It was a beautiful evening in Whistler, perfect for the Crankworx Ultimate Pumptrack Challenge. The event ran as an elimination, with prequalified riders going head to head against each other in a single run elimination. Riders started on a platform in the middle of the pumptrack loop, standing over their bikes, hands off the bars. At the start riders touched gloves, then dropped in on opposite sides of the track. They had to complete one full lap with the fastest rider advancing.
In the semi's Mitch Ropelato beat Blake Carney, Danny Hart beat Cody Warren, Brendan Fairclough beat Evan Turpen, and Austin Aldrich beat Troy Brosnan.
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| More than a few people told me that Troy Brosnan was going to win, but Austin Aldrich took him out early on. Watch for this kid in the future. |
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| Danny Hart |
Then Ropelato beat Hart and Fairclough beat Aldrich, with Fairclough and Ropelato moving on to the final and Aldrich and Hart going to the small final.
The final was looking incredibly fast and tight but Fairclough went down with about half a lap to go and Mitch Ropelato flew to the finish with no trouble. Austin Aldrich beat Brendan Fairclough in the small final.
On the women's side Jill Kintner and Micayla Gatto moved through to the final, taking out Emmeline Ragot and Fionn Griffiths on the way. Emmeline beat Fionn in the small final, and in the main Micayla lost out to Jill.
It was amazing to see just how fast the top riders, girls and guys, were going on the tight little track.
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| Mitch Ropelato winning the final |
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| Brendan Fairclough in the final |
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| Jill Kintner, final run |
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| Austin Aldrich |
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| Micayla Gatto |
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| Cody Warren |
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| Womens podium |
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| Mens podium |
