Cairns has cemented itself as one of the country’s leading mountain bike cities with confirmation it will host the World Championships for the next two years.
UCI Women’s World Cup downhill champion and Crankworx ambassador Tracey Hannah is excited for the first ever Crankworx Cairns mountain bike event, held at the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park. VIDEO: Brendan Radke – Cairns Post
AusCycling confirmed the coup on Tuesday, with Smithfield’s world-class MTB trails to host the 2024 and 2025 world titles.
AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner said the two-year deal adds to the multiple state, national and international events the regional city has previously hosted.
Jenna Hastings won the Women’s Elite Downhill competition at Crankworx Cairns, held at the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park – the world-class venue which will host two world championships in 2024 and 2025. Picture: Brendan Radke
“Cairns has proved itself as a major attraction for mountain bike riders in recent times,” she said.
“The trails are iconic and so is the scenery and we can’t wait to welcome the many national and international competitors who will compete and enjoy their stay in a truly beautiful location.”
The 2024 edition will is expected to attract more than 2200 riders in May next year, and will be the first time Cairns has hosted a UCI World Championship since 2017.
It is projected to generate $2.2 million for the visitor economy.
Jake Newell soars over the ridgeline in the Men’s Elite downhill race on the final day of the Crankworx Cairns mountain bike festival. Picture: Brendan Radke
The city has also hosted two Crankworx World Tour events – in 2022 and 2023 – and has become a beloved part of the multi-stop series of mountain bike festivals.
Cairns MP and Assistant Tourism Minister Michael Healy said locking in the UCI Masters confirmed TNQ as an international mountain bike destination.
“The two-year deal for the UCI Masters is a wonderful addition to Tropical North Queensland’s line up of world-class events and highlights the global standard of the region’s bike infrastructure,” Mr Healy said.
“The World Masters Championships are also an amazing opportunity for competitors and spectators to extend their stay in Cairns and discover more of this region’s great tropical Queensland lifestyle.”
Cairns mayor Bob Manning said the coup enhanced Cairns’ well-established mountain biking pedigree.
“There is no doubt that the mountain bike trails at Smithfield are some of the best in the world, no surprise really as they were shaped by World Trail’s Glenn Jacobs, who is recognised internationally as one of the best in his field,” Cr Manning said.
“If you want to attract elite mountain biking you need to provide them with the best location, and nowhere else in the world can riders showcase their skills while being surrounded by World Heritage listed tropical rainforest.
Cairns local Mick Hannah won the Men’s Elite downhill race at Crankworx Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke
“To have the world’s top masters mountain bike riders in Cairns is a huge boost for the city.”
Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Mark Olsen said securing a second international sporting event for May was just what the destination needed to boost visitation in the shoulder season.
“Tropical North Queensland’s reputation as a top mountain biking destination was boosted with the addition of Crankworx Cairns to the events calendar giving the opportunity to show the world our adventurous Great Barrier Reef and rainforest experiences,” he said.
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