Crankworx: Bruni takes downhill honours (+pics&video)

Frenchman Loic Bruni has defended his title in the Crankworx Rotorua Downhill race, beating two Kiwis to the title, while American Jill Kintner has come back from a bad crash last year to win the women's title.

The downhill event drew a good crowd today under the gondolas on Mt Ngongotaha, during the final day of action at the Crankworx Rotorua mountain bike festival.

Bruni won the men's title in a lightening-fast time of 2 minutes 38.77 seconds beating Kiwis George Brannigan and Brook McDonald, who finished second and third respectively.

Local rider Matt Walker was also in the mix but he ended up finishing fifth overall.

"Last year I was really stoked to win, and you know every year the conditions change, so it was pretty hard to re-do it," Bruni said.

"But I felt good this morning and practice went well ... then I had a quality run which is a good sign for the rest of the season."

He said Rotorua was a great destination for downhill racing.

Image 1 of 30: Crankworx . l-r Luke Wolfkamp, Andy Bates, Chris Kemp. Photo/Ben Fraser

"I love New Zealand and I'm planning to come every year now," he said. "It is definitely a very fast and loose track so you have to be really technical and flowy to handle it, but it holds its place among the best tracks in the world I think."

Kintner said she was rapt to take out the title especially after crashing into a tree at the same event last year.

"Last year I got hurt, I almost broke my leg when my femur hit a tree. So this feels good to come back and face a bit of fear and redeem myself with three wins at the festival.

"So I pretty much had a perfect weekend and can't ask for much more."

Kintner also took out the dual speed and style women's title on Thursday and the pump track challenge on Friday night. She said she really enjoyed the atmosphere during the downhill race.

"Crankworx is a lot different vibe than a world cup. It was like way chill, with everyone having a good time," she said.

Kintner and Bruni both took home $5000 for winning the downhill event.

¦ Results:
Men: 1 Loic Bruni (France) 2m 38.77s, 2 George Brannigan (Queenstown) +2.43s, 3 Brook McDonald (Hawke's Bay) +3.19s.
Women: 1 Jill Kintner (USA) 3m 9.55s, 2 Tracey Hannah (Australia) +4.88s, 3 Casey Brown (Canada) +10.29s.