Crankworx - Garbanzo Downhill

taken from transcend magazine

WHISTLER, Canada (transcendmagazine.com) -- Sunday brought more rain and clouds, cold temperatures and the infamous Monster Garbanzo Downhill to Whistler Mountain. Over 14 minutes long, the Garbanzo DH has been known to reduce professional racers to mush. When it gets wet and the thousands of roots and rocks that litter the upper portions of the track get tracked with mud, it only gets worse. Riders have to fight to stay upright, let alone put in a winning.

World Champion Gee Atherton (Animal Commencal - GBR) took home the win for the men with a time of 14:20.4.

Last year's winner, Sam Hill (Monster Energy/Iron Horse - AUS) attempted to defend his title, but luck would play no part in helping. Hill had a small excursion off course at the top of the run, and then dabbed while going over one of the small wooden structures on course, and somehow managed to lose his show in a hole. " I debated the consequences of going on without it, and thought better of it" explained Hill from his team truck. Hill would get second and Marc beaumont (Bike Radar Santa Cruz - GBR) took third.

For the women, it was Rachel Atherton (Animal Commencal - GBR) completing the Atherton Garbanzo sweep beating country women Fionn Griffiths (Norco - GBR) and rookie Canadian racer Denice Yusegi (Pinkbike). Rachel stopped the clock at 16:48.9.

Atherton talked to Crankworx media officials after her run. "This course is like three times as long as what I'm used to on the world cup. You really need to stay focused on such a long, hard course."




Downhill results
Pro Women
1 Rachel Atherton (GBr | Animal Commencal) 0:16:48.9
2 Fionn Griffiths (GBr | Norco World Team) 0:17:25.1
3 Danice Uyesugi (Can | Pinkbike.Com) 0:18:32.7
4 Rebecca McQueen (Can | Summity Gravity) 0:18:41.9
5 Helene Valerie Fruhwirth (Aus | Morewood,,Generali,) 0:19:02.1

Pro Men
1 Gee Atherton (GBr | Animal Commencal) 0:14:20.4
2 Sam Hill (Aus | Monster, Ironhorse) 0:14:37.8
3 Marc Beaumont (GBr | Team Bike Radar) 0:14:44.6
4 Dan Atherton (GBr | Animal Commencal) 0:14:50.0
5 Curtis Keene (USA | Specialized) 0:14:50.1