedia explained.

The dream of the World Cup

With the title behind him, Thoms now dreams of taking part in the World Cup. This idea is not an easy undertaking as it requires both sporting excellence and financial support. The enduro sport, which has become increasingly popular in recent years, demands everything from the riders - which is clear from Thoms' impressive performance.

This year, Nico Rambow also did excellently in the senior class and took the runner-up title with two second places. Thoms’ teammates and young riders show that enduro sport is alive and thriving in Germany. Baboon's Magazine highlights that the event in Grado offered both exciting races and exciting stories that captivated the spectators.

The challenges ahead for Thoms will not only be on the track, but also in preparation for the World Championships. But one thing is certain: with his talent and determination, he is ready to take the next steps in his career and perhaps soon shine on the world stage of enduro sport.