Details Announced for the

2026 Maxxis Eastern States Cup

presented by MTB Shock Lab

The 2026 Maxxis ESC is officially here, featuring a revamped schedule that blends fresh venues with all your returning favorites.

Winter may have kept the bikes hanging in the garage for most of us, but race season is right around the corner. In just a couple of months, we’ll drop the gate on the seventeenth season of Maxxis Eastern States Cup racing, and we couldn’t be more fired up. Seventeen seasons deep, and the mission hasn’t changed: deliver the best gravity mountain bike racing in the Northeast.

This season brings new venues and partners on board, returning favorites, and a packed calendar designed to keep the momentum rolling from early spring right through autumn. The 2026 lineup features 12 venues and 15 high-energy events, 18 total races, split evenly between the Intense Cycles DH Series and the Cannondale Enduro Series. The Maxxis ESC offers the best gravity terrain the Northeast has to offer, from the Green Mountains all the way down to the Poconos. We know you’ve been counting down the days, so without further ado, let’s dive into what’s in store for 2026.

Before we get into what’s new, let’s look at what’s remaining the same. Maxxis returns as our title sponsor for the ninth year in a row. We’re thrilled to have their continued support and keep our racers rolling on the finest rubber in the game. No matter what the weather throws at us this season, rest assured, Maxxis has a tire for it.

On the Downhill side of things, Intense Cycles will return as the series title sponsor. With a long history in the US gravity racing scene, there’s no better brand to back the fastest DH racers in the Northeast.

We’ll continue with three rounds of showdowns this season, where both the Intense DH and Cannondale Enduro series come together for double the fun. Enter both races, get 110% points, and pedal your way to some great prizes from our sponsors.

Cannondale has supported our ebikers for the past few years and is stepping up as the new title sponsor of our Enduro series. Based in Connecticut and manufacturing some of the finest trail bikes on the market, Cannondale is a perfect fit to partner with our Enduro races. You might even see some of their staff testing out the latest and greatest between the tape with us.

Box Components will continue to provide high-quality number plates that you use for the full season. Then hang it in your garage so you can stare at it all winter, dreaming of hitting the trails again

So, what’s new? We’re excited to kick off 2026 with a program designed to get more women on the trails and into racing. In partnership with the Outer Limits Race Team, the new Ladies Mentorship Program pairs first-time racers with experienced mentors to guide them through registration, pre-rides, and race day. Each Cannondale Enduro round will feature two sponsored entries for new female racers, plus Saturday pre-rides and hands-on support to make every race weekend a confidence-boosting experience.

We’ve got a brand new presenting sponsor for 2026 that we know both racers and their bikes will appreciate. MTB Shock Lab joins us this season, providing 50 and 200 hour suspension services as podium prizing to keep your squishy bits smooth and happy.

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MTB Shock Lab is incredibly excited to be the Presenting Sponsor of the Maxxis Eastern States Cup this season. MTB Shock Lab is rooted in New England, home to some of the greatest mountain biking in the country. This partnership is a natural fit, allowing us to connect directly with the gravity mountain biking community. We look forward to supporting the Maxxis ESC series, helping grow gravity mountain biking across the northeast, and witnessing some truly thrilling competition. Supporting this series isn’t just about brand visibility; it’s about investing in the shared values of endurance, skill, and the pure joy of hitting the trails. We are proud to be a part of the Maxxis ESC family.

We have developed a new app that will track and store all of your different suspension setups. It will allow the rider to store tune settings for every event or type of riding they are doing, including conditions and multiple bikes. The app will also allow users to easily get suspension service either by recommending a partner shop, based on their location or by sending the suspension directly to MTB Shock Lab.—Matt Morris, MTB Shock Lab

Another fresh sponsor is Dirt-Care USA, who made a splash in the moto scene and recently launched a line of bike specific products. They’ll be providing 4th and 5th place prizing to keep your ride running and looking as good as new all season. We’re stoked to have them, and you should be too!

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Dirt-Care is thrilled to announce our new partnership with the Maxxis Eastern States Cup for the 2026 season. The ESC has built an incredible reputation as one of the premier Enduro and Downhill race series on the East Coast, bringing together passionate riders, top-level competition, and a strong grassroots community. We’re proud to support an organization that shares our commitment to performance, progression, and the rider experience.

At Dirt-Care, we develop high-performance maintenance products designed to keep bikes running at their best — whether it’s race day or a full weekend of riding. Our bicycle lineup includes advanced chain lubricants (wet, dry, and all-weather), powerful yet bike-safe cleaners, drivetrain degreasers, suspension-friendly care products, and protective coatings that help reduce friction, prevent corrosion, and extend component life. Built by riders, tested in demanding conditions, and trusted across motorsports and the cycling community alike, our products are engineered to deliver reliability when it matters most.—Jean-Philippe Boutin, Dirt-Care USA

Now that we’ve paid the bills, let’s look at our venues for the year. After a four year hiatus, we’re heading back to Diamond Hill to kick off the Cannondale Enduro series April 26th. If you’ve never raced here you’re in for a real treat. The Ocean State has the goods to test your bag of skills, from steep jank to high speed flow and everything in between. The vibes are always high at the first race of the year, come share the stoke!

