At one point, Rhys Verner considered himself an underdog.
While he grew up riding his bike and playing various other sports like soccer and football, he also didn't enter his first Enduro World Cup (EDR) race until he was 20 years old. At that point, Verner was a cross-country rider who'd hit a bit of a wall: juggling high-level athletics with a bachelor's degree in economics is no easy feat, particularly if you also want some semblance of a social life.
With very few accumulated points compared to many of his opponents in Europe, Verner found himself starting most events at the back of the pack. Sometimes, the field was so congested that he'd walk through his first lap. It was a reality check for an accomplished talent with Nationals and World Championships experience.
Fortunately, it was 2017 and enduro was beginning to take off. Verner's network supported him on a trip to Finale Ligure, Italy for his inaugural competitive outing in the discipline. He struck gold, in the process having "the most fun weekend ever."
And he never looked back.
"Perfect timing for me," Verner recalled. "I needed a change and it suited my skill set from the beginning. If enduro was popular when I was a kid, I probably would have just started there, but I was in this weird cross-country and downhill mix.
"The reality was: I'd been riding enduro my whole life. I went up climbs and pinned it on some pretty technical descending. Without even knowing it, I had the perfect training to eventually make enduro my main sport."
Riding the wave
Verner’s breakout campaign came in 2023, as he secured It all came together on June 15 in Leogang, Austria as the Squamolian powered to a trio of stage wins and a top-five placing in the other three. The opposition was stiff, with two-time American EDR titleholder and French veteran Alex Rudeau on the podium in second and third, respectively.
Mere weeks before that breakthrough, Verner locked up a silver medal in Pietra Ligure, Italy as he gave Whistler-based standout a run for his money.
Melamed has always spoken well of Verner in regard to his dedication, overall athleticism and potential to take over the long stages of any given race. Both got to bask in some more glory together with a gold-and-silver finish in —Melamed on top.
Verner concluded last season with four top-15 results (including a fourth place) in addition to the aforementioned medals.
"There's not ever going to be one specific thing that makes [consistent success] happen, and if I knew, I would have done it again," he remarked. "I really value the people around me. I've had Jesse up there the whole time. He's always been successful. Once you realize that [you're almost on his level], you get some confidence. Things were clicking last year, it felt pretty easy and I rode the wave."
'Good results come when you're not crazy stressed'
But 2024 has not been so kind to Verner. His only EDR top 15 as of this writing materialized in Leogang, but his campaign opener in Finale Ligure was a blazing hot, cramp-filled nightmare. He laboured to 24th, then absorbed a thumb injury that limited him to 19th in Bielsko-Biala, Poland.
More disappointment unfolded at this year's Crankworx.
Though Verner placed a very respectable seventh at the Garbanzo DH (won by Rude), he bowed out of the Canadian Open Enduro after Stage One. landed atop their home-turf podium again, but he couldn't join them.
Verner feels that several of his recent results are not indicative of his physical potential. He admits to asking himself, more than once: if I've won before, why am I not doing so again?
But then he puts it all back into perspective. EDR contains the world's best athletes, and if it was easy to podium, everyone would do it.
"Now I'm just trying to get back to the mindset I was in last year, where you're stoked to get the opportunity to race," said Verner. "The good results come when you're not crazy stressed. You take it seriously and try as hard as you can…but the reality is, I was just having fun when I was doing super well. I shouldn't change that now."
Other Canadian performances also tend to raise the Squamolian's spirits. Melamed remains in the mix, with Gauvin, Kasper Woolley, Jack Menzies and Elliot Jamieson distinguishing themselves at various junctures too.
Now it's time for Verner to get back in the saddle and remind folks of what he can do.
