Good news, mountain bike fans: You can still crank it from home this summer. (Sorry.)
With Crankworx Whistler cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, festival organizers put their heads together to give you the next best thing to seeing the action live.
The Crankworx Summer Series, slated for July 27 to Aug. 14, will feature four races per stop at Sun Peaks, Kicking Horse, and Silver Star, more than 12 hours of livestreamed action, and 25 of the world’s best mountain bike athletes vying for the overall series title.
“We are truly blessed here in British Columbia,” said Crankworx GM Darren Kinnaird in a release. “Not only do we have some of the most amazing mountain biking anywhere in the world, but we have some of the world’s best mountain bike athletes that have grown up here or have made the choice to make B.C. their home. Some of the biggest brands in mountain biking call B.C. home. We are all so lucky to be able to live in Beautiful B.C. Now more than ever.”
Racers will be a mix of top pros and emerging athletes from Crankworx, the UCI DH World Cup and Enduro World Series, all competing across multiple disciplines, which will include downhill, dual slalom, endure and Air DH.
““I couldn’t be happier!” said Whistler’s Finn Iles, one of the top ranked downhillers in the world. “I haven’t been able to race since last year and I’m really looking forward to getting back between the tape again. It will be fun to go head to head with riders from all different disciplines week after week. I really appreciate Crankworx for giving us this exciting opportunity.”
Available to watch at crankworx.com, pinkbike.com and EDGEsport (through TV, online and digital services), the series will include live race coverage, event highlights, weekly recaps, and more.
With no spectators and strict operating procedures in place, organizers said the No. 1 priority will be “to ensure rider, staff and community safety.” The closed races will be invite-only and limited to 25 athletes, along with reduced staff, supplier and volunteer numbers onsite. All participants will travel in pre-arranged groups, and contact tracing as well as temperature and symptom checks will take place daily.
The new series will also feature a fantasy league, where fans will be able to build their dream roster for a chance to win sponsor prizes. More details at fantasy.crankworx.com.
Crankworx Connect is another way to engage with the event through an online exp featuring live athlete Q&As, giveaways, tech talks, and more.
