Video & Race Report: Maxxis Eastern States Cup Stan’s Enduro #7 – Burke, VT

BRUTALLY BURKE Maxxis ESC Stan’s No Tubes Enduro #7 – Burke Mountain, Vermont

This past weekend Maxxis ESC racers made the trek to Vermont’s mountain bike mecca, the Northeast Kingdom. The Burke crew laid out four stages for us, all with their own unique challenges. The lower stages are playful, flowy and fun while the giant toll road climb leads you to the mighty upper mountain where it’s a completely different ball game. The NEK has a lot of speedy hometown heroes of all ages who know these trails well, if you want a spot on the podium you’ll have to beat them and hope your bike stays in one piece. Beautiful weather, competitive racing and spectacular views, what more could you ask for?

While we enjoyed a dry weather weekend, there’s still evidence of the massive rain storms Northern Vermont received over the past month.

Lots to stop and look at during practice, especially on the steep upper mountain stage.

The Shearer brothers, coming to a podium near you soon. The Burke team got their lift fixed just in time for our visit and although we didn’t use it for the race, there were no shortage of party laps had.

The sun was shining for our morning riders meeting with Chris Gilbert, temps would reach into the mid 80’s for a beauty of a race day.

Our biggest classes belonged to the youth this weekend, which is a testament to the success of youth mountain bike programs in Vermont. The future of the sport is bright around these parts!

A moment of relaxation before all out effort, Pro racer Nathan Sterckx had a solid day on the bike and finished fifth.

Stage 2 was short but sweet, featuring loamy corners and some steep bits mixed in. Frequent flyer Tristan Murphy kept it upright, earning second place and his first U20 podium result.

Adam Hursh is three for three in podium results this season, he would end the day in third place for the 30-39 Men.

Monster win for Lucas Sourbeer at home, he takes all four stages and smokes the 16U class by over a minute. He blasted through the short Stage 2 in just 32 seconds.

After two stages on the lower mountain racers would pedal (or walk) their way up the steep 2,000+ vertical toll road for Stage 3.

Chris Mari and Ryan Bigham still in good spirits, maybe because they can see the top from here.

Shade is a precious commodity after a climb like that.

Next on the menu, Upper J-Bar. Even our fastest racers took nearly eight minutes to make their way through the chunky rock features and switchbacks that seem to go on forever.

Killer views up top, but the trail’s narrative changes quickly soon after entering the first woods.

Keaton Stone tackles the first of the gnarly sections on Stage 3, he rounded out the top three for the 21-29 Men.

Tom Ditchburn works it through the janky stuff, he would win this stage but land just 0.59s shy of the 30-39 win.

At this point of J-Bar the terrain starts to settle down but your arms are cooked from the top half. Ryan Bigham topped the 30-39 men’s class with three stage wins, his fourth W of the season.

Owen Deale attacks on the inside line, he would take fourth in his first race with the Pro Men.

Ethan Lemieux darts down the rocky hillside on his way to fourth place for the 40-49 Men, not bad for his first race.

Four stage wins for Will Miemis, who put 28 seconds between himself and the rest of the 20U class.

First top three in the 40-49 class for Nicholas Whitney who makes his way toward the CCC road on Stage 3.

By the time you see the flowy berms and rollers at the bottom of Stage 4, you know the suffering is nearly over. Phillip Roquebrune absolutely dominated the 40-49 men’s class, winning all four stages and the race by nearly two minutes.

Amanda Vansant topped the Pro Women in the first two stages but had a tough time in the second half of the race, which averaged out to fourth place at the end of the day.

21-29 class winner Charlie McLean zooms back into the base area on the final stage of the day, Black Forest. That’s five W’s in a row for him, what an animal.

Consistent day on the tools for Avery Ellis, she would round out the Pro women’s class top three.

Second place for Kai Waldman, her best result since joining the Pro ladies this year.

The top step belonged to Tillie Lange at her home mountain, she bested the Pro Women by 36 seconds with a total race time of 17:37 for her second win of the year.

Pro Women: 4th – Amanda Vansant, 2nd – Kai Waldman, 1st – Tillie Lange, 3rd – Avery Ellis, 5th – Kelly Dube

Home town race for Alex McAndrew and he goes P3 for his best finish of the season. The speed is still there, despite less training time with a toddler at home, running a business and coaching the IdeRide team who also had great results this weekend.

Tucker Shearer earned two stage wins but a flat on the final stage would cost him significant time, he finished second 6.8s short of the win.

The fastest time of the day was set by Isaac Allaire with 13:37 on the clock come Sunday afternoon. For those of you counting at home that’s his fifth win of the year, he’s currently running away with a 185 point lead in the Pro men’s class overall.

Pro Men: 4th – Owen Deale, 2nd – Tucker Shearer, 1st – Isaac Allaire, 3rd – Alex McAndrew, 5th – Nathan Sterckx

After a three week block of racing, the Maxxis ESC crew gets a weekend off before heading to Mount Snow August 11th for one of the best Intense DH tracks of the season. After that we’ll be heading up to Maine for a Thule Showdown at Sugarloaf August 18th. Get registered!

Words and photos: Andrew Santoro
Video: Seth Merritt

Full Results
Race Recap Podcast
Easternstatescup.com

2024 MAXXIS ESC PRESENTED BY KATE’S REAL FOOD SCHEDULE

INTENSE CYCLES DOWNHILL SERIES
May 19 Powder Ridge, CT
June 23 Jiminy Peak, MA
June 30 Killington, VT
July 21 Thunder Mountain, MA
Aug 11 Mount Snow, VT
Aug 18 Sugarloaf, ME
Aug 25 Powder Ridge, CT
Sept 15 Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 22 Thunder Mountain, MA
Oct 13 Jiminy Peak, MA Finals

STAN’S NO TUBES ENDURO SERIES
May 5 Powder Ridge, CT
June 9 Glen Park, PA
June 23 Jiminy Peak, MA
June 30 Killington, VT
July 14 Arrowhead, NH
July 21 Thunder Mountain, MA
July 28 Burke Mountain, VT
Aug 18 Sugarloaf, ME
Sept 8 Woodstock, VT
Sept 22 Thunder Mountain, MA
Oct 5 Monteau, NH
Oct 20 Arrowhead NH

THULE SHOWDOWN SERIES
June 23 Jiminy Peak, MA
June 30 Killington, VT
July 21 Thunder Mountain, MA
Aug 18 Sugarloaf, ME
Sept 22 Thunder Mountain, MA

CANNONDALE EBIKE SERIES
May 5 Powder Ridge, CT
June 9 Glen Park, PA
July 14 Arrowhead, NH
July 21 Thunder Mountain, MA
Aug 18 Sugarloaf, ME
Sept 8 Woodstock, VT
Sept 22 Thunder Mountain, MA
Oct 5 Monteau, NH
Oct 20 Arrowhead NH