Once again, it was time for the Crankworx round down-under in Cairns, Australia. This event marks the halfway point of the Crankworx World Tour 2024 season, which means overall points battles are starting to ramp up, and each race is vital if one is to compete for the crown. At the end of the event, we saw the men’s Slopestyle riders back in action after sitting out the first round in Rotorua.

The Dual Slalom got things underway with a classic, fast racecourse. Maxxis athlete Jackson Frew (We Are One) had another strong performance, sliding into third place on the day.

Next, the Downhill race was a slippery mess, with riders having an extremely difficult time just keeping the bike upright. However, Connor Fearon (Forbidden Bikes) was confident on his home track, taking the gold on Maxxis Minion DHR II tires. Jackson Frew continued to add to his Crankworx overall points, grabbing a bronze medal in the Men’s. Ellie Smith (Commencal Bikes), the Australian Women’s DH National Champion, also had a great race at home, slotting into second on the day.

The Australian Whip-Off Championships were next, and the athletes put on a show for the cheering crowds. Maxxis rider Garret Mechem (Commencal Bikes) threw it all out there and took home the win.

The crowd favorite Pump Track Challenge followed that day, and hometown hero Caroline Buchanan (Trek Bikes) was back on the podium with a Crankworx Silver medal. Jayce Cunning (CW Bike) and Bas Van Steenbergen (Hyper Bicycles) scored second and third place on the podium in the Men’s.

Speed and Style competition continues to grow as athletes who are competing for the overall find this race more and more valuable in adding to their points bucket. Garret Mechem is looking to be one of the favorites for the King of Crankworx title, taking another first place, along with Jackson Frew, who placed third.

Finally, the Crankworx Cairns Slopestyle wrapped up the week of racing with both the Men and Women putting on a show for the Australian crowd. Emil Johansson (Trek Bikes), while still recovering from a broken collarbone, managed another Crankworx Slopestyle podium, earning silver on the day. The Women’s competition is just heating up with impressive runs thrown down in just the second-ever event!

We can’t wait to see you all in Innsbruck on June 12 for the third round of the Crankworx World Tour!