Andrew L’Esperance on 2024 and the end of the Maxxis Factory Racing team

After Maxxis Factory Racing announced the end of the team in 2025, we caught up with Andrew L’Esperance.

What were your goals for the 2024 season?

My goals for the 2024 season were focused on the BC Bike Race, MTB Marathon Nationals and LifeTime Grand Prix events. I wanted to repeat the wins at both BC Bike Race and Marathon Nationals and I was aiming for a podium at a LTGP round. I didn’t necessarily hit all these goals, but I managed some rides I was very proud of throughout the season.

So how did the season go? 

This season went well overall. There were days where I was really happy with the performance. Other days where I was happy with most of the performance but missing an important bit when it mattered. I would say I had some of the most fun I had ever had racing this year. But I lacked a little something to get the results I was aiming for.

There are so many highlights from the season, so I will share a few. At BC Bike Race, my teammate Sean and I went 1-2 everyday. We pushed each other to the absolute limit. On the final day we were separated by  less than 30 seconds after seven days of racing.  It all came down to the last stage. In the end he rode better on the final day, but I was honestly so proud of what we did together and what he had achieved on the last day.

Another day that stood out was the final stage of Andalucia SHC mountain bike stage race in Spain. Andalucia is a pairs stage race, meaning you race with a partner. The final day was a time trial. We rode together well all week but came together on another level on the last day. We were riding strong and confident and we could feel the win we were chasing in the previous five days of racing. Somehow, we did it and took the final stage by one second. That was an awesome experience and keep an eye out, you might see us at the big MTB stage races in 2025.

Finally, BWR Utah and SBT Gravel stand out as good days on the bike. I finished third and seventh but they are memorable because of how I raced them. I am typically a very measured and calculated racer, but for these ones I went full send. There are probably some lessons from those experiences for me.

Okay, one more. Rob Britton and I started off 2024 with a ride down the coast of California. It was big point to point days over incredible terrain for eight-days. It was such an incredible experience and I think it helped set me up for some good early season form. We rode with plenty of friends along the way and it was such a…