Windham Mountain conditions were quite different this year. Trails were wet, and the temperature was above 90-degrees with high humidity.
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Payson McElveen (Ridebiker) leading Nic Beechan on a small descent
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Derek Zandstra (Scott 3Rox Racing) putting in a solid 8th place ride
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Nealo Perrin-Ganier riding in the top ten early in the contest.
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Russell Finsterwald (SRAM TLD Scott) looked good on all the climbs
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Lukas Baum (UCI MTB) descending through the “Rock no Roll” section of the course
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Marcel Guerrini (Focus) found a fast line through the rocks
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Keegan Swenson (Cannondale 360 Fly) leading Derek Zandstra through some rocks
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Kerry Werner (Kona) and Keegan Swenson (Cannondale) dealing with one of the muddy sections of the course
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Russell Finsterwald (SRAM TLD Scott) riding through the “Rock no Roll” section
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Payson McElveen (Ridebiker) riding to a top twenty finish today
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Nic Beechan (Trek) crossing a flyover but later DNF’d
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Maximillian Brandl (Lexware) riding to victory in the U-23 Men’s race
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Martin Loo (Hawaii Express) was happy with his first UCI win.
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Russell Finsterwald (SRAM TLD Scott) riding to a 6th place finish
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Martin Loo (Hawaii Express) hammers up the Alp d’Huez climb for the final time
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There were many seasoned World Cup racers in the field, (L to R) Marcel Guerrini (Focus), Markus Schulte-Lanzum (Focus), Florian Vogel (Focus), Derek Zandstra (Scott 3Rox), Jeremy Martin (Focus), Russell Finstererwald (SRAM)
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Cole Oberman (Team Ridebiker) at the start
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Keegan Swenson (Cannondale 360 Fly) leading on the starting loop.
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Riders head up a gravel path onto the course
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Lukas Baum (UCI MTB) leading on the first climb
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Lukas Baum (UCI MTB) leading a group of four at the top of the first mountain climb
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Florian Vogel (Focus) taking command on lap one.
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Andrew L’esperence (Norco Factory Team) riding in fifth position during lap one
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Eventual winner Martin Loo (Hawaii Express) from Estonia was riding in the third group duing the first lap.
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Markus Schulte-Lanzum (Focus) riding to a 7th place finish
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Kerry Werner (Kona) crossing one of the many bridges
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Florian Vogel (Focus) trying to chase down Martin Loo (Hawaii Express)
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Jeremy Martin (Focus) crossing a bridge near the end of lap four
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Veteran Florian Vogel (Focus) finished second to Martin Loo today. Both had to overcome high temperatures and mud.
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Martin Loo (Hawaii) took his first UCI win at the Windham Mountain Pro-XCT in a massive come-from-behind effort. Veteran World Cup racer Florian Vogel (Focus Bikes) finished second, 1:38 behind Loo. Lukas Baum (UCI MTB) rode consistently to claim third place. Andrew L'Esperence (Norco Factory Team) finished fourth, while Georg Egger (Lexware Mountain Bike) rounded out the podium in fifth place.
Americans were shut out of the podium, although Russell Finstereald (SRAM-TLD-Scott) finished in sixth place.
Temperatures in excess of 90 degrees F, high humidity, mud, and threatening rain impacted on the race. 20 of 53 starters did not finish due to a variety of issues including heat and punctures.
Rising star Keegan Swenson (Cannondale 360 Fly) took the hole-shot on a grassy start and led the peloton onto a starting loop. Lukas Baum took control at the riders headed up the long climb known as Alp d'Huez.
As they crested the mountain, a group of four that did not include Loo had broken away. In addition, Swenson and L'Esperence had been gapped by the pacemaking of Baum.
Near the top of the climb Florian Vogel asserted himself and began what looked like a winning move. Loo was riding in the third group, but began to pick off riders ahead of him.
Loo commented on what happened when he reached Vogel, "I did not really attack, but just rode my pace." Apparently the pace was just too high for Vogel, who surrendered more than a minute to the Estonian.
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By the third lap, the race had strung out somewhat and the final podium positions were set.
In previous editions of the race at Windham, climbing seemed to rule the day. However, for last year's World Cup, new sections of trail were added including "Rock no Roll," a rock garden with no obvious lines and sharp rocks. Technical ability became much more important on the revised course.
With Pro-XCT series leader Rapheal Gagne in Rio for the Olympics, it was uncertain if he would hang onto the title. In the end he did, as the three riders trailing him also did not attend. Only Derek Zandstra could have potentially passed Gagne in the standing, but that required a first place finish which did not happen. Zandstra finished in eighth place.
Maximillian Brandl (Lexware) won the U-23 race, which was run at the same time as the Elites. Marc-andre Fortier was second in that contest.
