electrical bike Brook Macdonald to Return to Racing at Crankworx Innsbruck
For one athlete specifically, this return to racing represents much more.
 |
“It feels superb to be coming again. I haven’t raced in over a 12 months, so to have the ability to be again within the racing scene goes to be the most effective…I really feel like this (Crankworx) is a superb alternative to get again into the psychological facet of getting ready myself to race once more and at a aggressive degree.” |
Photograph: Fraser Britton
His objective for his first race again, a race that he gained final 12 months?
|
“To win it once more! Clearly this can be a dream, however my greatest objective is simply to finish a race weekend realizing how that feels once more. That’s a giant objective in itself.” |
Alongside Brook, right here’s a roundup of what’s coming and who to observe for, with a full reside broadcast schedule on Pink Bull TV to return.
Take a look at the preliminary begin lists right here and prepare to tune in to #CrankworxFromHome: crankworx.com/results/start-lists/
Downhill. Is. BACK.
As Downhill racing returns to Pink Bull TV for the primary time since Crankworx Rotorua in March, Macdonald and his teammates, together with Laurie Greenland, can be raring to go. Look ahead to veteran elite racer Mick Hannah (additionally racing Twin Slalom and Pump Monitor), and younger gun Lucas Cruz who confirmed he’s primed for motion with a strong displaying within the CLIF Crankworx Summer time Collection in August. And somebody who’s proved he’s no slouch in DH, Enduro powerhouse Martin Maes is bound to be in preventing form following back-to-back weekends of EWS racing.
On the ladies’s facet, the racer who stood atop the rostrum alongside Macdonald final 12 months. Tracey Hannah can be again and seeking to defend. Positive to be gunning for a DH win on dwelling soil, Vali Höll can be representing Austria within the DH. Maes’ teammate Noga Korem and Pivot’s Morgane Charre, at present ranked second on the earth within the EWS, will even be channeling their Enduro abilities and hoping to tug collectively a successful race run.
Hannah will certainly be seeking to proceed her streak of Crankworx dominance. Photograph: Fraser Britton
Slopestyle riders able to flex
If latest protection from the Audi Nines bought you stoked to see extra massive fashion, Crankworx Innsbruck may have a lot to fulfill. 14 of the extra fashionable riders on the earth are on the point of tackle the Crankworx Innsbruck Slopestyle, a gold occasion on the FMB World Tour. The rider listing contains Emil Johansson, who’s gained each Crankworx occasions that’ve run since Crankworx Innsbruck 2019 (his return to competitors, through which he got here in second). Others to observe for can be Germany’s Erik Fedko, who positioned third in Rotorua, and Dawid Godziek who made his Crankworx Slopestyle debut in Innsbruck final 12 months and took third. Paul Couderc can be using a wave of momentum after touchdown a mind-blowing Footplant Flip at Audi Nines earlier in September.
Pink Bull’s Erik Fedko has been rising via the ranks lately. Photograph: Fraser Britton
Ladies’s Pace & Fashion to make Austrian debut
Throw some velocity and a hearty dose of technique into the fashion combine, and you’ve got the CLIF Pace & Fashion Innsbruck offered by GoPro. For the primary time in Innsbruck, an invitational girls’s subject will present the world what they’ve bought on this famed monitor. Germany’s Kathi Kuypers will definitely be one to observe, together with native rider Paula Zibasa and France’s Mathilde Bernard, who’s tasted victory in Crankworx Pump Monitor earlier than, however can be taking over this self-discipline for the primary time in Innsbruck.
On the boys’s facet, 2019’s European Whip-Off Champion Kaos Seagrave is more likely to be a high contender (he’s additionally tackling each occasion in Innsbruck this 12 months, besides Slopestyle). He’ll be competing towards Sam Reynolds, who narrowly missed out on the occasion podium final 12 months, ending fourth, and Slopestyle all-stars like Tomas Lemoine, who’s earned a good few items of Pace & Fashion {hardware} through the years.
The trendy and quick Seagrave takes on Boris Rezabek in 2019. Photograph: Fraser Britton
Twin Slalom: the good equalizer
The place will you discover the most important cross-section of racers representing completely different disciplines of MTB? The Twin Slalom monitor is the mountain bike melting pot of Crankworx and persistently the positioning of a few of the tightest and most enjoyable battles.
Ed Masters can be preventing for the highest towards his group supervisor Bernard Kerr as soon as once more. The 2 have confronted one another in head-to-head Crankworx Slalom racing earlier than, ending 1 (Kerr) and a pair of (Masters) in Les Will get in 2018. Again to defend can be younger racer Matthew Sterling, who stormed the occasion and took the W in 2019. One other to observe for can be newcomer to the Crankworx scene, Brady Stone. The Kiwi is at present second general within the EWS Males U21 class and is ready to tackle each Twin Slalom and DH in Innsbruck.
On the ladies’s facet, like Stone, EWS racers Ella Connolly and Martha Gill can be battling the likes of Vali Höll, who along with DH and Twin Slalom, will even be charging for the highest on the Pump Monitor.
Throwing again to Les Will get in 2018 – how good would one other Bernie vs. Eddie finals matchup be?! Photograph: Fraser Britton
Energy and precision on the Pump Monitor
Taking part in out on a brief, quick and technical monitor, Crankworx Pump Monitor motion is all about precision and, with out the power to pedal, a complete lot of energy.
With probably the most participation of all the ladies’s occasions over the 5 days of the competition, the RockShox Innsbruck Pump Monitor Problem will deliver on some thrilling sundown battles.
Norway’s Mille Johnset, in her first 12 months of elite racing, is ready to tackle the Pump Monitor (along with racing Twin Slalom and DH). Alongside her, Germany’s Laura Brethauer, a veteran of the occasion, and the Gehrig twins, who’re shifting their focus from Enduro to Pump Monitor and DH for Crankworx Innsbruck.
Mathilde Bernhard can be pushing on the Pump Monitor, in addition to in Twin Slalom, Pace & Fashion and DH
The lads’s roster is a who’s who of MTB expertise – the place else are you able to see the likes of EWS shredder Adrien Dailly (coming off a win in Pietra Ligure) on the identical begin listing as downhiller Mick Hannah, YouTube star Fabio Wibmer, style-masters like Antoine Bizet and Szymon Godziek, and heavy-hitters of the self-discipline like Chaney Guennet and Adrien Loron?! That’s Crankworx for you, child.
Full schedule and particulars for all reside occasions to return throughout Crankworx Innsbruck 2020: crankworx.com
