Crankworx podiums continue for Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense

Its been an amazing Crankworx for the team with another 2 podiums for us. Crankworx is huge...there are so many people here so it is great exposure for the team. Chris came second in the Air downhill event which is a tough race down the famous A-line trail. The course runs the length of A-Line, finishing at the base of the Bike Park with the legendary show-off zone, the GLC Drops. Widely recognized as the most celebrated DH course in mountain biking, with nearly 100 jumps. It is probably the most used trail here in Whistler. The track is so much fun to ride, as you are in the air as much as you are on the ground. It is a great track to build your confidence up with jumping. However for the race these jumps become pretty tough as the riders are sprinting at everything and the big jumps become quite short as you have to try and keep it low and not over jump everything. It is such a physical race as the track does not descent much in vertical hirght - so it is sprinting, jumping and cornering for 4 1/2 minutes. Longer that most world cup races! Chris posted an amazing time of 4:23.48 a second in front of 3rd place rider Andrew Neethling. Chris rode flat pedals and his full on DH bike. 4 times winner Brian Lopes took the win using his great BMX skills and a shorter travel bike being able to squash the jumps better and sprint faster. He is definitely the man to beat on A-line and knows what set up works! RESULTS - AIR DOWNHILL 1. 4 Brian Lopes USA Ibis, Oakley, Marzocchi, Kenda, Bell 4:20.45 +0.00 2. 10 Chris Kovarik AUS Chain Reaction Cycles, Intense 4:23.48 +3.03 3. 8 Andrew Neethling RSA Trek World Racing 4:24.42 +3.97 4. 51 Jared Rando AUS Giant Bicycle 4:25.01 +4.56 5. 9 Marc Beaumont GBR GT Bicycles 4:27.28 +6.83 6. 11 Steve Smith CAN MS Evil RACING, Red Bull 4:27.93 +7.48 7. 54 Fabien Cousinie FRA KENDA MOREWOOD 4:28.15 +7.70 8. 5 Justin Leov NZL Trek World Racing 4:28.57 +8.12 9. 6 Brendan Fairclough GBR Monster Energy, Specialized, Mad Catz 4:29.50 +9.05 10. 37 Kirt Voreis USA 4:29.91 +9.46 24. 57 Ruaridh Cunningham GBR Chain Reaction Cycles, Intense 4:35.54 +15.09 Nigel Page Team Manager - ChainReactionCycles/Intense www.CRCintense.com Photography by 'Stikman'