The tropical rainforest of Cairns came alive today as the Specialized Dual Slalom inaugurated the highly anticipated party edition of the Crankworx World Tour. Ryan Gilchrist and Jordy Scott seized Gold at this first event, held on the iconic red soil of Smithfield MTB Park.
Despite heavy rainfall overnight, the course dried up quickly, allowing athletes to practice before heading into Rounds of 32 and 16. In the women’s field, Jordy Scott claimed first place, with Cassie Voysey close behind in second. Voysey, competing in Crankworx events since 2018, expressed her excitement over her very first podium finish.
It’s insane! My first ever Crankworx podium – I was obviously going for the Gold, but my main goal today was to make it into the big final and that’s what I did, and I’m still coming away with Second.
Cassie Voysey
When asked about pursuing the crown this year, a clear “Absolutely, I am!” marks her as a top rider to watch in upcoming events. Shania Rawson, who had a stellar start to the season at Crankworx Rotorua, now leads the Queen of Crankworx standings, swapping places with Martha Gill after she was defeated by young Aussie rider Elleni Turkovic in the Quarter Finals. Rawson, celebrating third place in today’s Specialized Dual Slalom, remarked:
I broke my Dual Slalom curse, actually. I’ve never gotten a medal in Dual Slalom, So yeah, I’m pretty stoked with that!
Shania Rawson
Australian rider Ryan Gilchrist, who celebrated his 22nd birthday onsite yesterday, took the win for the second year in a row. Joining him on the podium were reigning King of Crankworx, Tuhoto-Ariki Pene, in second place, and fellow Aussie Jackson Frew in third. All three athletes are hot contenders for the crown, now occupying the top three spots in the King of Crankworx standings.
King of Crankworx is very close between Tuhoto and I […] so that could change this weekend. And you know, I’m trying to make it my business to get on top of that and have fun doing it.
Ryan Gilchrist
Taking away the silver medal, Tuhoto-Ariki Pene prevailed over Jackson Frew who, despite being injured, not only secured third place but also climbed to rank 2 in the current King of Crankworx standings. A moment that had viewers on the edge of their seats was Bas Van Steenbergen’s Quarter Finals heat against 17-year-old kiwi Seth Stylie. The 2022 King of Crankworx could not get both wheels around one of the final gates, resulting in a non-qualifying run that led up to a disadvantage for Van Steenebergen he could not overcome in the second run.
Specialized Dual Slalom Cairns – Pro Podium
- Jordy SCOTT (USA) // Ryan GILCHRIST (AUS)
- Cassie VOYSEY (AUS) // Tuhoto-Ariki PENE (NZL)
- Shania RAWSON (NZL) // Jackson FREW (AUS)
Full results: crankworx.com/results
With the first event of Crankworx Cairns 2024 in the books and a lot of movement in the King and Queen of Crankworx standings, athletes and fans are shifting their gaze onto what’s next. With less rain on the forecast, the RockShox Downhill, coming up on Friday, is shaping up to be a highlight, with Aussie legends Tracey and Mick Hannah both placing first in Seeding. Saturday brings a double-broadcast day featuring the Crankworx Cairns Pump Track Challenge and Speed & Style, before shifting gears on Sunday with the gravity-defying crowd-pleaser: Crankworx Cairns Slopestyle.
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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