Grotts wins Missoula Pro XCT
Ettinger, Wells on podium
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful





Howard Grotts (Specialized) won his second consecutive Missoula XC race, topping US national champion Stephen Ettinger (BMC) and his own teammate Todd Wells by leaving behind the competition on the final lap.
A deep elite men’s field toed the line for the final event of the day. Keegan Swenson (Cannondale Factory Racing), Grotts, Ettinger, Max Plaxton (Sho-Air Cannondale Factory Racing), Todd Wells and Derek Zandstra (Scott 3 Rox Racing) hit out hard with a fast first lap and separated themselves from the field.
After the initial fireworks died down; Grotts and Ettinger broke off from the lead group to battle the rest of the race for the top spot. Zandstra, Wells and Leandre Bouchard (Cyclone) formed a chase group but never made contact with the leaders again with Plaxton and Swenson fading between the main field and the lead duo.
Grotts left Ettinger behind on the final lap, with the BMC rider holding on for second at 1:20. Wells soloed in for third only 10 seconds ahead of Zandstra.
Full results
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Howard Grotts | 1:31:21 |
| 2 | Stephen Ettinger | 0:01:20 |
| 3 | Todd Wells | 0:02:05 |
| 4 | Derek Zandstra | 0:02:15 |
| 5 | Leandre Bouchard | 0:02:53 |
| 6 | Hector Riveros | 0:03:23 |
| 7 | Keegan Swenson | 0:03:25 |
| 8 | Benjamine Sonntag | 0:04:23 |
| 9 | Max Plaxton | 0:04:30 |
| 10 | Alex Grant | 0:04:32 |
| 11 | Rotem Ishay | 0:05:49 |
| 12 | Geoff Kabush | 0:05:51 |
| 13 | Russell Finsterwald | 0:06:58 |
| 14 | Mitchell Hoke | 0:07:05 |
| 15 | Raphael Gagne | 0:07:19 |
| 16 | Richard Cypress Gorry | 0:07:31 |
| 17 | Spencer Paxson | 0:08:09 |
| 18 | Kerry Werner | 0:08:47 |
| 19 | Mitchell Bailey | 0:09:12 |
| 20 | Evan Mcneely | 0:09:32 |
| 21 | Antione Caron | 0:09:38 |
| 22 | Justin Lindine | 0:09:55 |
| 23 | Sepp Kuss | 0:10:05 |
| 24 | Cole Oberman | 0:10:35 |
| 25 | Chris Baddick | 0:10:48 |
| 26 | Casey Williams | 0:11:56 |
| 27 | Troy Wells | 0:12:16 |
| 28 | Cameron Jette | 0:12:29 |
| 29 | James Driscoll | 0:12:48 |
| 30 | Eric Thompson | 0:13:04 |
| 31 | Peter Disera | 0:13:32 |
| 32 | Menso De Jong | 0:13:46 |
| 33 | Payson Mcelveen | 0:14:00 |
| 34 | Chris Jackson | 0:14:14 |
| 35 | Jason Sager | 0:14:17 |
| 36 | Joseph Maloney | 0:15:03 |
| 37 | Ernie Watenpaugh | 0:15:07 |
| 38 | Adrian Retief | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
| 39 | Thomas Sampson | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
| 40 | Jason Siegle | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
| 41 | Joseph Clemenzi | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
| 42 | Mathieu Belanger Barrette | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
| 43 | Kacey Campbell | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
| 44 | Trevor De Ruise | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
| 45 | Sam Chovan | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
| 46 | John Curry | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
| 47 | Joel Shehan | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
| 48 | Matthew Turner | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
| 49 | Elliot Reinecke | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
| 50 | Kalan Beisel | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
| 51 | Clint Muhlfeld | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
| 52 | Craig Wohlschlaeger | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
| 53 | Kristopher Holden | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
| 54 | Eliel Anttila | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
| 55 | Nick Thomas | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
| 56 | Ben Parsons | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
| 57 | Keith Omundson | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Alexis Skarda and Maddy Nutt anchor new Q36.5 Women's Off-Road Racing Expedition with early 2026 objectives at The Traka and Unbound Gravel
Cycling apparel company wants to build a network of female ambassadors who can be more approachable than 'hyper-professionalized world of WorldTour road racing' -
'I was doing a bit too much in general' - Adam Yates aiming to rectify 2025 errors as British star eyes repeat of Giro d'Italia and Tour de France double
UAE Team Emirates-XRG racer set to defend title at Tour of Oman -
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana stage 1: Biniam Girmay takes first victory in over a year on dream debut for NSN Cycling Team
Late attacker Giulio Pellizzari caught in final kilometres by charging peloton -
'There will be a point that I will be beaten in a sprint' – Lorena Wiebes aiming to extend invincible streak in UAE Tour season debut
Dutch sprinter already has six stage wins at the race, but remains hungry for even more




