Crankworx Downhill Series Launching in 30 Days – Here’s Everything You Need to Know
With just 30 days to go, the Crankworx Downhill season is about to get real again.
In one month, riders will roll into Christchurch Adventure Park and drop into the Redemption Downhill, the opening round of the 2026 Crankworx Downhill Series. For some, it’s a clean slate, for others, it’sunfinished business.
Once again, the Series is not about a single result but will reward athletes who show up, perform, and deliver across multiple Crankworx festivals. Five races are confirmed for 2026, spread across New Zealand and Canada, and they’ll demand exactly that: consistency, commitment, and durability from February through September.
Consistency remains king, and the five confirmed Downhill races for 2026 reflect a global calendar that continues to appeal to elite DH racers chasing points, prestige, and season-long momentum.
Christchurch sets the tone. Redemption DH isn’t just a season opener, it’s an incredibly demanding course that’s raw, physical, and relentlessly honest. This year’s field is stacked with riders coming off breakout 2025 seasons, alongside others intent on rewriting how last year ended. Expect pressure from the first split.
- UCI Sanction: CS
- Dates: February 19-21
From there, the series moves north to Rotorua, where the Kārearea Downhill remains one of the most intriguing races on the tour. The track is only open during Crankworx, giving it a mystique that matches its intensity. Riders arrive with limited familiarity and little margin for error, and those who adapt fastest tend to leave with points.
- UCI Sanction: NC + C1
- Dates: March 11–14
Mid-season shifts to Canada, where experience starts to matter more. The Canadian Open Downhill on the infamous 1199 track in Whistler is a known quantity – but never an easy one. Rock gardens, roots, big forest drops, and line choices that punish hesitation have decided more than a few overall campaigns.
- UCI Sanction: C1
- Festival Dates: July 24 – August 2
The SilverStar Downhill follows. An often dusty and technical test that rewards riders peaking at exactly the right time.
- UCI Sanction: CS
- Festival Dates: August 6–9
The season finale heads to legendary Mont-Sainte-Anne, the newest stop on the Crankworx World Tour and one of the toughest Downhill tracks to be found. As a finale, it’s fitting: long, brutal, and decisive. If the overall title isn’tsettled by then, it most certainly will be there.
- UCI Sanction: HC
- Festival Dates: September 3-7
Athletes to Watch: Momentum, Comebacks, and Title Ambitions
On the women’s side, Louise Ferguson arrives with momentum after multiple podiums in New Zealand last season. The speed is there; the question is whether she can carry it across the full calendar. Sian A’Hern returns from injury with pace and something to prove, while Jenna Hastings, having multiple Crankworx DH gold medals under her belt and winner of last year’s New Zealand Downhill races, is a clear title favourite if she expands her season beyond New Zealand. Adding another layer, her sister Kate Hastings steps into the Elite category this year, setting up an intriguing sibling dynamic. Canada’s Emmy Lan closed 2025 with three Crankworx podiums and now takes on her first full international Crankworx campaign. Her consistency has been her strength, and over five rounds, that matters.
The men’s field may be even deeper. Defending the title, Tegan Cruz comes back with a target on his back after building his title on reliability rather than dominance. Jackson Frew finished second last season and continues to trend upward. Ryan Gilchrist, already a two-time King of Crankworx, has sharpened his Downhill form and looks increasingly comfortable at the front of the field.
Luke Meier-Smith’s return to the Crankworx World Tour last year was one of the stories of the season – two podiums from three starts after three years away. With a fuller campaign ahead, expectations are higher. Richie Rude’s raw speed has never been in doubt; the only question is how many races he commits to, making him another athlete to keep an eye on. Tyler Waite brings a fast, loose style that delivered wins early last season, and few expect him to back off.
And that’s before factoring in the confirmed heavyweights for Christchurch, who will be looking to mix things up – Loïc Bruni, Tahnée Seagrave, Lachie Stevens-McNab, Finn Iles, Bernard Kerr, Erice Van Leuven, Ellie Hulsebosch, Brook MacDonald – names that will certainly change the complexion of any race, any weekend.
The preliminary rider list for the Redemption Downhill is already live on crankworx.com, but the real answers won’t come until riders hit the start gate in Christchurch.
Five races. Seven months. One title.
The start of the Crankworx Downhill Series doesn’t crown champions early – but it always reveals who’s ready.
Fans can follow every race, rivalry, and result from the Crankworx Downhill Series on @crankworx, with all races broadcast live on the Crankworx YouTube channel, bringing the action from the mountains to screens around the world.