The world’s biggest and most influential mountain bike festival will return to the Southern Lakes next year.

Wānaka, Cardrona and other nearby locations will play host to Crankworx Summer Series, which includes 12 days of world-class mountain bike racing between February 28 and March 12.

Racing will begin in Alexandra (February 28-March 1) before the ‘dual slalom’ in Wānaka (March 4-5), the ‘downhill’ at Cardrona (March 7-9) and the ‘pump track’ in Queenstown (March 11-12).

The series will give local and up-and-coming riders a chance to race with national and international professionals.

The summer series format brings a taste of the Crankworx action to new riding destinations outside the Crankworx World Tour, organisers said.

Spectators will be welcomed at all events and Crankworx has also moved some mid-week racing into the evening to give locals the chance to come out and be part of the action after work hours.

It will be the second time the Crankworx Summer Series has taken place in Queenstown Lakes.

Lake Wānaka Tourism said the 2021 series helped to raise the profile of the world class biking and cycling available in the Upper Clutha. 

Crankworx was one of 20 events to receive funding from Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) events fund earlier this year.

The events fund is designed to support events which bring substantial benefits to the local community.

“The flow-on effects of these events are great for local communities as well as bringing people to the district, raising our profile, and supporting the economy,” QLDC arts and events relationship manager Jan Maxwell said. 

“These events really contribute to the vibrancy of Queenstown Lakes.”

More details of the Crankworx Summer Series will be shared in the coming months.

PHOTO: Tourism Central Otago