Big Mountain Enduro: Steamboat Springs - Race Recap
As the dust settled on Steamboat Springs, joking chatter began to fly into the air. Deemed as an XC enduro by many, some riders saw a lack of technical riding. With extended long buff sections of single track, this race was certainly different from all the other Big Mountain Enduro races, but after two days and seven stages it was anything but easy. Many riders finding themselves holding on to finish out the final stage on Steamboat Resort. Day one had roughly 22 miles and 3,000 feet of climbing in some of the best backcountry single track Steamboat Springs has to offer while day two brought racers to Steamboat Resort for three stages of racing.
The next race in the Big Mountain Enduro series will be held in Crested Butte for what is considered one of the hardest backcountry enduro races.
Photos by Devon Balet / @devonbalet
Full Results can be found here.
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 Racers gather at the base of Steamboat Resort for the start of the EnduroX Big Mountain Enduro race. |
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| Alvin "Chill Down" of Big Mountain Enduro checks racers in for the opening pedal transfer stage of day one. |
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| A beautiful Colorado morning to kick off a weekend of racing. |
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| Steamboat Springs- known for its single track and ranching. |
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| Everyone seemed to be having a wheelie good time on the opening pedal transfer of 10 miles. |
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| Macky Franklin pinning down stage 2. |
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| Fall is not far away as the trails of stage two showed. |
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| Adam Craig always seems to be having a blast on the bike, no matter what form of racing. |
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| Mike West opening it up on lower Red Dirt. |
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| Michael Larsen slashes the turns on Red Dirt. |
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| Anne Galyean had a few difficulties over the weekend including a dog on the course but she was able to hold it together for a second place finish. |
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| The trees were tight and dark on stage 3. |
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| The final stage of day one has a long fast straight away that goes by in a blur. |
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| That goes for good food too! |
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| Everyone can appreciate a cold drink after a day of riding. |
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| Back to where we are used to seeing Nate Hills; on the podium! |
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| Crested Butte local Colin Pickett paces through a berm on stage 5. Pickett finished out the weekend in 8th overall. |
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| Cooper Dendel ripping all the way to the podium. |
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| Liz Cunningham was sitting in 7th overall going into day two. After three stages on Steamboat Resort she moved up to 4th overall. |
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| Long time Yeti racer Sarah Rawley hammers out a short, flat section on stage 5. |
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| One thing I noticed about Richie Rude's racing this weekend is that he can be seen sitting, proving that recovery is crucial for winning. |
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| Chris Heath was nipping at the podium all weekend long finishing 6 seconds behind Cody Kelley. |
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| Krista Rust had a great weekend of racing finishing consistently every stage and taking home third in the Pro Women's race. |
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| Team Rude Boys pedal their way to the start of stage 6. |
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| Even with recovering from a cold, Cody Kelley is still lightening fast on the bike. Rounding out the Yeti dominance of the podium taking third overall for the weekend. |
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| Back from an early season injury Nate Hills is racing strong and contending for the podium. After two days and seven stages Hills finished second behind teammate Richie Rude. |
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| Cooper Dendel had a stand out weekend taking the top step of the Pro Women's podium. |
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| Leigh Bowe dropping into the final stage on Steamboat Resort. |
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| Richie Rude, wearing the number with pride and for reason. |
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| Pro Women's Podium: 1- Cooper Dendel 2- Anne Galyean 3- Krista Rust |
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| Pro Men's Podium: 1- Richie Rude 2- Nate Hills 3- Cody Kelley |
The next race in the Big Mountain Enduro series will be held in Crested Butte for what is considered one of the hardest backcountry enduro races.
Photos by Devon Balet / @devonbalet
Full Results can be found here.
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19 Comments
- 15 1
herzalot
(Aug 22, 2016 at 21:02)
Great job to privateer chemist Anne! @C9H13NO3 Woot!
- 6 0
C9H13NO3
(Aug 23, 2016 at 5:50)
Thank you!
- 1 0
jhilly
(Aug 23, 2016 at 8:09)
That was a great weekend of racing. Saturday wasn't really technical, but really heavy on the pedaling and so many blown out corners. Sunday was great and after 2 long stages, by the time I got to Rawhide I could barely hang onto the bars. Great to have a beer with you afterwards @devonbalet !
- 5 1
Golden-G
(Aug 22, 2016 at 20:09)
Yeti dominance!!
- 6 1
poozank
(Aug 22, 2016 at 20:25)
Yeti is really good at spotting and signing talent.
- 4 0
herzalot
(Aug 22, 2016 at 21:01)
@poozank: Agreed. For the past 25 years.
- 1 0
ride-pg
(Aug 23, 2016 at 18:38)
I think Rude is good enough he could put supercycle on the podium
- 1 0
herzalot
(Aug 23, 2016 at 20:00)
@ride-pg: He did... !
- 4 0
mtbakerpow
(Aug 22, 2016 at 23:35)
Steamboat!
- 2 0
zeerob
FL (Aug 23, 2016 at 7:17)
Steamboat rocks! Perfect Colorado mountain. Excited to see them continue to build gravity trails in the coming years.
- 3 1
poozank
(Aug 23, 2016 at 9:55)
@zeerob: they need to get a bigger and better trail crew. Flying diamond is a total mess.
- 1 0
zeerob
FL (Aug 23, 2016 at 10:14)
@poozank: Agreed, but from zero to half a dozen gravity trails in two years is awesome. The single track is awesome, too. Flying diamond was fun last year, don't recall it being bombed out, but haven't been this year. Hopefully with more exposure, like this Enduro, they'll keep investing their park.
- 1 2
poozank
(Aug 23, 2016 at 12:06)
@zeerob: the thing is they know how to build trails when they try which they only do for part of what they build. Flying diamond for instance, the top part is very well constructed and flows nicely then they just gave up on the on the second half, no flow, if you overshoot by a couple feet you can go of a small cliff, pedaling uphill to get to a jump absolute nonsense. Same thing with rawhide.
- 1 0
Ironchefjon
FL (Aug 23, 2016 at 5:44)
YETI BOYS!! Cody kelley is such a stylish rider...
- 1 0
ergonbike
(Aug 23, 2016 at 6:54)
Yeah Yeti! Strong work as always!!
- 1 0
leviboardbike
(Aug 23, 2016 at 5:06)
Yeah Anne!!!!!!!
- 2 3
fercho25
(Aug 23, 2016 at 7:55)
Sagan could have won if he had competed on it!
- 4 1
dirtslayer
(Aug 23, 2016 at 9:55)
...and Chuck Norris could beat you in an arm wrestle if he showed up to your house.
- 2 1
fercho25
(Aug 23, 2016 at 12:32)
@dirtslayer: sagan is the Chucky Norris of MTB
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