Race Report: Trans New England 2022 - Day 5 by transnewengland

The fifth and final day of the 2022 Trans New England marked the return to Sugarloaf Mountain. A venue that just recently hosted one of two EWS rounds on the East Coast.

Sugarloaf is the canvas of none other than Adam Craig - Maine born & raised, only to become a World Cup & olympic caliber XC athlete and international community builder. Adam has poured a lifetime of experiences from riding and racing across the globe to instill in Sugarloaf all of the small facets that he's found to make a trail special. Adam's work speaks for itself as a reflection on his life - what appears impossible and sinuous at first glance, is at its core a single beautiful line traced between janky rock gardens and tight hardwood trees. A thinking mans game, the kind of trails that force eyes to gaze far ahead and trust the process that will carry the bike through whatever lies below. The kind of trails that can't be designed on paper, but are found within the landscape only by those who have paid the sands of time to be able to see them.

During the 2021 edition of TNE, this mountain showed just how brutal it can be with 70mph howling winds and relating foul weather. This year was different. Though, a freezing night with 25dgr made sure that the tenting participants all were a bit stiff from the get go, the sun and temperature slowly rose. Fortunately for all, that rising was extended to riders as well - with the lift spinning, a party lap kicked off the day down “Downhill”. The second stage started from the very summit above the tree line and along with the lift and 20-minute hike’a’bike the temperature rose to what was nothing but a spectacular New England autumn day.

As the day progressed riders were shown some of the best there is in the northeastern corner of the states. Magnificent endless views, long Euro-esque descends with proper arm-pump, sore hands and glutes screaming of fatigue, rocks, roots, ruts, quirky corners, flat out high speed steep stuff beyond belief and all of it occasionally at once. A true testament to the Jank. The participants got to race 365, Crusher DH, Rookie River (which is far from a rookie-based trail), Widowmaker and much more with equally comforting names.

Throughout the week of racing around New England, the trails have been nothing but spectacular. The last and fifth day at Sugarloaf unquestionably signed the week of in manner.
In true New England style the evening and week was wrapped up with a banger of a party with copious amounts of beverages, local food and the recurring unofficial jumping-a-burning-snowmobile championship.

Womens podium
1. Anna Svagzdys
2. Mary McConneloug
3. Lindsay Currier

Mens podium:
1. Branham Snyder
2. Sam Higley
3. Mike Broderick

Full results can be found here.