After rain showers rolled through the night and into the morning, the Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge presented by The Rock fired up under clearing skies at Skyline Rotorua today. The chainless, head-to-head showdown proved once again why it’s one of the most electrifying events on the schedule, with hometown heroes squaring off against international heavyweights on a pump track that was running in prime condition despite the earlier drizzle.
Gilchrist Powers to Gold Again
The men’s showdown featured some of the sport’s most decorated names. Ryan Gilchrist once again showed why he’s a dominant force on the Pump Track. Gilchrist advanced through the rounds with authority, including a decisive semifinal victory over hometown hero and former King of Crankworx Tuhoto-Ariki Pene. Posting a blazing 1.714-second advantage, the Australian secured his spot in the gold medal match-up against Josh Jolly. When the dust settled, Gilchrist stood atop the podium once again, adding another gold medal to his historic Crankworx tally.
The small final delivered a true Rotorua battle, with Tuhoto-Ariki Pene taking on fellow local Dan Butterworth. Pene held the edge in front of the home crowd, finishing with a 0.852-second advantage to claim bronze.
Sabina Košárková Defeats Last Year’s Winner
The women’s field saw another high-intensity battle as riders chased valuable points toward the coveted Queen of Crankworx title – an overall crown awarded to the most versatile athlete across the multi-discipline Crankworx World Tour.
Defending champion Laura Smulders returned to the podium but had to settle for silver this time around. Sabina Košárková delivered the fastest runs of the day, claiming gold and taking the lead in the Queen of Crankworx standings.
The bronze medal match-up featured yet another Rotorua showdown, where local rider Megan Williams edged out Brooke Penny. With the crowd firmly behind her, Williams delivered a strong performance to secure the final spot on the podium – further proving that Rotorua continues to produce world-class mountain bike talent.
Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge podium:
- Ryan GILCHRIST (AUS) // Sabina KOŠÁRKOVÁ (CZE)
- Josh JOLLY (AUS) // Laura SMULDERS (NED)
- Tuhoto-Ariki PENE (NZL) // Megan WILLIAMS (NZL)
