Old Course Packs New Punch for Garbanzo Superstars

Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas took home his sixth Garbanzo DH podium finish at Crankworx on Tuesday; it his third time in first spot. (Photo by Clint Trahan/Crankworx)

Despite organizers’ attempts to mix it up for the Garbanzo DH, fans of the iconic Crankworx race likely felt a little déjà vu Wednesday as Claire Buchar and Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas stepped atop the podium.

Taking the win for a second and third year, respectively, the Whistler local and Columbian dynamo both admitted they were not thrilled to see the course change this year - Gutierrez, in particular, having labelled it his favourite course in the world. Nevertheless, neither racer balked at the chance to best their contemporaries, powering down the epic quad-crusher under 30-degree Celsius heat.

“I’m not going to say it was fun because it’s one of those things that’s just so hard you can’t call it fun; but it was gratifying in the end,” said Buchar.

Considerably less technical and flatter, the new course is really the original Garbanzo DH course, a 3400-metre toll-taking test of mountain biking supremacy.

“It was so physical,” said Gutierrez. “I wasn’t really happy about it, but you just have to deal with it; so I changed bikes.”


Gutierrez initially tested the course on his downhill bike and made the switch to his enduro rig after the first run. He then spent his entire practice struggling not to get punctures, crossing his fingers he would not flat-out in the race.

Gutierrez has now secured first place in the Garbanzo six times—once as a junior, twice in second and the last three years as the overall victor. Outstripping his nearest competitor by 13 seconds, he certainly proved the dominant rider, though hardly the only hero of the day. Matt WALKER, of New Zealand, managed to keep himself in the top 20 by walking his bike up the hills, after breaking his chain on a flat fire road section. Buchar, meanwhile, earned her win by little more than a second, declaring herself “wrecked” by the end of the day.

Claire Buchar pinning it through the Garbanzo DH, pedalling for her life. (Photo: Sean St. Denis)

Now at the mid-point of Crankworx, the adult sports action is being matched, and at times surpassed, by the enthusiasm at Kidsworx. In its second year, it is attracting hundreds of young groms eager to follow in the footsteps and tire treads of their heroes. Some 170 competitors registered for Monday’s main attraction, the Kidsworx B-Line race, and those numbers were nearly matched Friday as 130 competitors took on the Kidsworx Village Crit, packed elbow to elbow at the start line in many age groups.


Wheelie Wyn Masters, Grand Poobha of the Kiwi racing scene, grabs some water after his peel through the Garbanzo DH. (Photo by Clint Trahan/Crankworx)
Garbanzo DH
Women’s Results:
1. Claire Buchar 14:43.15
2. Miranda Miller 14:44.35
3. Anneke Beerten 14:55.87

Men’s Results:
1. Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas 12:45
2. Chris Kovarik 12:58.24
3. Sam Blenkinsop 13:03.88

Today: The heart of Crankworx returns. Fox Air DH is set up to hit the most iconic trails on Whistler Mountain where every turn is a berm, every jump is a tabletop and every moment is a battle of mind over matter. Over 375 riders have signed up for this adrenaline pumping ride. Get your rush on the Crankworx LIVE webcast running at 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Canada, 12:30 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. Europe (August 13), 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. New Zealand (August 13).

Dry and dusty. It's another round of blistering heat steaks in Whistler, which is looking a little like the trail scene in Les 2 Alpes this week.
A little trail theory. Josh Carlson give Yoann Barelli his take on the course
Crankworx LIVE webcast schedule:

Fox Air DH Wednesday, August 12 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Canada, 12:30 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. Europe (August 13), 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. New Zealand (August 13)
Ultimate Pump Track Challenge presented by RockShox Thursday, August 13 7 – 9 p.m. Canada, 4 – 6 a.m. Europe (August 14), 2 – 4 p.m. New Zealand (August 14)

Giant Dual Slalom Friday, August 14 5-7 p.m. Canada, 2 – 4 a.m. Europe (August 15), noon – 2 p.m. New Zealand (August 15)

Red Bull Joyride Saturday, August 15 4:30 – 8 p.m. Canada, 1:30 a.m. – 5 a.m. Europe (August 16), 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. New Zealand (August 16)

Canadian Open DH presented by iXS Sunday, August 16 3 – 5 p.m. Canada, midnight – 2 a.m. Europe (August 17), 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. New Zealand (August 17)

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MENTIONS: @officialcrankworx

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