Garbanzo DH Photo Epic: Colossus - Crankworx Whistler 2018
Brutal. Arduous. Exhausting. All terms that riders associate with the infamous Crankworx classic, the Garbanzo DH. Starting from the top of the Garbanzo lift, 1180m above the village, the course is 7km in length and utilizes a selection of Whistler's most classic trails: Original Sin, Blue Velvet, In Deep, Duffman, Golden Triangle, World Cup Single Track, Ho Chi Min, Longhorn & Monkey Hands. A mixture of classic bike park, rock slabs, tech and plenty of flat-out, high speed sections keep even the most seasoned pros on their toes.
Coming into this year's installment, it was all eyes on Marcelo Gutierrez. The five-time winner of this event in years past, and one of the fittest pros on the circuit, was the hot favourite to take the win once more. But, with the enduro pros still in town and the rest of the World Cup circus fresh off a plane from Mont-Sainte-Anne, he had a tall task ahead of him. A couple of Sams weren't about to let things go so easily. Sam Blenkinsop had what it would take, but was likely still struggling with the injury he sustained in MSA. Meanwhile, Sam Hill decided the morning of that he would race, and got given a fresh prototype bike to ride. Blenki came down and went into third, Sam Hill then took the hot seat and with Marcelo's time ticking by, it was all but done.
In the women's it was a similar story. Tracey Hannah was the favorite to win again, but the underdogs prevailed. One can only assume Tracey was tired after a long weekend of World Cup racing and travel, while locals Claire Buchar and Georgia Astle were on form and had the upper hand in form of local knowledge. For Georgia, it has been several years coming, but near unbelievable to her that she would actually be able to climb onto the top step of a pro women's race at her local Crankworx.
Sam Hill back on a downhill bike. Is there anything better?
Upper parts of the course had some riders making all sorts of shapes in an effort to avoid damaging their bikes.
Blenki's still on a tear, and with the whip-off and Canadian open still ahead of him, things are looking good for the KoC title.
Slabs were on the menu today and the riders were hungry.
Casey Brown got the week warmed up with fourth in a stacked field of rapid women.
Marcelo Gutierrez was the hot favorite, but a crash and front puncture destroyed any hope of the 6-peat.
Greg Callaghan was another Enduro star that could have gone all the way today. But instead, a broken chain and detonated wheel ended any chance of that.
Jacod Dickson came out of left field swinging today for a smashing second place between two legends.
Noga Korem had the stamina today, but likely lacked a touch of raw pace that was needed to see you not lose time in many of the gnarly sections.
Some locals are less friendly than others, and this one wasn't so keen about the ongoing race.
Blenki was nursing a stitched arm and leg today but was able to do a good job of damage control and get more valuable points to keep him at the top of the King of Crankworx chase.
Henry Fitzgerald backed up his teammate with 4th today and showed that the pace is there.
Tracey Hannah narrowly avoided being taken out by a bear during training but was quick to move on and ride to third behind underdog locals.
Kovarik making short work of the gnar.
Canada - A photographers worst nightmare.
Garret Mechem is a name we would see more regularly on a hardtail but was great to see cross-competing today.
Jackson Goldstone teaching his competitors a thing or two about riding the hotlines.
Morgane Charre showed she is still up there with a fifth in elite women today. What a day for former World Champs!
A photographer was standing in the track right on the inside line as Sam Hill came past, costing him some time. He asked for a re-run as soon as he crossed the line, but as Marcelo crashed, his first run was still good enough to win him the race.
In Deep was all but one of the techy rock chute filled trails.
A third at an EWS a few days doesn't make the 14 minute DH race any easier.
Chris Kovarik doing it for his home crowd.
It wasn't Miranda Miller's day out there today. The 14ish minute track didn't play to her strengths but expect her to come out swinging on Sunday in the Canadian Open.
The Gehrig twins both rode strong races today, and as to be expected with them being EWS pros. For them, a 14 minute DH race is all but another stage.
Miller time catching airtime.
Georgia Astle went straight from work at Whistler Village's Lift coffee shop earlier this week, to winning one of the hardest races of the festival against a stacked field.
The man and machine that stopped Marcelo's reign. Sam Hill and his prototype 27.5" wheeled Nukeproof (more on this soon).
Today's Garbanzo DH podium.
Results
Women
1st. Georgia Astle (CAN) 14:29
2nd. Claire Buchar (CAN)+8.57
3rd. Tracey Hannah (AUS) +10.00
4th. Casey Brown (CAN) +18.52
5th. Morgane Charre (FRA) +21.77
1st. Georgia Astle (CAN) 14:29
2nd. Claire Buchar (CAN)+8.57
3rd. Tracey Hannah (AUS) +10.00
4th. Casey Brown (CAN) +18.52
5th. Morgane Charre (FRA) +21.77
Men
1st. Sam Hill (AUS) 12:46.84
2nd. Jacob Dickson (IRL) +1.67
3rd. Samuel Blenkinsop (NZL) +3.25
4th. Henry Fitzgerald (CAN) +9.91
5th. Chris Kovarik (AUS) +12.73
1st. Sam Hill (AUS) 12:46.84
2nd. Jacob Dickson (IRL) +1.67
3rd. Samuel Blenkinsop (NZL) +3.25
4th. Henry Fitzgerald (CAN) +9.91
5th. Chris Kovarik (AUS) +12.73
Full Results
Mentions: @officialcrankworx @cameronmackenzie @trevorlyden
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I think I might race today.
Some one find me a DH bike.
Some tool is on the track, I’ll redo a brutal 12min track to pick up 2 seconds so I could win.
Wait, I still won.
Machine is what come to mind.
That man is super human.
The guy was in the wrong place and made a bad judgement call. Maybe he should have known better but this internet anger people get riled up on is seriously unhealthy.
It's just stupid and dangerous.
Needs to be named so someone can teach/show him where is safe and not safe to stand. so it dosn't happen again.
www.instagram.com/p/Bmfo043g73q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
This is despite the fact that Sam Hill still won the race and that we don't know if this guy has apologized to Sam or not yet. In fact you don't know a single fact other than what you've seen on a 4 second video clip.
He was in the wrong but I hope everyone's mistakes are caught on camera for internet warriors to chastise them. It's such a brave thing to do.
Also Did I say he needs to loose his job? no I said he needs to have extra training.
Because common sense seems to be lacking with him.
And his "mistake" could of caused Sam (or any other rider) a career ending (or worse) crash.
And if no one has words with him, he prob think it be OK to do it again
And TBH with you I not sure he is "media" as with most UCI events, "media" normally have hi viz media bib on and have done proper training. (thou I not sure what Crankwork have/use the same rules/procedure)
Again if he was media he should know better and needs re training.
I guess people with nothing better to do like getting hysterical over things that, ultimately, are none of their business.
That said cut this guy a break. He f*cked up yes, but you find me any WC photographer who hasn't cheated once or twice and taken a shit where they weren't supposed to be? And will you have the same mob mentality and rage over the few hundred spectators who put their stupid iPhones or go pros on sticks into the riders way each run?
Relax... Pretty sure they guy learned his lesson, and he can be an example for others to not make the same mistake.
Shall I resign?
Well done Sammy, you’re a beast