Athletes from all over the world are landing in Cairns as the final countdown to the first-ever Crankworx on Australian shores.
Preliminary rider lists have been announced and they’re looking full of Aussies ready to compete on this unique rainforest course.
The action is set to start in just 7 days – on Wednesday 5th October.
Australian and international athletes alike are pumped to shred the brand-new tracks in Cairns, as well as the world-renowned Downhill track which played host to the 2017 World Cup.
“I really love the thought of having my biking friends visit Cairns and specially to come for Crankworx. It’s such a fun festival that fits the laidback North Queensland lifestyle,” says Cairns local and global mountain biking legend Mick Hannah.
“The opportunity to be at the top of a rainforest covered mountain overlooking the ocean and essentially descend to the beach on a bike is pretty awesome!”
Australian mountain biking legend Sam Hill adds: “Yeah I’m really excited to be heading to Cairns for Crankworx and as my first time back racing Downhill for a while, it’s going to be awesome. I’m going to have my family there so I think it will be a lot of fun watching some of the other events with my kids and letting them experience the excitement and atmosphere.”
Pro competition at Crankworx Cairns will include:
• Trek Official Australian Whip-Off Championships presented by POC
• Speed & Style Cairns*
• Crankworx Cairns Downhill*
• Crankworx Cairns Slopestyle*
• Crankworx Cairns Pump Track Challenge*
• Specialized Dual Slalom Cairns*
Meanwhile, brand new courses are taking shape on-site at Smithfield Mountain Bike Park. The courses aim to challenge riders and take competition to the next level, weaving through the rainforest on unique red dirt, with plenty of obstacles and technical features. Riders will make their way through the rainforest tracks to one key hole exit out to the open, where spectators can catch the finish line action for every course in one spot.
Remy Morton, rider and trail designer and builder for Crankworx Cairns, explains: “To have the trust to bring this venue to life and welcome the world’s best mountain biking athletes into Australia is an absolute dream. Competing all around the world at various Crankworx venues over the past 12 years, I cannot believe that the time has finally come to have a stop right here in Cairns. I think this is the biggest milestone Australian mountain biking has reached and it has been an honor to help bring such a high calibre event to our country! I’m so excited for the good times ahead and hope you all enjoy riding the courses as much as we have building them. This will be the proudest moment in my mountain biking career, so far.”
American Jordy Scott, currently leading Queen of Crankworx points for the 2022 season, describes her excitement levels for the new tracks, “My partner is from Cairns, so I actually had the chance to visit there in 2018! I got to check out the World Cup track, so I’m super excited to head back and see the Aussie crowd in full effect for this stop. The tracks are looking absolutely insane and I can’t wait to rip them.”
Read more about how the new course builds are coming together at crankworx.com.
There’s still time to register as an athlete or buy your festival pass to get amongst the action and see history in the making.
Rider registration will close Friday 30th September at 23:59 AEST (unless race sells out in advance). There will be no onsite registration.
