Crankworx: Blenkinsop wins Rotorua Downhill

Kiwi Sam Blenkinsop charges through the mud to victory in the Crankworx Rotorua Downhill. Photo / Fraser Britton/Crankworx

The international downhill competition season has launched in Rotorua, with Kiwi Sam Blenkinsop going flat out through slick dirt for the win after 24 hours of rain drenched the Crankworx Rotorua Downhill track.

"It was like 50/50 if you were going to make it at the bottom or you weren't. I got away with it. I buzzed my leg on my tyre on the way out and I almost slid out but I rode out," Blenkinsop said.

"After that I was like, 'now it's chill out time and have a bit of fun on the rest of the track'. I'm happy with how the day went and how the week's gone so far. I'm stoked for the season."

He said his 3m 13.10s run must have been one of the cleanest - the only part of the day where that adjective could fit, as most riders crossed the line in jerseys covered in mud smears and splatter.

Along with his two downhill first place finishes, Blenkinsop also owned the second step in the Giant Toa Enduro and narrowly missed the podium in the Crankworx Rotorua Air DH, coming in fourth. His win todayextended his lead in the points race for King of Crankworx.

"I was just coming here to have a bit of fun on my bike and do some races. To come away with the lead at the moment is awesome. There's still a lot of races to go, and the next two rounds in Les Gets and Innsbruck are suited to the pump track and slalom guys, but it always comes down to Whistler because there are a lot of events there and I always seem to do well in Whistler. It could come down to the wire," he said.

One step down from Blenkinsop on the podium was Australia's Mick Hannah, mirroring his second place finish in the 2017 iteration of the race. Rounding out the pro men's top three was Finn Iles, of Canada.

On the women's side, it was another day of firsts, with Welsh rider Tahnee Seagrave taking the win with a time of 4m 18:51s and earning her first-ever Crankworx podium, in a race she described as "wild".

"It's changed so much from yesterday. It's well foggy up the top. You can't really see past the first corner. The track itself is super boggy, so sticky and such hard work. I was a bit gutted because I didn't practice any of the B-lines, 'cause I worked up to hit all the jumps and I was super excited about that. Obviously it was impossible. So I hit the B-lines a bit blind but it all worked out," Seagrave said.

Sliding across the line behind Seagrave was Switzerland's Emilie Siegenthaler in second and current World Champion Miranda Miller in third.

Outside the podium, but still taking in some Queen of Crankworx points, was Jill Kintner, of USA. For Kintner, todaywas all about the number five. Her time of 5m 20:85s earned her the fifth place in what was her fifth race in nine days. Over the past nine days, she has been on five podiums, an effort she said has left her running low on energy, but happy with her finish.

"It's about the long game. I got fifth today - that's more points and every little bit counts when you get towards the end with Whistler. I'm trying to stack them up while I can I guess, so I'm feeling good," Kintner said.