Crankworx Les 2 Alpes 2012 - Giant Air DH Results
The Giant Air DH, supported by Fox, sent the best downhill riders in the world through their paces on “Fury”, a track newly built for Crankworx Les 2 Alpes.
Great Britain’s Gee Atherton held on with the fastest times in both the qualifications and the finals to take the title of the inaugural Giant Air DH supported by Fox with a time of 4:26.87. New Zealand’s Sam Blenkinsop was through the gate with the second fastest time of 4:32.49 and South African Andrew Neethling came in third with a time of 4:35.90.
Rachel Atherton followed in her brother’s tracks to also take first place in both the qualifications and finals, crossing the finish line in the final nearly fifteen seconds faster than Australian Tracey Hannah in second place with a time of 5:30.65. France’s beloved Pompon, Myriam Nicole, was awarded third place with a time of 5:37.74.
Women's Top 3
1st Rachel ATHERTON – 2000€
2nd Tracy HANNAH – 750€
3rd Myriam NICOLE – 500€
Men's Top 3
1st Gee ATHERTON – 4000€
2nd Sam BLENKINSOP – 1750€
3rd Andrew NEETHLING – 1000€
Complete Results at bottom...
Rachel Atherton also commented on the technicality of the course:
The course is a new addition to the Les 2 Alpes Bike Park and was designed by Mick Hannah and Marc Beaumont, who just missed the podium coming in fourth overall. The trail crew of the resort of Les 2 Alpes built the trail with Ayton Concept and Seb Chovet, co-producer of Crankworx Les 2 Alpes.
“We started building the track ‘Fury’ for the Air DH last October 2011 and we finished this year in June,” says Chovet. “We will take rider feedback to integrate some changes and I have already talked to designer Marc Beaumont who said it was a tough race but that he loved the track.”
“Fury” drops a total of 700m over a length of 2.8 km and is open to the public as a double black diamond trail in the Les 2 Alpes Bike Park. The length coupled with technical sections of single track and huge jumps, including the now infamous road gap that took out third place qualifier Aurelian Giordanengo, make “Fury” an apt name.
The fastest amateur, Raymond Orre, got hooked up after pulling in a time of 5:10.32. Giant will be signing him onto a year long contract as a rider and Fox will be outfitting him in the latest kit. Giant has signed Orre into a sponsorship contract for the 2013 season including awarding him with an ATV Glory 2013.
Next up on the Les 2 Alpes’ schedule of events is the SRAM Dual Speed & Style, on Thursday, July 12 at 6:30-8:00pm. This hybrid event will see competitors racing through the dual course on side-by-side, tricked-out tracks throwing style into their air on the mid-course booters to earn time credits.
The Red Bull Media House and Boombox Productions, Crankworx Whistler’s long time live event producers, will produce live webcasts to transmit Crankworx Les 2 Alpes to the masses via the internet.
Live Streaming Webcast Schedule for Crankworx Les 2 Alpes:
SRAM Dual Speed & Style
Thursday, July 12 18:15-20:00 UTC +2 | 9:15am-11am PDT
FMB World Tour: Slopestyle Qualifying presented by iXS
Friday, July 13 14:45pm-16:30 UTC +2 | 5:45am-7:30am PDT
Teva Best Trick Showdown
Friday, July 13 17:00-19:00 UTC +2 | 8am-10am PDT
FMB World Tour: Slopestyle presented by iXS
Saturday, July 14 17:30-19:30 UTC +2 | 8:30am-10:30am PDT
The webcasts, powered by Red Bull Media House, be live streamed here on Pinkbike as well as at www.crankworx.com, live.redbull.tv and also by other online media partner Adrenaline by L'equipe:
Results AirDownhill
 |
Great Britain’s Gee Atherton held on with the fastest times in both the qualifications and the finals to take the title of the inaugural Giant Air DH supported by Fox with a time of 4:26.87. New Zealand’s Sam Blenkinsop was through the gate with the second fastest time of 4:32.49 and South African Andrew Neethling came in third with a time of 4:35.90.
Rachel Atherton followed in her brother’s tracks to also take first place in both the qualifications and finals, crossing the finish line in the final nearly fifteen seconds faster than Australian Tracey Hannah in second place with a time of 5:30.65. France’s beloved Pompon, Myriam Nicole, was awarded third place with a time of 5:37.74.
Women's Top 3
1st Rachel ATHERTON – 2000€
2nd Tracy HANNAH – 750€
3rd Myriam NICOLE – 500€
Men's Top 3
1st Gee ATHERTON – 4000€
2nd Sam BLENKINSOP – 1750€
3rd Andrew NEETHLING – 1000€
Complete Results at bottom...
 |
 Gee Atherton killed the course with about 6 seconds on Blenki.. great job considering how tough and steep was the course. Here is riding underneath the Avalanches Barriers that usually are builted on the steepest terrain. |
 | The track was good and super fast. We thought it was going to be a lot calmer but it was a gnarly track. Good fun though, it is a really good course - Gee Atherton. |
 |
| Rachel Atherton is definitely back at her top level. |
Rachel Atherton also commented on the technicality of the course:
| The track is one of the hardest tracks I have ridden this year, for sure. I didn't fancy going off the big step down. I need to stay healthy for the World Cups. I just tried to ride the track good and fast, and get some lines. You have to push where you can and hold back when you are nervous. - Rachel Atherton |
 |
| Brannigan on his way to the top in the morning |
The course is a new addition to the Les 2 Alpes Bike Park and was designed by Mick Hannah and Marc Beaumont, who just missed the podium coming in fourth overall. The trail crew of the resort of Les 2 Alpes built the trail with Ayton Concept and Seb Chovet, co-producer of Crankworx Les 2 Alpes.
