July 03, 2013 (Whistler, BC) – Crankworx Whistler has added Canada Cup Finals for cross-country and downhill to take place during its tenth anniversary August 9-18, 2013.  The Canada Cup Cross Country Finals will be held on Wednesday, August 14, as part of the new Canadian Open XC event, while the Canada Cup Open Downhill Finals will take place as part of the Canadian Open DH on August 18.

Crankworx is the world’s leading freeride mountain bike festival, showcasing gravity, slopestyle and enduro events, Fox Air DH; the SRAM Canadian Open Enduro, presented by Specialized; and the “Super Bowl of slopestyle”, Red Bull Joyride.  Many of the finest World Cup downhill athletes travel to Whistler from around the world to compete in Crankworx events, including Canada’s own Steve Smith, who has two UCI World Cup downhill podiums so far this season. Smith is currently sitting in second place in the UCI world rankings for World Cup downhill.

“We are very pleased to work with Cycling BC and Crankworx Events Inc. for these two races,” says Mathieu Boucher, director of performance development at Cycling Canada. “Ultimately,  our aim is that competing athletes will benefit from this partnership and we look forward to offering two great Canada Cup events in Whistler, British Columbia.”

“Our partnership with Cycling Canada and Cycling BC will allow riders to get an event license on a complimentary basis regardless of where they are from and be able to continue to compete at the ‘pro’ level”. We are looking forward to working with the Cycling Canada and Cycling BC at our tenth anniversary in Whistler this August”  says Darren Kinnaird, general manager of Crankworx. ” We always have the athletes who compete in our events first in mind and it’s exciting to add an official ranking value to Canadian athletes competing in the Canadian Open DH, not to mention the Canadian Open XC.”

In addition to the Canada Cup races, Ian Hughes, development coach for Cycling Canada, will host a two-day development camp for young cross country riders in Western Canada.

About  the Canada Cup Series
The Canada Cup series is designed to provide competitive opportunities to the next generation of cyclists, transitioning from provincial race series to international competitions.

Hosted in partnership between Cycling Canada, its provincial sport organizations and local organizing committee, the Canada Cup Cycling Series is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union.

About Crankworx Whistler
August 9-18, 2013, the world’s best downhill, slopestyle and enduro riders will migrate to the Whistler Mountain Bike Park for the 10th Annual Crankworx Whistler. Crankworx Les 2 Alpes will take place July 6 – 14, 2013 and is the only Crankworx event to take place outside of North America. High-summer’s convergence of all things freeride, Crankworx is a 10-day festival of epic endurance, supreme flow, monster air and vertical-dropping riding. A time-tested stage for gravity-fed mountain biking, Crankworx has forged the future of freeride, launched careers and raised up a spectacle out of dirt, sweat and cheers. Feel the impact. Embrace the amplitude. Experience the awe that is Crankworx Whistler 2013.