LES GETS, FRANCE Friday, June 19 — A month of heavy rainfall ending in a day spotted with sun and pounding rain made for a race to remember on the grassy steeps of the Alps Sunday. French riders Remi THIRION and Morgane CHARRE slipped, slid and managed to keep it rubber-side down just long enough to cross the finish line and secure first place.
Remi Thirion:
Today it was just the best to stay on the bike… I’ve never seen a condition like this or a track like this. It’s really gnarly, really rutty, really slippery — I’m happy to win it.
Remi Thirion
Expressing a similar sentiment, Charre was thrilled with her win, saying she’s never ridden anything like the course in her life.
Morgane Charre:
I like it. It was slippery and harder to keep a good line. Yeah, I find it fun.
The Crankworx Les Gets Downhill presented by iXS was easily the most anticipated race of the five-day inaugural Crankworx festival, in part due to the history of the course and in part because of the unique conditions.
Half the track was a revived version of one of the sports’ most storied races—the 2004 World Championship showdown between Steve PEAT (GBR) and Fabien BAREL (FRA). Despite having retired from both downhill and enduro racing, Barel returned to race and clearly had the crowd in his hand. He was making good time before missing the track, sliding outside the tape ato be disqualified.
The conclusion of this race leaves Adrien LORON (FRA) and Jill KINTNER as the frontrunners for King and Queen of Crankworx. The overall winners of the Crankworx World Tour will be decided in Whistler this August.
Results Men, Crankworx Les Gets Downhill presented by iXS:
1. 
Remi Thirion
2. 
Brendan Fairclough
3. 
Jack Moir
Results Women, Crankworx Les Gets Downhill presented by iXS:
1. Morgane Charre
2. 
Emilie Siegenthaler
3. Tracey Hannah