Video & Race Report: Eastern States Cup Enduro - Glen Park, PA
The end of the 2019 race season approaching with stop #10 of the Maxxis ESC Specialized Enduro schedule, we return to one of the favorite venues amongst series racers – Glen Park in the Poconos of Pennsylvania. Glen Park is the premier riding destination in the Poconos featuring challenging trails from flowing single track to jumps, technical terrain and multiple choice of trail linking capabilities to customize your riding experience. Earlier this year Glen Park was a host to Maxxis ESC Specialized Enduro #2 and EWS qualifier. Trail conditions were much drier compared to early spring providing fast and loose riding for all racers! The Pocono Bike Club led by Dan Brodeen did an amazing job mapping out 6 great stages for the racers to put their abilities to the test.
It may be a little taboo to quote a road cyclist on a site purely dedicated to mountain biking, but American cycling legend Greg Lemond may have the best quote to describe enduro racing at Glen Park.
"It never gets easier; you just go faster." -- Greg LeMond
Glen Park may not be the steepest, most technical, or longest but when you turn it up to 11 it gets very challenging. The terrain constantly changes and this Maxxis Eastern States Cup Enduro course at Glen Park mixed things up in contrast to the EWS Qualifier that was held back in May. The course once again consisted of six stages and included a very short sprint stage across the top of the ridge. Other stages were lengthened to compensate for the short, but red line inducing 2nd stage. Rewinding back to the start, stage one hit two of the more well known features at the Glen.
The Maxxis Eastern States Cup Enduro weekends stand out from other series because the practice day is an event itself. The camaraderie on the mountain and pits is arguably just as much fun as the race itself. A real highlight of the weekend was the UCI DH Finals from Snowshoe being streamed live on the ESC’s timing monitors. A good crowd gathered for what was one of the best races in World Cup history.
You could hear Louie Diomede coming from far away as his broken spoke was making some serious noise before this shot was taken. It certainly wasn't slowing him down, as he clocked in the fastest time of the day on stage 6, regardless of this mechanical issue.
The Maxxis ESC's Under 12 CLIF Kids Class races for free thanks to CLIF Bar, ensuring the future of our great sport!
Some of the racers were much smaller than others, but looked just as determined as the big guys! (and probably had more fun)
Great to see little kids getting into the sport, riding with a huge smiling on their faces riding their bikes and enjoying their day. Today's little shredders are tomorrow's big pros!
Youngster Kale Cushman takes the win in an amateur woman with a commanding lead and her 7th series victory of 2019. There is no doubt she will be mixing it up with the pros really soon!
It's not always all work at the Eastern States Cup. Big shoutout to Kale Cushman and Jenn Yanazzo for hosting the awards ceremony.
Intense Cycles' very own Willem Cooper. Intense is a sponsor of Easter States Cup race series program. So if you ride an Intense bike, you could win some cash through their Intense podium payback program!
GT Pro Clair Sick on her way to earning a 5th podium spot.
It is never a surprise to see Kimberly Quinlan on the podium, taking 2nd place for the day and looking smooth in the process.
After taking a little time off from the racing scene, Alisha Darin comes back strong with a solid 3rd place.
Lauren Breza wins her first pro enduro this weekend! Lauren racing career started in 2016 with just one race a year from 2016 to 2018. This year she really upped the ante and has competed in 8 Maxxis ESC Specialized Enduro this season.
The only Canadian pro in the mix for the day, and no stranger to the podium, Ajay Nagy holds on to 4th place, despite fighting off fatigue due to ridiculous amounts of mileage put in on practice day. Seriously.... this guy loves riding his bike!
Willem Cooper from Intense Cycles not only runs their demo program but secured a top 5 finish in the pro men's Class.
GT Pro Dylan Conte looking super fast through this section, always consistent and on the hunt!
