Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
The second event in the Texas Showdown Series brought in over 100 riders to the middle of the state for the third annual Central Texas Showdown. They faced thunderstorms, rough roads, and some of the highest DNF rates yet. Find a detailed recap and results from organizer Patrick Farnsworth and a selection of photos from the media team here…
Words by Patrick Farnsworth, photos by Maxwell Johnston, Ariel Marlowe, and Nathan Khalsa
Last weekend, over 100 riders gathered at the footsteps of the Hill Country in Castell, Texas, for the third Central Texas Showdown—the second stage of the Texas Showdown Triple Crown. Riders had four route options, including both competitive and non-competitive categories. The main event was the 508-mile Showdown course, featuring the infamous 60-mile “Death Loop,” a cruel twist requiring riders to pass the start/finish line before heading out for one last punishing lap.
The Slowdown, our other competitive option, clocked in at 302 miles. For non-competitive riders, we offered the Lowdown (173 miles) and Super Lowdown (89 miles), with planned group camps and plenty of time to soak up the beauty of the Texas Hill Country.
This year turned out to be one of the most adventurous events we’ve ever held in our eight Showdowns to date, thanks to a massive storm that rolled through Friday night into Saturday morning—part of the same system that hit AZT riders out west. We’re no strangers to hosting wet events at East Texas Showdown, but this one packed a punch: torrential rain that cut visibility, thunder, lightning, hail, and even a chance of tornadoes.
The storm became the main character in this year’s story—and the leaderboard. While many riders sought shelter or called for rescue, a few brave souls rode straight into the storm and ultimately emerged victorious.
In the 508-mile Showdown, 14 riders started and only four finished—our highest DNF rate yet. Those numbers alone speak to the brutal conditions and the grit of the four who battled to the end. Zach Maynard and Tim Sanders put on a duel for the ages, leapfrogging countless times and even sharing a warm post office during the worst of the storm before parting ways again. Tim’s race took a hit when his charging block failed (thanks, rain), forcing him to grab a few hours in a Mason hotel to recharge devices—ultimately the deciding factor. Zach powered through Castell without stopping, giving a triumphant fist pump as the crowd roared, then completed the Death Loop to finish in 1 day, 19 hours, and 35 minutes.
In the 302-mile Slowdown, 31 riders started and 23 finished. Mid-day, the women were leading the entire field: Jenn Real and Kellie Nelson traded places at the front, with Ally White just two hours behind as they reached the town of Harper (mile 180). Then the storm hit—and everyone took shelter except Tyler Reynolds. For about five hours, he was the only moving dot on the map as lightning filled the sky. Later, with only 50 miles to go, he nodded off on a stretch of washboard and shredded his tire. His spare turned out defective, so he stuffed the tire with grass—10 times over—until he found a mix that kept him rolling. After ten miles of this, a Lowdown rider lent him a tube, and he was off again, finishing in 1 day, 4 hours, and 37 minutes—a true testament to grit and creativity under pressure.
In the Lowdown and Super Lowdown, 48 riders started and 45 finished—an incredible show of resilience from our non-competitive field. Many were first-time bikepackers who stuck it out through rough conditions. Days two and three rewarded their perseverance with cooler temps, packed-down roads, and clear skies.
As always, we wrapped up the weekend with a hoedown at the Castell General Store, celebrating riders, swapping stories, raffling off some killer swag, and hanging out with locals.
And the adventure doesn’t stop here. In just 26 days, many of these same riders will line up in Terlingua, Texas, for the inaugural West Texas Showdown—some chasing history as the first to earn the Texas Showdown Triple Crown belt buckle. We loved hosting you in the Hill Country, and we’ll see you in Big Bend soon!
2025 Central Texas Showdown Podiums
Showdown
1st: Zach Maynard – 1 day, 19 hours, and 35 minutes
2nd: Tim Sanders – 2 days, 2 hours, and 30 minutes
3rd: John Williamson – 2 days and 14 hours
1st SS: Steve Flusche – 3 days and 12 minutes
No women finishers this year, but we would like to acknowledge Charlotte Green, who made it back to Castell but was not able to complete the 60-mile Death Loop.
Slowdown
Singlespeed
1st (1st overall): Tyler Reynolds – 1 day, 4 hours, and 37 minutes
2nd (3rd overall): Evan Lee – 1 day, 7 hours, and 47 minutes
Womens
1st (2nd overall): Ally White – 1 day, 7 hours, and 47 minutes
2nd: Kristi Vecellio – 1 day, 12 hours, and 9 minutes
3rd: Ariel Spiegelman – 1 day, 17 hours, and 13 minutes
Men
1st: Benjamin Franchi – 1 day, 9 hours, and 13 minutes
2nd: Jason Trimm – 1 day, 10 hours, and 14 minutes
3rd: Jalen Bazile – 1 day, 10 hours, 29 minutes
Further Reading
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