Tag Archives: vermont mountain bike

Putney Cider House Classic – Root 66

Posted on by

Putney Cider House Classic – Melone and Quinlan Win Cider House Classic: Tautfest and Quinlan Crowned 2015 VT State Champs

The 2015 Putney Cider House Classic followed much of last year’s course staged from the Putney School in Putney, Vermont.   Last year’s event was on virtually all new, freshly-cut trails made by local expert trails builders.  This year it followed essentially the same course with a couple additional singletrack sections that cut out some double track routes.

The pro/elite and expert categories were treated to 9+ miles of awesome yet very challenging singletrack.  There were several sections of fast, flowing sections with smoothly banked turns and many more sections of typical Vermont root-strewn trails and pitchy climbing.  All in all, the course had over 1,300’ of climbing per a lap which was certainly felt by race end.

Cider House Classic offers up endless Vermont one-track

Cider House Classic offers up endless Vermont one-track

Racecourse designers were welcome to racer input as they have lots of land to work with to make the course even better, although most racers seemed quite happy with the current course.  An added bonus, racers received a slice of delicious homemade apple pie, homemade ice cream and apple cider for post race recovery.

In the Elite men’s race, New England’s powerhouse, Billy Melone (ATA Cycles) set a pace that could not be matched.  Noah Tautfest (Bicycle Express) and Neal Burton (ERRace) chased in the opening sections but instead battled it out for 2nd and 3rd.  Burton had a small edge over Tautfest but burped his tire and had to stop to put some air in and thus lost his gap.  Melone finished 1st in 1’34”, Tautfest in 2nd in 1’37” and Burton in 3rd in 1’38.

The Elite women’s race had Karen Potter (Pivot/Epic Brewing) take the hole shot but was overtaken shortly thereafter by local rider, Kate Northcott (West Hill Shop) and Kimberly Quinlan (Bicycle Express).  Northcott held the lead for much of the first lap but Quinlan proved the stronger rider of the day passing Northcott for the win.  Quinlan finished in 1’55”, Northcott in 2nd in 1’58” and Potter in 2’01”.

Kimberly Quinlan and Noah Tautfest earned the Vermont State Championship wins.

Click Here for full results from all categories

IMG_2969

Kenda Cup East #3 – Vermont

Posted on by

Millstone Grind, Websterville, Vermont

Kenda Cup East #3

Written by: Karen Potter

The warm and remarkably dry weather the Northeast was enjoying came to a rapid end overnight Saturday. Warm, humid 85-degree temperatures changed to frigid 48 degrees and heavy rain for race day catching several racers off guard and unprepared for the cold, wet conditions. While the downpours had passed before the elite racers took the course, rain was still falling at the start of the race making for difficult conditions on an already technical course. Mud would cake up racers’ tires making traction very tough. Conditions improved somewhat once the rain stopped early in the race.

In a remarkable feat of grit and ambition, series leader, Crystal Anthony (Riverside Racing) made the long trek from central Pennsylvania to Vermont to make it 8 days in a row of racing. After coming in 3rd overall in the Trans-Sylvania Epic Stage Race, Anthony was able to maintain her lead in the Kenda Cup East series with a 5th place finish at Millstone despite the frigid temps and muddy conditions adding to her fatigue.

Crystal Anthony grinder her way toward home

Crystal Anthony grinder her way toward home

It was Elisa Otter (Bicycle Express) showing off her Vermont skills taking the hole shot and hammering away from the rest of the field to take the win. She had no problem handling the very technical course in the slick, muddy conditions. Karen Potter (Pivot/Epic Brewing) followed behind Otter into the singletrack but could not keep her pace once in the woods. Kathleen Harding (Rare Disease Racing) had Potter in her sights most of the race but was unable to close the gap, finishing in 3rd to Potter. Kimberly Quinlan (Bicycle Express Racing) followed up in 4th.

In a the Elite Men’s field, series leader, Billy Melone (ATA Cycles) won his 3rd in a row but not without a bit of a struggle. Tom Sampson (Adigga Racing) lead the race with a significant gap to Melone, but Melone was able to bridge up to the front and take the win. Sampson faded in the final lap to finish 4th. A sprint finish ensued for 2nd place between Noah Tautfest (Bicycle Express Racing) and 18-year-old Charles Faucher Robert (Pivot Cycles-Ote) with Faucher edging out Tautfest. Tyler Berliner (ENGVT) finished in 5th.