Report & Results: Richie Rude Wins Big Mountain Enduro Santa Fe

May 27, 2018
by Big Mountain Enduro  
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The 2018 Yeti Cycles Big Mountain Enduro presented by Shimano season kicked off in Santa Fe, NM on Saturday and what an event it was. With a sold out field and some of the top riders in the world, excitement was in the air. Over 300 racers tackled the 4 challenging stages that the BME crew put together at Glorieta, including the new steep DH track (Stage 2) that challenged racers to the fullest. The infamous and final stage 4 Chili Dog was as entertaining as ever, always boasting a huge heckle zone and hundreds of people taking in the action; and crashes.

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Shimano was out in full force, launching their new XTR 12-speed products at the BME season opener. Richie Rude ran the new XTR and took the Yeti SB5.5 to a dominating victory over some of the world's best, winning by over 37 seconds. With a tight battle for 2nd place, Curtis Keene barely held off Marco Osborne for the second step. Coming in 4th and 5th were Duncan Nason and Scott Countryman. For the pro women, Cooper Ott held the top step on the box, followed by Rachel Strait, Alex Pavon, Lia Westerman and Liz Cunningham.

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The tracks were steep, rocky and well-balanced at the Glorieta headquarters, but as challenging as the big day was on the bike, all racers were stoked and smiling come post-party time in the sponsor village. The raffle was huge, the prizes were stacked high. Shimano also gave out full sets of brakes as part of their sweepstakes and pros walked away with some serious cash, with equal payouts for men and women. It was good to see such a positive group of racers yesterday at the BME season opener and to see Richie Rude smiling again and riding as fast as we've seen him yet in his young career.

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Expert Open Men:
1st: Josh Gaube
2nd: Lars Romig
3rd: Robby Madeiros

Amateur Men:
1st: Chris Thomas
2nd: Aidan Scott
3rd: Wendell Montgomery

Master Men 40+:
1st: Mike West
2nd: Joe Lawwill
3rd: Jonathan Reed

Master Men 50+:
1st: Dee Tidwell
2nd: Don Fritts
3rd: DL Wood

Amateur Women:
1st: Ariana Soto
2nd: Katie Gillen
3rd: Merel Witteveen

Master Women 40+:
1st: Amber Tinstman
2nd: Krista Birkelo
3rd: Lisa Gustin

U21 Men:
1st: Max Sedlak
2nd: Travis Claypool
3rd: Talus Lantz

Groms:
1st: Aidan Bond
2nd: Braden Linde
3rd: Izak Boarman

Full results here: http://www.bigmountainenduro.com/results/

BME RAW Video:
Views: 5,065    Faves: 4    Comments: 0



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Photos by Eddie Clark and Tony Wilhelms.

More media coverage, videos and full photo gallery soon to follow via BME social media channels and Pinkbike.

A huge thanks to all of the BME sponsors, including Yeti Cycles, Shimano, Maxxis, FOX, Stan's No Tubes, Upslope Brewing, Ryno Power, Honey Stinger, Enduro MTB Training, Backcountry Research, Smart Cycling Service, along with the Glorieta Camps and Jagged Axe Trail Designs.

