WHISTLER, BC, July 27, 2020 — Imagine Finn Iles lining up at the start gate of a Dual Slalom race against Bas van Steenbergen at SilverStar. ALN charging for the win against Vaea Verbeeck in DH racing at Kicking Horse. Mark Wallace challenging Jesse Melamed for Enduro supremacy at Sun Peaks.
Believe it. It’s about to go down July 27 to August 14. Crankworx is bringing the action from its home in British Columbia to you, pioneering the return of live mountain bike racing in 2020.
The CLIF Crankworx Summer Series (CCSS) is bringing mountain bike fans something to froth over. 25 of the world’s best mountain bike athletes, three iconic destinations, four races per stop, 12+ hours of MTB action, all culminating in one overall CLIF Crankworx Summer Series title.
“We are truly blessed here in British Columbia,” says Crankworx GM Darren Kinnaird. “Not only do we have some of the most amazing mountain biking anywhere in the world, but we have some of the world’s best mountain bike athletes that have grown up here or have made the choice to make B.C. their home. Some of the biggest brands in mountain biking call B.C. home. We are all so lucky to be able to live in Beautiful B.C. Now more than ever.”
The CCSS will be a made-for-T.V., multi-stop series showcasing epic riding destinations in B.C. While Crankworx Whistler’s cancellation was announced in May, B.C. has continued to fare well in terms of its management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now elevated to Phase 3, the B.C. Restart Plan allows for travel within the province.
“We are thrilled to partner with this initiative that will expose British Columbia’s most talented riders, many of which have developed out of Cycling BC’s high performance program and cut their teeth racing on the BC Cup circuit,” says Cory Ostertag with Cycling BC, who has sanctioned the series. “The silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic is the observed growth in popularity of cycling. We are looking forward to the impact that the CLIF Crankworx Summer Series will have on our community by inspiring new riders to explore the province’s spectacular mountain bike venues.”
With careful and meticulous regulations in place, the CCSS will bring together a mix of top pros and up-and-comers, including some of the best riders from Crankworx, the UCI DH World Cup and the Enduro World Series, all competing across multiple disciplines.
The disciplines that will make up the CCSS include: Downhill, Dual Slalom, Enduro, and Air DH.
“I couldn’t be happier!” says Whistler-based Finn Iles who’s one of the top ranked downhillers in the world. “I haven’t been able to race since last year and I’m really looking forward to getting back between the tape again. It will be fun to go head to head with riders from all different disciplines week after week. I really appreciate Crankworx for giving us this exciting opportunity.”
“I moved to B.C. years ago because it simply has the best riding and so many amazing places to see and ride,” says the reigning Queen of Crankworx Vaea Verbeeck, who calls Coldstream home. “We’ve done our best to embrace the positives of being at home more and finally getting a chance to explore more of the amazing destinations we have around us, which we only get to see a little of during the usually busy summers. Spending more time in B.C. this summer is a dreamy scenario and I’m excited to share it with everyone.”
See the full roster of invited athletes HERE.
On offer for fans will be live race coverage, event highlights, weekly recaps, and more, all bringing fans along for the ride for the ultimate MTB roadie. The CLIF Crankworx Summer Series will be available live on crankworx.com, pinkbike.com and EDGEsport (available to view through TV, online and digital services).
With no spectators, remote production, and strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in place, the CCSS’ #1 priority will be to ensure rider, staff and community safety. But with restrictions easing as a part of Phase 3 of B.C.’s Restart Plan, the risk of resurgence is real. That’s why the CCSS is taking every precaution with procedures to protect all involved.
With this in mind, the series will be following these five steps to safe competition:
- Closed Events
- CCSS events are made-for-TV. Get stoked. Be safe. Watch #CrankworxFromHome.
- Limited Numbers
- These invite-only events will be limited to 25 athletes, along with minimizing the number of staff, suppliers and volunteers on-site.
- Tracing and Monitoring
- Contact tracing 14 days out of competition, and daily throughout.
- Daily temperature and symptom checking.
- Distancing and Disinfecting
- All resort community guidelines and provincial health guidelines will be strictly adhered to.
- Isolated Travel
- All participants will travel in pre-arranged groups.
Helping fans to follow along with the action safely from home will be the Crankworx Summer Series Fantasy league. Fans will be able to build their dream roster for a chance to win some great prizes from our sponsors. Details at fantasy.crankworx.com.
The CCSS will also feature Crankworx Connect, an online expo featuring live Q&As from Crankworx athletes on-site and around the world, giveaways, tech talks, and more. Crankworx Connect will be available on crankworx.com as well as on Crankworx’s YouTube and Facebook channels.
Fans, fasten your seatbelts. Mountain bike racing is coming backatcha, live from B.C. to the world.
Get stoked. Be safe. Watch #CrankworxFromHome