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Gutierrez, Hannah win Crankworx-closing Canadian Open DH

Brown and Gutierrez crowned Queen and King of Crankworx

Podium performances on the final day of Crankworx Whistler put Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas and Casey Brown on the throne of the 11th annual mountain biking festival.

Gutierrez Villegas won the pro men's title of the Canadian Open DH on Sunday and was later awarded the King of Crankworx title. Brown finished as the runner-up to Australia's Tracey Hannah in the pro women's race to be crowned Queen of Crankworx.

Gutierrez Villegas, who won his second-straight Garbanzo DH title earlier in the week, was thrilled to take home the festival's honour for overall top rider.

"I'm surprised how good I did," he said. "It's been a tough year, the results haven't been as good as I've been expecting, but I always come here to Crankworx to try and have a good time on my bike and try my best in every single race.

"Winning the Garbo was amazing... and to win the Canadian Open, I knew there were some fast guys out there... I'm super stoked with it and excited to come back next year."

The Colombian rider was the last to start on Sunday and posted a time of two minutes, 50.92 seconds to bump Giant teammate Danny Hart out of the hot seat and into the runner-up spot, just 0.71 seconds back. Australia's Connor Fearon (+1.05) finished third, while Mark Wallace (+3.30) was the top Canadian, placing fifth.

"It's definitely a lot of pressure, to be honest, being the last man down," said Gutierrez Villegas. "But I guess I dealt with it."

Hannah finished the Canadian Open course in 3:18.96 to take the win while racing the event for the first time. She just barely nipped Brown (+0.63) at the finish line, while Whistler's Claire Buchar (+2.31) also finished on the podium.

"I have a race next week at the exact same time, so it's a fine balance between going for it and saving yourself for the next World Cup," said Brown, who was the women's Official Whip-Off World Champion and Garbanzo DH runner-up in earlier Crankworx events.

"I'm stoked on my result today and my performance today. I thought I was toast at one point on the track today but somehow made it through."

Amateur class winners in Sunday's finale event were Jack Iles (junior expert men; 3:01.07), Finn Iles (boys' 13-15; 3:04.84), Remy Morton (men's 16-18), Steve Storey (master men's, 3:14.66) and Josh Fuller (men's 19-29; 3:12.60).

See www.crankworx.com for full results, and check Pique on Thursday for a complete wrap of Crankworx Whistler.