SCOTT Enduro Cup season kicks off in Moab
The incomparable Katie Compton takes another victory.
The SCOTT Enduro Cup presented by Vittoria launched its first race of the season at the Klondike Bluffs Trail System in Moab, Utah, last weekend. The sold-out event drew 250 athletes to the desert for a day of enduro mountain bike racing, a tailgate barbecue, awards and raffle. Results are in as Nate Hills and two-time champion, Katie Compton claimed the fastest times overall for the men and women’s pro/open category.
Event organizers worked closely with the BLM and Grand County Trail Mix to host the race for a second year at Klondike Bluffs. Racers were organized into five categories for both men and women, including pro/open, expert, vet expert (35+), amateurs and juniors (13-18). Riders in the pro/open and expert categories rode four timed stages descending approximately 3,000 vertical feet with a total mileage of 29 miles. The amateur and junior categories rode three timed stages covering 25 miles.
Men’s final podium.
Nate Hills, 39, of Keystone, Colorado, beat the spring showers, leading the charge for the pro/open men’s category, with a total time of 21:28.84. Last year’s Moab champion, Macky Franklin, 28, slid into second place at 21:43.504. Downhill legend, Mike West, 41, took third at 21:54.334.
“When I started biking, there was only cross country and I have always liked downhill,” said West. “Now that I am in the enduro scene, it’s what I love the most. It is an all-around race. You have to be able to pedal, you need to be fit, but you also have to have the technical skills to get up and over all the cracks and crannies that cover slickrock. Moab is great, this venue and the SCOTT Enduro Cup is a great place to kick off the season.”
Dropping in hot in Moab.
Katie Compton, 37, of Colorado Springs is no stranger to the podium. She once again landed in Moab’s first place position for the pro/open women’s category, with a total time of 24:12.336. SCOTT Sports athlete Teal Stetson-Lee, 30, finished in second place with a total time of 25:01.920. Cooper Dendel, 24, fell just two seconds behind Stetson-Lee, landing her the third place spot at 25:03.809.
“All of today’s stages were fun and fast, and technical,” said Compton. “The faster you rode, the more fun they were. There was a solid camaraderie between all the riders, doing the rider transitions together, and just hanging out, having a good time on bikes. That is the most important part for any cycling discipline. Slickrock is great to ride but it definitely takes it out of you.”
Taking the plunge.
Pro/Open Men Results
1. Nate Hills (21:28.842)
2. Macky Franklin (21:43.504)
3. Michael West (21:54.334)
Pro/Open Women Results
1. Katie Compton (24:12.336)
2. Teal Stetson-Lee (25:01.920)
3. Cooper Dendel (25:03.809)
A full list of results from the Moab race can be found here.
A little hang time.
SCOTT Enduro Cup presented by Vittoria 2016 Race Schedule
Moab, UT: May 7
Angel Fire, NM: June 11-12
Sun Valley, ID: June 23-26, in collaboration with the Ride Sun Valley Bike Festival
Deer Valley Resort, Park City, UT: Aug. 28
For registration information, visit endurocupmtb.com. Registration is open to men and women, professional and amateur adults and juniors ages 13-18. Riders can choose to participate in a single race or purchase a season pass. In addition to race entry, all registration fees include an event T-shirt, lunch and lift tickets (where applicable). In order to collect points to qualify for the Enduro World Series, racers will need to obtain an EMBA license through EWS here.
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