NEWS: THE ROAD TO ROYALTY 2018

NEWS: THE ROAD TO ROYALTY 2018

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TRACKS, POINTS AND PLAYERS AS THE BATTLES FOR THE TITLES OF KING AND QUEEN OF CRANKWORX LAUNCH

 

 

 

The most difficult competition in mountain biking is about to kick off for another year. Taking the battle to the next level, 2018 will see the crowning of a Royal Family of the Crankworx World Tour. As in past years, the King and Queen will be named at the end of the season. They’ll each receive $20,000 CAD for their efforts, while for the first time the second place overall riders will receive $10,000 CAD each, and third overall will each receive $5,000 CAD.

 

 

WHAT TO EXPECT FOR 2018

Other changes for this year include the addition and re-introduction of some key events, including an all-new DH race in Rotorua, Dual Slaloms in Rotorua and Les Gets, and the return of the Whip-Off to the points battle across the tour. Overall, points are up for grabs at 30 events for men and 22 for women.

Who’s on deck? Some top contenders who’ve thrown their names in the hat on the women’s side include reigning Queen Jill Kintner (USA), Casey Brown (CAN), Tahnée Seagrave (GBR), Emilie Siegenthaler (SUI), Vaea Verbeeck (CAN), and Cecile Ravanel (FRA), who won’t be competing in Rotorua but will be on the hunt for points when the Crankworx World Tour hits Europe. Noticeably absent from this list is 2017’s second runner up Caroline Buchanan (AUS) who’s recovering from injuries sustained in a car accident.

As for the men, defending King Adrien Loron (FRA) will be back at it, as will Tomas Slavik (CZE), Sam Blenkinsop (NZL), Barry Nobles (USA), Bas van Steenbergen (CAN), Austin Warren (USA), Bernard Kerr (GBR), who’s out in Rotorua with a broken foot but hoping to get back in the game in Europe, and, similarly, Jack Moir, who’ll be missing Crankworx Rotorua with a back injury.

For 2018, competitions include (*denotes events new to the King/Queen battle in 2018):

 

 

 

 

THE BIG LINE-UP

Crankworx Rotorua – March 17-25, 2018
Giant Toa Enduro presented by CamelBak
Official Oceania Whip-Off Championships presented by SPANK*
Mons Royale Dual Speed & Style Rotorua
Crankworx Rotorua Air DH
RockShox Rotorua Pump Track Challenge presented by Torpedo7
Crankworx Rotorua Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza
Crankworx Rotorua Downhill
Redwoods Downhill*
100% Dual Slalom Rotorua*

Crankworx Innsbruck – June 13-17, 2018
Official Alpine Whip-Off Championships presented by SPANK*
RockShox Innsbruck Pump Track Challenge
Mons Royale Dual Speed & Style Innsbruck
Crankworx Innsbruck Slopestyle presented by Kenda
iXS Innsbruck Downhill presented by Raiffeisen Club

Crankworx Les Gets – June 20-24, 2018
Official European Whip-Off Championships presented by SPANK*
Muc-Off Dual Speed & Style Les Gets
RockShox Les Gets Pump Track Challenge
Crankworx Les Gets Slopestyle
Crankworx Les Gets Downhill
Crankworx Les Gets Mont-Chéry DH
100% Dual Slalom Les Gets*

Crankworx Whistler – August 10-19, 2018
CamelBak Canadian Open Enduro presented by Specialized
Canadian Open DH presented by iXS
CLIF Dual Speed & Style presented by Muc-Off
Fox Air DH
Garbanzo DH
100% Dual Slalom Whistler
Official Whip-Off World Championships presented by SPANK*
Red Bull Joyride
RockShox Ultimate Pump Track Challenge

 

Kicking things off in Rotorua, all eyes will be on certain key events, including the Giant Toa Enduro presented by CamelBak, with an impressive 225 points on offer for top finishers, the all-new Redwoods DH, bringing the total number of Downhill events in Rotorua to an unprecedented three, the 100% Dual Slalom Rotorua, making its debut in the Southern Hemisphere this year, and the “bigger and better” RockShox Rotorua Pump Track Challenge presented by Torpedo7, according to course builder Adam King of Empire of Dirt, the team tasked with re-imagining the iconic Crankworx course.

 

 

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