Video & Race Report: Eastern States Cup DH #4 - Windham, NY
How do you prefer your peanut butter, chunky or smooth? You could have sampled both types at Windham this past weekend. Although more tame than the famed World Cup track, Citizens DH presents its own set of challenges for racers, like greasy bridges, flat ski trail corners and mucky roots. With a long, four minute course and slick conditions anything can happen out there, as shown by first and second time winners in our Pro classes. Let's check out all the action from the Catskills.
It's been several years since we last raced Citizens Downhill, so this is a new track to many of our racers.
If you brake on the bridge you're gonna have a bad time.
Bit of a wet start to race day with showers lingering into morning practice.
Even DH national champions have to wash their own bikes.
Showers passed before race runs but visibility at the top of the mountain remained low.
Killington Mountain School's Gabriel Johnson blasts through the dark, foggy woods to take second place in the U15 class.
Who knew mountain bikers were so artistic?
Two wins in a row in the 50+ Masters class for Fred Bassett.
Dylan Conte has been on fire lately, three Pro Men's podiums in 2021, including fourth place this weekend. Definitely one to watch as we head north to his home state of Vermont next weekend.
Hannah Sulas took second place for the Amateur Women in her first Maxxis ESC DH race after several Enduro podiums.
Here's hoping no hecklers yelled "pedal!" at this poor person.
Scott Huntley dropping in for his first Amateur 30-30 win.
Andy Marek powers through the peanut butter, first place for the 40+ Experts.
Defiant Racing's Andrew Driscoll is up to pace after an early season injury, two Maxxis ESC races and two Junior Expert wins.
Anthony Lapedota earned his first 19-29 Amateur class win in his first year racing.
Michal Sulej hits warp speed on his way to his best finish ever, second place in an Amateur 19-29 mens class that was 28 racers deep.
Foot out, flat out into the final few corners.
Danny's Cycles rider Ivanna Estrada slid her way into third place for the Pro ladies.
It's been nearly three years since Kristin Lenart missed a podium result. She was back up there again this weekend, runner-up in the Pro women's class.
Abby Ronca kept the momentum rolling from her first Pro win last round at Thunder, winning by nearly six seconds with a final race time of 4:51.30. "After seeding I wasn’t sure what to expect. Conditions were difficult but I managed to stay upright after some close calls. Stoked to walk away with first."
Pro Women: 4th - Mazie Hayden, 2nd - Kristin Lenart, 1st - Abby Ronca, 3rd - Ivanna Estrada, 5th - Clair Sick
Steve Estabrook rounds out the Pro Men's top three, he has yet to finish off the podium this year.
On pace again this weekend, just 1.6 seconds off the win for Max Morgan.
There's no shortage of racing experience in the Pro men's class these days, but it was ProBuilds young gun Cameron Mader who took his first Pro win with a 3:39.73. "Stoked on taking the win at Windham this weekend! Just kept it clean and composed in my race run, conditions made it hard to tell where there was and wasn’t grip, so I just tried my best to keep it upright and push where I could. Actually ended up flatting towards the end of the run, but luckily I don’t think it cost me much time. Track was fun and the Eastern States Cup put on another great race. Huge thanks to Jorge and Nick at Probuilds Racing for supporting me all weekend. It’s awesome to see the level at these local races getting higher and higher, racing was tight and I’m looking forward to Sugarbush next weekend!"
The only thing Cam left on course was some air and sealant.
Pro Men: 4th - Dylan Conte, 2nd - Max Morgan, 1st - Cameron Mader, 3rd - Steve Estabrook, 5th - Mauricio Estrada
Time to break out the Motorex bike wash and prepare your rig for the Box Components Showdown at Sugarbush next weekend. See you there!
Words and photos: Andrew Santoro
Video: Jason Scheiding
Full Results
Easternstatescup.com
2021 MAXXIS ESC SCHEDULE
MAXXIS ESC INTENSE DOWNHILL SERIES
May 23 Powder Ridge, CT
June 27 Blue Mountain, PA
July 11 Thunder Mountain, MA
July 25 Windham, NY
Aug 1 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 29 Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 12 Sugarloaf, ME
Sept 26 Jiminy Peak, MA
Oct 3 Powder Ridge, CT
Oct 24 Mountain Creek, NJ - Series Finals
MAXXIS ESC ENDURO SERIES
May 2 Diamond Hill, RI
May 22 Powder Ridge, CT - Outbound Lighting Night Enduro
June 6 Glen Park, PA
July 11 Thunder Mountain, MA
Aug 1 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 22 Arrowhead Recreation Area, NH - EWS Gold Qualifier
Aug 29 Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 12 Sugarloaf, ME - EWS Gold Qualifier
Sept 26 Jiminy Peak, MA - EWS Gold Qualifier
Oct 2 Powder Ridge, CT - Outbound Lighting Night Enduro
Oct 17 Mountain Creek, NJ - Series Finals
MOTOREX EBIKE ENDURO SERIES
May 2 Diamond Hill, RI
May 22 Powder Ridge, CT
June 6 Glen Park, PA
July 11 Thunder Mountain, MA
Aug 1 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 22 Arrowhead, NH
Sept 12 Sugarloaf, ME
Oct 2 Powder Ridge, CT
BOX COMPONENTS SHOWDOWN SERIES
May 22 Powder Ridge, CT
July 11 Thunder Mountain, MA
Aug 29 Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 12 Sugarloaf, ME
Sept 26 Jiminy Peak, MA
Oct 2 Powder Ridge, CT
GT BICYCLES JUNIOR XC CHALLENGE
May 1 Diamond Hill, RI - XC
July 10 Thunder Mountain, MA - XC
GT BICYCLES EAST COAST JUNIOR MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS
Aug 14-15 Blue Mountain, PA - DH - DS - XC - Enduro
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