Steps to the Top - Marcelo Gutierrez

Marcelo Gutierrez takes back-to-back wins in the Garbanzo Downhill with Nick Beer and Mark Wallace completing the SRAM | RockShox podium sweep.

n just under twelve and a half minutes, the world's fastest racers endured a grueling 3,400ft descent from the top of the Garbanzo chairlift, taking them through some of the most diverse and challenging terrain that the Whistler Mountain Bike park has to offer. The iconic and treacherous Garbo Downhill course combines a mix of loose, steep and raw high alpine terrain with blistering fast singletrack through tight, shoulder grabbing trees – Isolating mind and body away from the chaos that inevitably ensues at the lower half of the mountain, where riders are further challenged with combinations of groomed jump lines and flowing park trails, bringing them all the way down to the Whistler Boneyard before sending them off the infamous GLC drop. The Garbo Downhill is known now as a true testament of strength, skill and speed amongst the Downhill elite. Marcelo Gutierrez (Giant Factory Off-Road Team) would prove to all that he is undoubtedly the man to beat taking a back-to-back victories on this renowned course.

Feeling confident and comfortable on such a demanding and difficult course showed true in Gutierrez's back to back victories. Gutierrez said -

"I really enjoy riding it and I'm waiting every year to come back here and ride it again. It's probably my favourite track in the whole world. It just has everything - rough fast sections, jumps, berms, steep sections...I'm pretty happy to just come here and enjoy it and at the end of the day winning it again is like the best satisfaction I can get."

Nick Beer (Devinci Global Racing) sat in the hot seat with a blistering fast time of 12:43.30 for some time as Gutierrez made his way down the mountain. With fellow Devinci rider Mark Wallace following in a staggeringly close margin behind, the two sat anxiously waiting to see if Gutierrez would best their times for a repeat win. Riding his SRAM X01 DH, RockShox BoXXer WC, RockShox Vivid R2C, Avid Code brakes and TRUVATIV bar and stem, Gutierrez would blast his way into a commanding lead with a time of 12:24.65 taking a well deserved win for the prestigious title of 2X Garbanzo Downhill Champion. Nick Beer and Mark Wallace would stand proudly on the podium with Gutierrez, also both on board SRAM X01 DH, RockShox BoXXer WC, RockShox Vivid R2C, and Avid Code brakes.

Results

Men's Downhill

1st - Marcelo Gutierrez (Giant Factory Off-Road): SRAM X01 DH | RockShox BoXXer | RockShox Vivid R2C | RockShox Reverb | Avid Code brakes | TRUVATIV bar and stem

2nd - Nick Beer (Devinci Global Racing): SRAM X01 DH | RockShox BoXXer | RockShox Vivid R2C | Avid Code brakes

3rd – Mark Wallace (Devinci Global Racing): SRAM X01 DH | RockShox BoXXer | RockShox Vivid R2C | Avid Code brakes