The top qualifiers in today’s Sun Peaks Dual Slalom, while tired after 2.5 weeks of racing, came to win today. And win they did.
Vaea Verbeeck was the fastest among the Elite Women, making it a clean sweep of Dual Slalom across the series, having won in SilverStar and in Kicking Horse. The rider who calls Coldstream, B.C. home said the win was “definitely welcome” heading into the final two days of competition.
It’s definitely getting to the points where we’re so tired, it’s a bit of a weird thing to process now. It’s not something I’ve dealt with before. This kind of tiredness. Usually I try not to stress mentally and just flow with it for fun, and now I’m so tired and beat that I just stress about that too.
– Vaea Verbeeck
And as the series nears it’s close, the focus on the overall title has heightened. The athlete who secures the most points over the course of the series will earn the title of CLIF Crankworx Summer Series Champion, and an additional $10,000 prize.
That’s something I’d usually like to have out of my mind. I’m stoked to race each race with those girls, and I’m stoked to see them perform really well. So usually I try not to think about it and it just turns out how it turns out but, right now, I don’t know why, I’m just so tired, I keep stressing about losing that edge that I have. I think today’s win might help me a bit to go back to my usual ways of just going with it and hoping for a good end to the week.
– Vaea Verbeeck
Coming in a close second to Verbeeck was Whistler’s Georgia Astle. Heading into their first finals matchup, Astle seemed to have a slight lead, but Verbeeck surged in the last few corners. In their second matchup, Astle blew a gate. Verbeeck would take the win by an overall margin of 1.51 seconds.
I think you can easily see improvements because we’ve had back-to-back weeks. My gates… every week, just a little bit more confidence, and getting more snap, which is very cool… I’m really happy with the overall skill development over the couple weeks. It’s been super fun.
– Georgia Astle
On the men’s side, Bas van Steenbergen gets his second of the series, fighting his way back up from his fourth place finish in last week’s Dual Slalom in Kicking Horse.
“Stoked,” said van Steenbergen, who beat out Finn Iles by a narrow margin of 0.34 after two.
It was good redemption from last week where I felt like I made some dumb mistakes. I felt a little more on it today.
– Bas van Steenbergen
And while he was clearly riding strong, the win certainly didn’t come easy. Fighting for a place in the finals against Kasper Woolley, van Steenbergen went down at the last flag.
A flag got stuck in my tire, so he thought he won, and we ended up having to do a re-run. That’s kind of a shitty one for him. But yeah, it’s tight racing.
– Bas van Steenbergen
It’s just a bit frustrating. I threw down my best lap, but it didn’t count for anything, but that’s the way it is. Out of my control.
– Kasper Woolley
Despite the frustration, Woolley said he was stoked with his third place finish, which came against Mark Wallace. The two crossed the line dead even in their first matchup, with Woolley pulling ahead by only 0.09 in their second.
I’m pretty stoked. I missed the Slalom last week, and the first week I did horrible, so I’m pretty happy to come third.
– Kasper Woolley
One up from Woolley, and just narrowly missing the top stop, Iles had plenty to be happy about today. The points he earned push him to the top of the Elite Men’s overall standings by a large enough margin that he clinches the overall CLIF Crankworx Summer Series Champion title.
I felt confident that I could compete for the overall. I wasn’t sure I could win or what I could do, but I’m happy to have come out and have done what I’ve done to clinch the overall. Proud of myself.
– Finn Iles
The downhiller, who 2.5 weeks in to the series has won four golds, four silvers, and one bronze, said it was today’s discipline that surprised him the most.
I’ve hardly raced Dual Slalom but it’s one of the most fun events you could do. I think the head-to-head really adds that extra flair to the event. I kind of surprised myself the first week and from there I had a different confidence going in to the event.
– Finn Iles
The course that challenged racers today was a purpose built 40+ second track at the base of the Sun Peaks Bike Park. It started off fast and flowy, with big rollers and some doubles, moving into a long series of flat grass turns that van Steenbergen described as “make or break.”
FULL RESULTS: Sun Peaks Dual Slalom – Elite Men / Elite Women
Women’s podium: 2. Georgia Astle, 1. Vaea Verbeeck, 3. Casey Brown / photo: Chris Pilling Men’s podium: 2. Finn Iles, 1. Bas van Steenbergen, 3. Kasper Woolley / photo: Chris Pilling
Tomorrow, live broadcast action returns, with the Maxxis Sun Peaks DH.
Thursday, August 13
- Stan’s No Tubes Course Preview
- Crankworx Connect: 12:30-1 p.m. PDT
- Live Broadcast: 1-2:30 p.m. PDT
The CLIF Crankworx Summer Series’ live broadcasts are available on crankworx.com, Pinkbike and EDGEsport (available to view through TV, online and digital services).
Get the full details of all broadcast/content for Week Three of the CLIF Crankworx Summer Series: Crankworx News
Get Stoked. Be safe. Watch #CrankworxFromHome.
About CLIF Crankworx Summer Series
The Crankworx Summer Series (CSS) brings together races staged in new, epic destinations on world-class tracks. Multiple stops are strung together to create the series, which turns it into the ultimate mountain bike summer roadie. CSS races bring Crankworx-caliber competition to communities outside the usual Crankworx World Tour circuit. Races and competitions give local and up-and-coming racers a chance to race with national and international heroes, providing a path to potential future Crankworx World Tour greatness, and a real good time along the way. For additional information, visit crankworx.com.
About Crankworx World Tour
About Crankworx World Tour
Crankworx is the ultimate experience in mountain biking. Born in Whistler, B.C. in 2004, Crankworx has evolved into a multi-stop international festival series. The Crankworx World Tour brings together the best mountain bike athletes to compete in elite-level competitions in a variety of disciplines. Crankworx World Tour festivals also host races for amateurs, Kidsworx contests for young riders, participatory events, and celebrations of mountain bike culture, all while showcasing amazing destinations.
Official website: crankworx.com
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