AN UNHEARD OF TIE IN AIR DH OPENS SUPER SUNDAY IN LES GETS

Two different styles, exact same time for Switerland’s Emilie Siegenthaler and Canadian Casey Brown

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Les Gets, FRANCE; Saturday, June 17 — Same time, same place, different plan of attack. An unheard finish in the Crankworx Les Gets Air DH saw two female racers, Canadian Casey Brown and Switerland’s Emilie Siegenthaler, cross with the exact same time—to the thousandth—and leave the usual big air suspects out of contention.

Ironically, the pair could not have more far-removed styles. Brown concentrates Crankworx, is the master of the whip-off and known for her big air flare in the bike park, whereas Siegenthaler is a technical rider straight out of the World Cup circuit.

“We don’t get to see each other very often…and she’s a really special, and quite unique rider, so I’m really honour to be on the second step with her,” said Siegenthaler. Neither have ever tied in a race.

The course they matched on opened straight into the woods where riders had to pick their way through the moss and loam until an exposed track surfaced, leaving an unusual amount of slippery roots for a discipline generally design for speed and air. From the technical section, riders went into a long stretch of bike park-style turns and jumps with a few very tight corners, challenging even the best in the field.

“Going into the bike park section, it’s a huge corner and I was very close to coming off my bike,” said Brown. “It was full drift off the back tire, out of control, and I had to put my foot down at a pretty high speed. But I got it together and just pedalled my ass off to try and make up some time.”

Stiff setups, with a bit of extra torque on the suspension, were the order of the day and Morgane Charre (FRA), 2012 World Champion, nailed her setup.

“I like it when it’s not so fast and it’s more technical, so did well in the woods and then, at the bottom, I just tried to pedal hard,” she said.

Without the focus on jumps, reigning Queen of Crankworx Jill Kintner (USA), who traditionally podiums, and usually wins the Air DH, missed the podium—though only by 0.00.04.

And the roots did claim a victim. Inaugural King of Crankworx Bernard Kerr left the course in a sling, delaying the conclusion by 15 minutes, and leaving the eventual first and second place winners Jack Moir (AUS) and Greg Minnaar (RSA) to wait for their big moment.

Moir won the Crankworx Rotorua Downhill presented by iXS in March and is the reigning Crankworx Downhill World Tour Champion.

“I think yesterday was more of a proper downhill track, wide open and a bit rough, and I got a bit smoked yesterday. So I had to get some redemption,” said Moir.

Minnaar, whose 70-plus podiums have earned him enough star power to attract a throng of followers at the base of every race, described his run as a smooth, if safe effort.

“It’s a tough race. I thought it would be more like a trail like a bike park, but there were some tight pieces, so working your way down and trying to go fast is kind of scary; but also good fun at the same time,” said Minnaar, who said he had a smooth, safe run.

Crankworx Les Gets Air DH final standings, Pro Men:

  1. Jack Moir (AUS) 2:36.62
  2. Greg Minnaar (RSA) 2:38.69
  3. Josh Bryceland (GBR) 2:39.81

Crankworx Les Gets Air DH final standings, Pro Women:

  1. Morgane Charre (FRA) 2:58.10
  2. Casey Brown (CAN) & Emilie Siegenthaler (SUI) 3:00.16

The Crankworx European doubleheader is broadcasting LIVE from Europe this week and next.

All four events in the quest for the Triple Crown of Slopestyle are broadcast LIVE on all your devices exclusively on Red Bull TV. The Crankworx Les Gets Slopestyle and Crankworx Innsbruck Slopestyle presented by Kenda are the final events of each festival. The broadcast times are:

LIVE on Crankworx.com and Pinkbike.com this week and next:

 

Media kit: http://bit.ly/2jZhu0x
Crankworx Les Gets images: Flickr Albums
Image databank: http://bit.ly/2tgroxB

Media contact:
Jennifer Smith
Crankworx Communications
Phone: 604-848-8801
Jennifer@Crankworx.com
Location: Whistler, British Columbia (PST)

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The Crankworx World Tour drops into the next dimension, where gravity knows no bounds. Four stops, one infinite space for creativity. Rotorua, New Zealand. Les Gets, France. Innsbruck, Austria—and home to its Canadian home of Whistler, British Columbia. Push the perception of what’s possible and charge into the unimaginable.

Shaping the Next Dimension

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