Author Info:
BigMtnEnduro avatar

Member since Mar 26, 2013
92 articles

72 Comments
  • 39 1
 Did the Rocky Mountain Rider ride that out?????
  • 3 0
 amen....
  • 5 0
 The woman's expression on the left isn't showing confidence in his prospects. But I also wish to know the answer!
  • 1 0
 @Zaff: I thought the same thing, her face is priceless!
  • 10 0
 He was just throwing down a super steezy new type of one footer
  • 1 0
 Same. That looked like it might've been pretty painful very shortly after that pic was snapped. Either that, I extremely awesome. And an extremely powerful right leg, and everything else...
  • 3 0
 That's not how one's supposed to ride a drop.
  • 7 0
 He was just showing some style, with a whipless nac nac.
  • 2 0
 Best super nac thrown in a race ever.
  • 5 0
 No. It ended up looking like a side saddle superman finishing with a full body slam to the ground. He was a grom and bounced, and then got up and ran to the finish.
  • 1 6
flag fecalmaster (May 28, 2018 at 6:06) (Below Threshold)
 @RkyMtnSrfr: hopefully the bike was horribly mashed at least.
  • 2 0
 @RkyMtnSrfr: They are made of rubber aren't they? I'm sure I used to be.
  • 23 1
 Richie's check says Santa Fe, Colorado...
  • 12 1
 Eh, we're used to it by now.
  • 6 0
 @Klainmeister: at least they got the country right...
  • 3 3
 what's wrong about that?
  • 14 2
 The pros walked away with "serious cash." ??????????? $1000??? I had to look at the pic twice. No disrespect to BME, but that's pretty sad winnings for a pro of any kind.
  • 4 0
 @rrolly: well its more than most EWS, so not so bad. Bme crew does it right
  • 4 0
 @DirtFaceTours: More than EWS? Oh man, that's not good.
  • 23 2
 What is this, the Yeti open?
  • 12 0
 @bishopsmike: Umm, let's see. "The 2018 Yeti Cycles Big Mountain Enduro presented by Shimano". Yup, pretty much. Smile
  • 6 16
flag fecalmaster (May 28, 2018 at 5:35) (Below Threshold)
 Indeed, cyan everything and douche bags drinking brewdogs broby. No girls allowed at this party?
  • 17 3
 Only 1000$ for 1st place? Wouldn't though those guys were doing races for that low of a prize.
  • 4 2
 Yeti is title sponsor
  • 46 1
 Maybe they still ride bikes for fun?
  • 1 0
 *think
  • 8 0
 Welcome to the U.S. racing scene....
  • 11 0
 Go and have a hunt around for prize money info for EWS events or MTB events in general. No rider is surviving off prize money that's for sure
  • 2 0
 @webby01: wow didn't know that I know it's not ews race and sponsors pay for expenses but that first place won't even cover my gas accomodation and food money to get to the damn race.
  • 11 1
 @webby01: surfers on wsl events have 20000$ to 25000$ for first place riding 700$ piece of foam with lower risk of injury and bikers make a couple thousand risking big injuries on 10000$to 12000$ bikes
  • 20 0
 @ybsurf: This becomes a very slippery slope. I wouldn't recommend looking up the prize money for the Darts world champs... But then again, darts may be cheap but the cost of training beers really adds up
  • 2 1
 At least they had about 2-3 beers each, freaking wild man status. IPA for your muthafuggin mind.
  • 4 0
 @ybsurf: "lower risk of injury"?? Have you watched the contests at Fiji or Pipeline when it gets big? Those guys(and girls), charge gnarly stuff that can easily kill someone. And, even on smaller days that $700 piece of foam can do some damage to a body. Pop an air and land on a fin for example. Mick Fanning had his hamstring tear off the bone when he came off a floater. I woke up underwater once after my board nailed me behind the ear when I landed a floater and the board was knocked up by the whitewater. Pretty bad concussion.
I agree these guys deserve more money($1,000 seems ridiculous), but definitely don't discount the risks there are surfing, especially in heavy breaks
  • 4 1
 Dude go back to school and learn how to use the dollar sign.
  • 2 0
 @GlassGuy: I know I suede for over ten years all over the world I said LOWER risk I didn't say no risk
  • 1 0
 @GlassGuy: *surf* but by the way I'm nowhere surfing those kind of breaks when it on and nowhere the speed those guys ride those trails Wink
  • 1 0
 I agree with the purse should be bigger and also surfing is right up there as far as dangerous activities. Have seen lots of carnage. Somehow never got cracked in the head by my own board but that was always a concern.
  • 1 0
 Thought Richies check says $4k? 1k doesnt even cover food,hotel,gas,chicks and beer???
  • 15 0
 looks more like a DH race
  • 1 31
flag CaliCol (May 27, 2018 at 20:25) (Below Threshold)
 Yeah, no it doesn’t. Still don’t “get” enduro but I suppose to each his own.
  • 6 0
 @CaliCol: how doesn't it? Those features look bigger than anything in most DH races I've seen.
  • 6 0
 Pretty big jumps to do with a open helmet,IMO.
  • 2 12
flag fecalmaster (May 28, 2018 at 6:26) (Below Threshold)
 More Enduro tracks should have actual drop options, but even these are small. There is something wrong when skateboarders are going bigger than DH riders on $$$$$ bikes.
  • 7 1
 @fecalmaster: ah yes, skate boarders....those guys who are always doing full gas race runs at 180+bpm for up to 15 minutes.

