Crankworx Cairns set to debut world-first event and new track during May festival

Crankworx Cairns will debut a world-first race event expected to push elite mountain bike riders to the brink when the event returns to Cairns for the fourth consecutive year in May.

Mountain bike world champion Mick Hannah has been a professional rider for 25 years. In May he competes in the world first Full Tilt Crankworx event in Cairns, on a new track designed by legendary track builder Glen Jacobs. Picture Tim Little

Crankworx Cairns will host a world-first race event expected to push elite mountain bike riders to the brink in May.

The Full Tilt event, to debut in Cairns, will see three competitors go head to head in an elbow jostling, BMX style race on a newly designed course at the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park.

Cairns mountain bike riding world champion Mick Hannah rode in the inaugural Crankworx event 21 years ago and will be competing in May.

He said the new race format would be a spectacle.

“This Full Tilt event is something that’s never been done anywhere else in the world,” Mr Hannah said.

“I know myself and other riders are super excited about it, it’s head-to-head, bar-to-bar racing.

“You’re putting all three riders onto the same course, fighting for position and bumping into each other.”

Mick Hannah won Gold at the Crankworx RockShox Downhill event at Cairns Crankworx 2023. Picture: Supplied

Originally hailing from Whistler in Canada, Crankworx World Tour festival is a multi-stop mountain bike riding festival that has grown to be largest of its kind in the world.

In 2025, the event will return to Cairns for fourth year after more than 8000 attendees and $7m was injected into the Queensland economy from 2024’s event.

World Trail owner Glen Jacobs designed the new Smithfield track that will be built over the next few months by a team of 50 highly specialised track shapers from around the world.

World Trail owner Glen Jacobs has designed a new track for the world first Full Tilt event set to debut in May. Picture Tim Little.

Mr Jacobs said the track would be filled with new obstacles and challenges that would force riders to think strategically.

“It all comes down to different skills, because when riders hit a track, they’re presented with the same obstacle, you can attack it from any angle,” Mr Jacobs said.

“As opposed to having one or two or three options you have 10 different options on each obstacle, so it’s really a smart rider’s game.

“You can be a fast rider, you can be powerful, but you might not jump real well. Or you could be a really good jumper but you can’t pedal that well, so the obstacles help stitch those riders into place.”

Crankworx World Tour is the largest festival of its kind and is expected inject millions into the local economy during the quieter shoulder season. Mark Olsen, Bree James, Mick Hannah, Amy Eden and Glen Jacobs.

The festival will take place from May 21 to 25 and include races such as the Enduro event and Crankworx Quadzilla.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen said the festival bought vital business during the slower shoulder season.

“May is such an important time for the destination we need to lift that domestic tourism and bring them in a little earlier,” he said.

“If we can increase it (mountain bike riding tourism) by just 1 per cent more of Australia’s share of mountain biking we get another $100 million a year.”

Originally published as Crankworx Cairns set to debut world-first event and new track during May festival