Intense DH racers will begin their season May 3rd at Connecticut’s Powder Ridge, who will also host our second Cannondale Enduro May 17th. Powder is the perfect warm up for early season racing, come get your legs back and bike dialed before we head to larger venues with longer tracks.

New Hampshire’s Arrowhead Recreation Area has cemented itself as a must-ride stop on the Cannondale Enduro circuit, and it’s easy to see why. Fast, steep and loamy, these trails deliver big smiles from top to bottom. We’re heading back twice this season; May 31st and then returning on October 18th for Finals.

We’ll head south to Jersey to begin the month of June, as Mountain Creek hosts an Intense DH on the 7th. Creek also puts together a fantastic track and has provided countless historic race moments over the years. Plus, the locals come out to cheer like no other venue.

Not only are we returning to your old favorites, but we’ve also got some brand new venues up our sleeve as well. Nearly all of our racers enjoy the trails of Highland Mountain while they’re not between the tape, and this year they’ll get the best of both worlds. Intense DH racers will take on American’s Bike Park on June 21st for what’s sure to be one heck of a good weekend.

Speaking of new venues, Connecticut’s Norbrook Farm Brewery will host its first Maxxis ESC Cannondale Enduro on June 28th. We’ve been trying to make this one happen for a few years and finally locked in one of our most requested venues. Not sure what we’re most excited for, riding the trails or checking out the in-house food and beer options.

On July 12th, Killington sets the stage with the first of three showdowns. With its expansive trail network and rider-friendly camping area, Killington delivers the ultimate big-mountain race atmosphere.

August is fully loaded with race action, we’ll kick it off with an Intense DH hosted by Mount Snow on the 2nd. If fast old school ski trail corners are your thing, look no further than this race right here.

Thunder Mountain is so much fun, we had to have a double dose this year. Both Intense DH and Cannondale Enduro racers will take on this Berkshire gem at the second showdown on August 9th, then we’ll be back on October 25th to cap the season with Intense DH Finals.

Jiminy Peak hosts our third and final showdown on August 23rd. Steep and unapologetically raw, the trails here are a real challenge even to veteran racers. Come test your skills!

We close out the marathon month of August with a trip down to the Poconos on the 30th. Blue Mountain has one of the best Intense DH tracks on the circuit and plenty of fast locals who come out to defend their home turf.

Cannondale Enduro racers will head to upstate New York on September 20th to see what Otis Mountain is all about. This former ski hill boasts 600 acres of privately owned land featuring several summits with breathtaking views of the Adirondacks, a waterfall and a variety of trails to explore.

Full schedule below. We can’t wait to see you all soon! What are you most excited for this season? Leave a comment below.

2026 MAXXIS EASTERN STATES CUP PRESENTED BY MTB SHOCK LAB SCHEDULE

INTENSE CYCLES DH SERIES
May 3 Powder Ridge, CT
June 7 Mountain Creek, NJ
June 21 Highland, NH
July 12 Killington, VT*
Aug 2 Mount Snow, VT
Aug 9 Thunder Mountain, MA*
Aug 23 Jiminy Peak, MA*
Aug 30 Blue Mountain, PA
Oct 25 Thunder Mountain, MA Finals**

CANNONDALE ENDURO SERIES
April 26 Diamond Hill, RI
May 17 Powder Ridge, CT
May 31 Arrowhead, NH
June 28 Norbrook Brewery, CT
July 12 Killington, VT*
Aug 9 Thunder Mountain, MA*
Aug 23 Jiminy Peak, MA*
Sept 20 Otis Mountain, NY
Oct 18 Arrowhead, NH Finals**

SHOWDOWN WEEKENDS
July 12 Killington, VT*
Aug 9 Thunder Mountain, MA*
Aug 23 Jiminy Peak, MA*

EBIKE ENDURO SERIES
April 26 Diamond Hill, RI
May 17 Powder Ridge, CT
May 31 Arrowhead, NH
June 28 Norbrook Brewery, CT
Aug 9 Thunder Mountain, MA*
Aug 23 Jiminy Peak, MA*
Sept 20 Otis Mountain, NY
Oct 18 Arrowhead, NH Finals**

* Showdown Bonus 110% Maxxis ESC Series Points
** Series Finals Bonus 125% Maxxis ESC Series Points

The 2026 Maxxis Eastern States Cup presented by MTB Shock Lab

Details Announced for the

2026 Maxxis Eastern States Cup

presented by MTB Shock Lab

The 2026 Maxxis ESC is officially here, featuring a revamped schedule that blends fresh venues with all your returning favorites.

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