Stars Come out for Kokanee Crankworx

Pinkbike found two of downhill racing's fastest women talking it up before they went head to head on the famous Jeep Air DH course. Ibis legend Anne Caroline Chausson sat alongside Leigh Donovan on her trusty Intense waiting for their slot for the race. Anne Caro was the hands-down winner last year, Leigh came out of retirement to earn a top ten finish. When pressed as to the topic of their conversion, Leigh laughed, "Nothing remotely related to bicycles!"

After blasting the women's field, Anne Caro said that she likes coming to Whistler to ride every day and to meet the new riders coming up. Anne Caro won by a bit more than 7 seconds over Jill Kintner, said in a post race interview that she felt that she could have gone faster but she had no legs for the pedaling sections."But I felt very easy on the jumps and turns."


On the men's side of the Jeep Air DH, six-time winner Brian Lopes comes to Crankworx fitter than he has ever been after placing well at the 7-day-long BC Bike Race a few weeks ago. Lopes faced the race of his life, however, as his time down the course was once second faster than last year' - but not good enough to beat Giant's Andrew Neethling, who broke Lopes undefeated status to the roar of the Crankworks crowd.

The legends theme at Crankworx was furthered by the appearance of Eric Carter at the Air DH who held fifth place for a while. And the sight of 10-time World Champion Nicolas Vouilloz who will be racing the Enduro DH this weekend. We caught up with Nico at the RockShox tent getting his Lapierre Spicy prepped for battle. Nicolas Vouilloz watched from the sidelines last year and vowed to return this season to race.


When asked by Giant's Andrew Neethling if he had practiced the course, Nico quickly affirmed the fact. Nico said that winning on this track may be tough. Consider that Nico has been racing ultra-marathon downhills in Europe for a number of years, and has been rumored to be in top shape. Should be interesting.