“We started building the track ‘Fury’ for the Air DH last October 2011 and we finished this year in June,” says Chovet. “We will take rider feedback to integrate some changes and I have already talked to designer Marc Beaumont who said it was a tough race but that he loved the track.”
 |
| Course designer Marc Beaumont flying over Les Deux Alpes |
“Fury” drops a total of 700m over a length of 2.8 km and is open to the public as a double black diamond trail in the Les 2 Alpes Bike Park. The length coupled with technical sections of single track and huge jumps, including the now infamous road gap that took out third place qualifier Aurelian Giordanengo, make “Fury” an apt name.
 |
| Sam Blenkinsop on one of the huge features of this Giant Air Downhill. |
 |
| Andrew Neethling seemed very fast today and he finished with a solid 3rd spot |
 |
| Danny Hart flying over the clouds in the upper part of the giant air downhill |
 |
| Mick Hannah on the huge rampage style road gap... |
 |
| ...and this is Gee on the following looong double. This was definitely the most important feature on the track. |
 |
| Jerome Clementz showed some good skill in this downhill, this photo probably shows best how tough the terrain was. 28th place for a guy best known as an Enduro rider. |
 |
| Rachel on her way to the top spot |
 |
| The happy winning family! |
The fastest amateur, Raymond Orre, got hooked up after pulling in a time of 5:10.32. Giant will be signing him onto a year long contract as a rider and Fox will be outfitting him in the latest kit. Giant has signed Orre into a sponsorship contract for the 2013 season including awarding him with an ATV Glory 2013.
 |
| Danny Hart entertaining the crowd with his signature whip. |
Next up on the Les 2 Alpes’ schedule of events is the SRAM Dual Speed & Style, on Thursday, July 12 at 6:30-8:00pm. This hybrid event will see competitors racing through the dual course on side-by-side, tricked-out tracks throwing style into their air on the mid-course booters to earn time credits.
The Red Bull Media House and Boombox Productions, Crankworx Whistler’s long time live event producers, will produce live webcasts to transmit Crankworx Les 2 Alpes to the masses via the internet.
Live Streaming Webcast Schedule for Crankworx Les 2 Alpes:
SRAM Dual Speed & Style
Thursday, July 12 18:15-20:00 UTC +2 | 9:15am-11am PDT
FMB World Tour: Slopestyle Qualifying presented by iXS
Friday, July 13 14:45pm-16:30 UTC +2 | 5:45am-7:30am PDT
Teva Best Trick Showdown
Friday, July 13 17:00-19:00 UTC +2 | 8am-10am PDT
FMB World Tour: Slopestyle presented by iXS
Saturday, July 14 17:30-19:30 UTC +2 | 8:30am-10:30am PDT
The webcasts, powered by Red Bull Media House, be live streamed here on Pinkbike as well as at www.crankworx.com, live.redbull.tv and also by other online media partner Adrenaline by L'equipe:
Results AirDownhill
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The Athertons absolutely crushed it! it makes me wonder how Gwin would do on a track like this.
Does anyone know if Dan is competing in any events here?
1st Rachel ATHERTON – 2000€
Men
1st Gee ATHERTON – 4000€
+2000€ for men.
To Pabail, I say why exactly? As soon as you distinguish between groups you are being self-defeating. If we encourage more women then me must encourage more of each race/religion/gender/sexuality until all the demographics equate. We don't "need" any specific number of anyone in the sport. It's good to encourage lots more people in general, but not a specific group.
Secondly, once while organising a DH event we discussed prize money and one of the women piped up "I don't see why we should get as much prizemoney as the men. We only make up ten per cent of the field and so we don't give as much into the prize pool [via race fees]." I was so impressed at her impartiality and logic that I jokingly asked her to marry me. Even her girlfriend thought that was funny.
I don't know if it still occurs, but not too long ago women were getting the same prize money in professional tennis as the men because they were the players the crowds came to watch. I blame the boring Federer for that though.
Complete this sentence without researching it: Caroline Buchanen is a two times world 4X champion, just became a BMX World Champion, and the brand of bike she rides is a...[insert brand here].
would it be nice to meet a female that was into mountainbiking too... i just dont see whats wrong with that....that.. pipe dream of mine
If you read my comment properly, I state that women are performing at an equal level relatively. That is to say that they are still giving it 100% and performing at the top of their capabilities. Just because their physical capabilities are different doesn't mean it's any less demanding for them, if anything it's more difficult for them to ride some of the stuff, dh isn't all rollable jumps.
Pabail- increased advertising might attract a few more, but tbh, I didn't see any advertising for the sport before I started it. The fact is that men are attracted to different things than women. Most guys I know think dh is cool when I talk about it, most women I know switch off completely upon mention of the subject. It's a pipe dream, but there are lots of girls who are into biking, but nothing comes to he who waits so go find them!
jaame - definitely, which also agrees with redrook's point. Men are different from women, but that doesn't mean either should be paid less.
I don't know but I'm guessin most of the above comments are by blokes enjoying a ant rather than girls feeling a need to stand up for themselves?! (Though that may be a bit of a hypocritical thing to say!)