The fourth edition of Crankworx Cairns has officially launched, leading into what is already shaping up to be a picture-perfect week in Tropical North Queensland. A contrast to last year’s festival, the Paradise Edition of the Crankworx World Tour returns under clear skies and high spirits.
Riders across disciplines are raving about the meticulously built and dialled-in trails of Smithfield MTB Park, with thanks to the craftsmanship of World Trail and Flux Trail. The terrain is primed, the jungle buzzes, and the stage is set for a week of elite-level mountain bike action.
RockShox Downhill Cairns – Seeding Day
Today featured seeding for the RockShox Downhill Cairns, giving fans a preview of what’s to come in tomorrow’s finals. Reigning King of Crankworx and Aussie sensation Ryan Gilchrist topped the men’s seeding, clocking in 1.576 seconds ahead of last year’s champ, Connor Fearon. Jackson Frew’s third-place seeding adds more Aussie firepower to the lineup.
In the women’s field, Australia dominated once again with Sian A’Hern taking the top spot, followed by Cairns local legend Tracey Hannah and Sacha Mills.
Official Australian Whip-Off Championships
As the sun set over the rainforest canopy, the day wrapped with style and airtime at the Official Australian Whip-Off Championships. Australia’s Josh Jolly and Remy Morton soared to the top of the men’s podium, with Kiwi Cameron Clemett taking third. On the women’s side, Tilly Boadle wowed the crowd and judges to secure gold, ahead of Sweden’s Emma Olofsson and fellow Aussie Elleni Turkovic.
Looking Ahead
Tomorrow’s finals for the RockShox Downhill Cairns will stream live on Red Bull TV (3–5 PM AEST). And more is to come this weekend with packed double events each day:
- Saturday brings the debut of Crankworx Cairns Full Tilt, an intense group-start gravity race, followed by the Pump Track Challenge under the lights.
- Sunday features the highly anticipated Crankworx Cairns Slopestyle, boasting one of the most competitive fields in recent memory – find the rider list here; and the Specialized Dual Slalom on a newly redesigned track.
Don’t Miss Out
With incredible weather and high energy across the venue, fans nearby are encouraged to grab last-minute tickets online and join the action. For those tuning in remotely, catch all the highlights and live broadcasts on Red Bull TV.
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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