Enduro Cup, Angel Fire - Race Recap and Results

The Scott Enduro Cup presented by Vittoria launched its second race of the season in the world-class mountain biking destination, Angel Fire, NM. The two-day Enduro World Series qualifier race drew athletes to the high desert for seven timed stages on New Mexico’s finest trails. Results are in as Enduro World Series champion Richie Rude, 22, of Redding, CT and Fly Racing’s Porsha Murdock, 25, of Bend, OR claimed the fastest overall times.

Saturday included three-timed backcountry stages with a 2,650-foot vertical descent through Carson National Forest’s Greenbelt Trail System. Richie Rude and Porsha Murdock finished the fast and flowy backcountry stages in first place, setting each up nicely for day two’s rocky and technical final descents.Sunday featured four lift-served stages at Angel Fire Bike Park.

Men’s Pro/Open Final Results here

In the men’s Pro/Open category, Yeti factory rider Richie Rude held onto his lead, finishing in first with an impressive 30-second lead time.

"There was a lot of high speed, see if you could get away without touching your brakes, flying through the woods. I really like that kind of stuff. We saw we were going 30mph around some of the berms".—Richie Rude

Yeti National Team rider Shawn Neer, 25, who placed second at last year’s Angel Fire Enduro Cup race, once again placed in second. Neer ran a next-to-perfect line on Stage 7, which earned him the Vittoria Bolt.

"It started out tacky earlier in the week and then dried up, so some fun track conditions. Three good and fast backcountry stages followed by a full day of bike park—I’m super stoked on it."—Shawn Neer. 

Yeti National Team rider Jubal Davis, 26, started day two sitting in third place, 11-seconds behind Rude. Davis lost his third place seat to Yeti factory team rider Cody Kelley, 23, who made up for lost time with a 35:18.862 finish.

2016 Enduro Cup series champion and Vittoria athlete Chris Boice, 32, started day two sitting in sixth place behind Trek’s Cole Picchiottino, 21—but the local Angel Fire rider proved his roots, making up time and finishing on the podium in fifth place.

Women’s Pro/Open Final Results here

In 2016, Juliana team rider Porsha Murdock finished the Angel Fire round in second place. This year, Murdock, who has been no stranger to the podium at enduro races around the country, finished strong with a nearly eight-second lead in the women’s Pro/Open category. 

"It’s always awesome to have really stiff competition at races and this was a really big women’s field. It makes it really fun and definitely puts the pressure on".—Porsha Murdock.

Yeti National Team rider Anne Galyean, 30, returns to the podium in second after finishing third at the Moab Enduro Cup last month. Scott team rider Teal Stetson-Lee finished the weekend in third place.

"It’s pretty dry here so a lot of it is traction based,” said Galyean. “The backcountry was really raw and loose tracks, pretty full on, and we got to mix it up with some park stages today, pretty cool. —Anne Galyean

Colorado Springs native, Clare Hamilton, 20, placed fourth. Summit Competitive Cyclist Lia Westermann, 18, rounded out the podium, repeating her 2016 Angel Fire fifth place finish.

The Vittoria Bolt was awarded to the fastest time on Stage 7. Shawn Neer (08:10.457) and Anne Galyean (09:17.074) are taking another $100 home, thanks to sponsor, Vittoria.

Podium finishers in the Pro/Open category shared $5,000 equally divided between men and women. The podium athletes in the Expert, Amateur and Junior categories received gear from Scott Sports, Vittoria and G-Form. Riders could compete in Pro/Open, Expert, Vet Expert, Amateur and Junior categories. Special thanks to Angel Fire Resort.

The Scott Enduro Cup presented by Vittoria will hit the trails again in Sun Valley, ID on July 1-2, 2017. Kick off your Fourth of July at the Ride Sun Valley Bike Festival, happening on the streets and trails of Ketchum and Hailey, ID June 29–July 2, 2017.

For registration information, click HERE. Registration is open to men and women, professional and amateur adults and juniors under 18. In addition to race entry, all registration fees include an event t-shirt, lunch and lift tickets.