Enduro is a cardio sport which requires strength and must take into account fatigue. Skateboarding is a trick sport where most guys sit down immediately after they do something cool. Such a dumb comparison.
  • 1 3
 Yes the sky is blue also but I was referring to brute balls out hucking. You might want to watch some new skate or bmx flicks. Busting tripple combos off 25' drops is harder than a 5.6' flop off drop with 10k full suspension bike. I'm speaking from experience.
  • 2 0
 @humoroususername: Just rode there last week, Glorieta is no joke.
  • 2 0
 @humoroususername: It looks pretty rough but the picture of dude in tight tank top with colored spokes definitely doesn't look too DH.
  • 14 0
 Wow, some of the scariest looking crash shots ive ever seen in one race recap.
  • 3 0
 Have to think at least one collar bone was likely sacrificed. I can't imagine racing a trail like that, the risks you'd have to take would be huge.
  • 7 0
 Nothing says "match the mushroom tie to the mushroom shirt"...like Team Yeti. Where rider and bike truly fuse as one.
  • 3 0
 Check out: mountainbikenewmexico.com/2018/05/29/big-mountain-enduro-glorieta

Mountain Bike New Mexico had coverage of this race, tons of rider photos and stage videos. Share with all your friends who raced this weekend!
  • 10 5
 So much for their new 12 speed. He ran the new 11 speed cassette cuz those quadzillas don't need no 51 tooth pie plate.
  • 2 0
 I think on facebook he said he is running the 10-45 cassette with the new XTR. Looks nice!
  • 6 0
 Gosh...Richie is thicc as hell. Check that ass
  • 2 1
 Hmm, sure signs of hmm, ahemm,hmm, yeah, yeah..
  • 6 0
 Matt Damon!!!!!!
  • 3 0
 Is everyone going to glaze over how big those drops are?!?!? Jesus, that’s gnarly haha looks fun
  • 3 0
 Hey where are the Pro Women's results? Can't see them here.
  • 2 0
 Does somebody know how Rude is carrying his water bottle und the shirt? (I mean with what piece of clothing/gear exactly).
  • 1 0
 @stripeypants: thank you. I wonder how carrying the bottle pressed against your back is comfortable. I guess I must try it out myself once.
  • 2 0
 Looks gnarly and tailor made for Rude. Be curious to see how it would have panned out being an EWS race
  • 1 0
 I bet Richie dropped a full pound off his bike and added a ton of range by going to the new XTR... anybody got a bike check on him since switching?
  • 2 0
 Check out BME's instagram RAW crash clips from that drop. EPIC!
  • 1 0
 Hell yes, wish I could've gone up to watch this one, Glorieta's got the goods. That moon dust tho...
  • 1 0
 Is Richie rude on a 5.5 29er? Wonder why he didn’t use the 6 on such a steep course
  • 2 0
 Probably because the 5.5 is faster.
  • 1 0
 For a second, I thought that Cannondale rider on the podium was Luca Shaw.
  • 1 0
 Masters dude and Rasta man... SAVAGE.
  • 1 0
 Any info on the black box the Yeti riders have on top of their helmets?
  • 1 0
 the front range talent showed up in force!
  • 1 0
 Nice work Coop!







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