![\"Crankworx](\"https:\/\/43ride.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/03\/crankworx-rotorua-2018-downhill-sam-blenkinsop.jpg\" "\\"Crankworx")
\nSam Blenkinsop<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n
Sam Blenkinsop:<\/h5>\n\nIt was like 50\/50 if you were gonna make it at the bottom or you weren\u2019t. I got away with it. I buzzed my leg on my tire on the way out and I almost slid out but I rode out. After that I was like, “now it\u2019s chill out time and have a bit of fun on the rest of the track.” I\u2019m happy with how the day went and how the week\u2019s gone so far. I\u2019m stoked for the season.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Blenki said his 3:13:10 run must have been one of the cleanest \u2013 the only part of the day where that adjective could fit, as most riders crossed the line in jerseys covered in mud smears and splatter.<\/p>\n
Along with his two Downhill first place finishes, Blenkinsop also owned the second step in the Giant Toa Enduro presented by CamelBak<\/a> and narrowly missed the podium in the Crankworx Rotorua Air DH<\/a>, coming in fourth. His win today puts him a commanding first out of the start gate as the points race for King of Crankworx lanches.<\/p>\nSam Blenkinsop:<\/h5>\n\nI was just coming here to have a bit of fun on my bike and do some races. To come away with the lead at the moment is awesome. There\u2019s still a lot of races to go, and the next two rounds in Les Gets and Innsbruck are suited to the Pump Track and Slalom guys, but it always comes down to Whistler because there are a lot of events there and I always seem to do well in Whistler. It could come down to the wire.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
One step down from Blenki on today\u2019s podium was Mick Hannah (AUS) with 3:18:24, mirroring his second place finishing performance in the 2017 iteration of the race. Rounding out the Pro Men\u2019s top three with 3:28:96 was Finn Iles (CAN), racing in the elite class for the first time in his career.<\/p>\n
On the women\u2019s side, it was another day of firsts, with Tahn\u00e9e Seagrave (GBR) taking the win with a time of 4:18:51 and earning her first-ever Crankworx podium, in a race she described as wild.<\/p>\n
Tahn\u00e9e Seagrave:<\/h5>\n\nIt\u2019s changed so much from yesterday.It\u2019s well foggy up the top. You can\u2019t really see past the first corner\u2026.the track itself is super boggy, so sticky and such hard work. I was a bit gutted because I didn\u2019t practice any of the b-lines, \u2018cause I worked up to hit all the jumps and I was super excited about that. Obviously it was impossible. So I hit the b-lines a bit blind but it all worked out.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Sliding across the line behind Seagrave was Emilie Siegenthaler (SUI), who took second with 4:30:11 and current World Champ Miranda Miller in third with 4:51:34.<\/p>\n
Outside the podium today, but still taking in some Queen of Crankworx points, was Jill Kintner (USA). For Kintner, today was all about the number five. Her time of 5:20:85 earned her the fifth place finish in today\u2019s race, which was her fifth race in nine days. Over the past nine days, she\u2019s been on five podiums, an effort she said has left her running low on energy, but happy with her finish.<\/p>\n
Jill Kintner:<\/h5>\n\nIt\u2019s about the long game. I got fifth today \u2013 that\u2019s more points and every little bit counts when you get towards the end with Whistler. I\u2019m trying to stack \u2018em up while I can I guess, so I\u2019m feeling good. I\u2019ll definitely have more time on a DH bike before the rest of the tour, that\u2019s for sure. I\u2019ve put a lot of time into my Pump Track and Slalom, timing and getting my body strong. This is a new bike for me and I haven\u2019t had any races on it yet, so I can definitely still improve on my downhills.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
It was like 50\/50 if you were gonna make it at the bottom or you weren\u2019t. I got away with it. I buzzed my leg on my tire on the way out and I almost slid out but I rode out. After that I was like, “now it\u2019s chill out time and have a bit of fun on the rest of the track.” I\u2019m happy with how the day went and how the week\u2019s gone so far. I\u2019m stoked for the season.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Blenki said his 3:13:10 run must have been one of the cleanest \u2013 the only part of the day where that adjective could fit, as most riders crossed the line in jerseys covered in mud smears and splatter.<\/p>\n
Along with his two Downhill first place finishes, Blenkinsop also owned the second step in the Giant Toa Enduro presented by CamelBak<\/a> and narrowly missed the podium in the Crankworx Rotorua Air DH<\/a>, coming in fourth. His win today puts him a commanding first out of the start gate as the points race for King of Crankworx lanches.<\/p>\n I was just coming here to have a bit of fun on my bike and do some races. To come away with the lead at the moment is awesome. There\u2019s still a lot of races to go, and the next two rounds in Les Gets and Innsbruck are suited to the Pump Track and Slalom guys, but it always comes down to Whistler because there are a lot of events there and I always seem to do well in Whistler. It could come down to the wire.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n One step down from Blenki on today\u2019s podium was Mick Hannah (AUS) with 3:18:24, mirroring his second place finishing performance in the 2017 iteration of the race. Rounding out the Pro Men\u2019s top three with 3:28:96 was Finn Iles (CAN), racing in the elite class for the first time in his career.<\/p>\n On the women\u2019s side, it was another day of firsts, with Tahn\u00e9e Seagrave (GBR) taking the win with a time of 4:18:51 and earning her first-ever Crankworx podium, in a race she described as wild.<\/p>\n It\u2019s changed so much from yesterday.It\u2019s well foggy up the top. You can\u2019t really see past the first corner\u2026.the track itself is super boggy, so sticky and such hard work. I was a bit gutted because I didn\u2019t practice any of the b-lines, \u2018cause I worked up to hit all the jumps and I was super excited about that. Obviously it was impossible. So I hit the b-lines a bit blind but it all worked out.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Sliding across the line behind Seagrave was Emilie Siegenthaler (SUI), who took second with 4:30:11 and current World Champ Miranda Miller in third with 4:51:34.<\/p>\n Outside the podium today, but still taking in some Queen of Crankworx points, was Jill Kintner (USA). For Kintner, today was all about the number five. Her time of 5:20:85 earned her the fifth place finish in today\u2019s race, which was her fifth race in nine days. Over the past nine days, she\u2019s been on five podiums, an effort she said has left her running low on energy, but happy with her finish.<\/p>\n It\u2019s about the long game. I got fifth today \u2013 that\u2019s more points and every little bit counts when you get towards the end with Whistler. I\u2019m trying to stack \u2018em up while I can I guess, so I\u2019m feeling good. I\u2019ll definitely have more time on a DH bike before the rest of the tour, that\u2019s for sure. I\u2019ve put a lot of time into my Pump Track and Slalom, timing and getting my body strong. This is a new bike for me and I haven\u2019t had any races on it yet, so I can definitely still improve on my downhills.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nSam Blenkinsop:<\/h5>\n
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Tahn\u00e9e Seagrave:<\/h5>\n
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Jill Kintner:<\/h5>\n
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