Jeff Fredette: An ISDE Legend

America’s Jeff Fredette prepares for his 34th and final International Six Days Enduro (ISDE)…

It’s said that records are made to be broken, but here’s one that’s unlikely to fall: America’s Jeff Fredette has started – and finished – each of the 33 Six Days races he’s entered. He now feels it’s time to close out that part of his career, though, so the 89th International Six Days Enduro that runs from November 3-8 in Argentina will be his final run in the world’s oldest international off-road race.

It’s been an incredible run, starting with his first one in Sweden in 1978 when it was still known as the International Six Days Trial – he was 20. It didn’t become the ISDE until 1981 in Italy. Since then, he’s amassed 11 gold medals, 20 silvers and two bronze (insisting that the first bronze especially was probably his most difficult Six Days).

Only one other rider has even completed over 30 Six Days, that being Spaniard, Juan Maso, with 31, though he DNF’d seven times. Aussie legend, Geoff Ballard, is tied with three others for fourth on the list at 24 Six Days entered, finishing 20 of them.

^ Two legends – Geoff Ballard and Jeff Fredette. Between the pair, they’ve started 54 Six Days, but Fredette is the only one in the world who has such a lengthy, perfect finishing record.

Asked why he doesn’t make it a tidy 35, or even 40, Fredette replies, “Everybody goes, ‘You’ve got to round it out to 35!’ I don’t have to do anything. When I started this, I wanted to go to one. It’s one of those things that just snowballed and got out of control!”

“It’s still fun to do!” Fredette continued. “I could probably still do them, but I just don’t want to take up a spot on Team USA that could go to someone who’s going to be faster.”

Over his decades-long Six Days history, Fredette’s seen a lot of changes and that in itself is one of the highlights, seeing how the sport’s morphed into its current version. Now, the rules allow more replacement of different unmarked parts on the bike to the point where the rider almost doesn’t have to carry anything, and just make it to the next control. In years past, bikes weren’t as reliable and the rider had to carry a lot of spares and tools.

As for a favourite country he’s ridden in, he answers, “Australia was probably my favourite. I don’t know if it was because it was Australia or whatever. It was one of those countries where the event was really neat. The town was behind it and all that kind of stuff. The opening ceremonies had all the kids which brought out all the families which brings notoriety to the event. They do the same thing in Europe, but the trail down in Australia was so much nicer because it was new stuff and it was different every two days. Plus, they spoke English!”

^ Last year’s ISDE in Italy marked Jeff Fredette’s 33rd Six Days which he finished with his 20th silver medal. That’s 33 Six Days started and 33 Six Days finished – a record that will probably never be broken. However, he’s ready to call it a career in Argentina after his 34th.

What does he suggest to aspiring Six Days riders? “You’ve got to be a motivated individual,” he pointed out. “It’s not like you want to do it because, ‘Hey, it’s a bucket list thing and I want to try it.’ It’s an event that you put a lot of effort into it, and if you do all that, your results will be there for you. It’s a serious event; you’ve got to keep your head into the game the whole six days. It’s a whole package deal: You’ve got to keep your head on and you’ve got to have the mechanics behind it. You’ve got to know how everything works on your bike and be able to hear what your bike’s doing.”

So what’s the next chapter for Fredette? Will he – can he – simply walk away from Six Days? Highly unlikely.

“I don’t know exactly what yet I’m going to be doing,” he says. “There’s a lot more that goes on behind the scenes. I’ve always said the riding part is the easy part!”

So while he may not roll out of the parc fermé for a 35th Six Days, he’ll should still be a key player on Team USA for years.