Pro Women podium: Clair Sick - 5th, Alisha Darin - 3rd, Lauren Breza - 1st, Kimberly Quinlan - 2nd, Kristine Contento Angell - 4th
Pro Men's podium left to right: Willem Cooper - 5th, Kyle Kimball - 3rd, Seamus Powell - 1st, Chris Miller - 2nd, Ajay Nagy - 4th. Seamus Powell locked up a narrow less than a one-second victory over Chris Miller said "Glen Park is always a blast to race. I have struggled here in the past with the speeds of the tracks and how short the stages are. it lends itself to being a venue with extremely tight race times. That said I put together 6 solid runs with minimal mistakes. I'm really happy to take this win after 7 weeks on the road racing National championships and the two North American EWS rounds. My season has been nothing but tumultuous with highs and lows so I'm happy to take this momentum to the final two Maxxis ESC events hunting for an overall podium spot."
Fox transfer winners, fastest on the timed climb. Jim Sellars was the fastest amateur climber on the day and took home a Fox Transfer seat post for his efforts.
Flat Tire Defender super stage winners.
Alex rims super stage winners.
The series returns to Mountain Creek Bike Park for the last BOX Showdown of the season featuring DH and Enduro racing on September 28-29. After that its's on to the finals for both series so make sure to join the festivities and fun!
Words and photos: Jason Scheiding and Dan Brodeen
Video: Jason Scheiding
RESULTS
MAXXIS ESC SPECIALIZED ENDURO STANDINGS
Easternstatescup.com
2019 MAXXIS ESC SCHEDULE
MAXXIS ESC SPECIALIZED ENDURO SERIES
May 5 Diamond Hill, RI
May 19 Glen Park, PA – EWS Qualifier
June 2 Thunder Mountain, MA
June 23 Blue Mountain, PA
July 7 Burke Mountain, VT PA – EWS Qualifier
July 14 Plattekill, NY
July 21 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 4 Killington, VT
Aug 18 Plattekill, NY
Sept 8 Glen Park, PA
Sept 29 Mountain Creek, NJ
Oct 6 Thunder, MA Finals PA – EWS Qualifier
MAXXIS ESC INTENSE DOWNHILL SERIES
June 2 Thunder Mountain, MA
June 23 Blue Mountain, PA
July 14 Plattekill, NY
July 21 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 4 Killington, VT
Aug 18 Plattekill, NY
Sept 29 Mountain Creek, NJ
Oct 20 Plattekill, NY Finals
MAXXIS ESC BOX SHOWDOWNS - DH and Enduro on the same day
June 2 Thunder Mountain, MA
June 23 Blue Mountain, PA
July 14 Plattekill, NY
July 21 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 4 Killington, VT
Aug 18 Plattekill, NY
Sept 29 Mountain Creek, NJ
MAXXIS ESC EWS QUALIFIERS
May 19 Glen Park, PA
July 7 Burke Mountain, VT
Oct 6 Thunder Mountain, MA Enduro Finals
CLIF ENDURO LITE presented by Maxxis ESC
Aug 25 Burke Mountain - Beginner Enduro Racers - Families - Kids - Fun!
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
6 Comments
- 3 0
lukecushman
(Sep 12, 2019 at 10:10)
What an absolute blast this weekend this was - trails were mint and the local folks from the Pocono Bike Club make it just that much better. It's a long drive for us but wouldn't miss it!
- 4 0
moutnbiker
FL (Sep 11, 2019 at 17:58)
Would have been nice to have hit this race, Glen park is the closest stop for me. However I was a little busy at the WC in snowshoe. Next time guys, next time.
- 5 0
jebcas
(Sep 12, 2019 at 5:29)
Scheiding pulling double duty! You rock dude!
- 2 0
Lankycrank
(Sep 11, 2019 at 14:37)
Glenn Park trails are pure fun, no doubt about it. Sad I missed this race, looks like good times were had aplenty.
- 2 0
Sevenz
(Sep 12, 2019 at 20:56)
ESC & the Pocono Bike Club make Glen Park a can't miss!!! Can't wait for the next one.
- 2 0
milken
(Sep 12, 2019 at 19:14)
Go Lauren!!!
Login or Sign Up