A'Hern and Frew delight in downhill win at Crankworx Cairns

Sian A’Hern, proudly racing with the Australian flag on her sleeve as the current downhill champion, defended her top seeding with authority, clocking a winning time of 3:46.353.

In a strong run, she defeated one of her long-time idols, Tracey Hannah, a rider she had never bested in competition before.

Sian A'Hern riding through the rock garden in Cairns.

“I've looked up to Tracey since I started racing bikes.

"I've always wanted to beat her.

"To always have been so close to her and finally beat her is insane. I'm just super proud of how I handled myself this week.”

Local rider Tracey Hannah, a legend beyond Cairns, showed her finesse and knowledge of the course despite limited training, claiming silver.

Tracey Hannh on her way to second in the elite women downhill.

Rounding out the all-Australian podium was Sacha Mills, who delivered a clean, controlled run to secure third.

RockShox Downhill – Top 3 Women:

1. Sian A’Hern (AUS) - 3:46.353

2. Tracey Hannah (AUS) - 3:51.493

3. Sacha Mills (AUS) - 3:55.991

Full results https://www.crankworx.com/results/event-results/?eventid=265&catid=1344.

On the men’s side, Jackson Frew broke through to claim his first Crankworx downhill gold, capitalising on bold line choices and calculated risks, including a much-discussed gap through the final rock section.

“I put everything into that run, and I took some risks that I really didn’t want to have to – especially in practice pulling that last jump.”

Top-seeded Ryan Gilchrist, renowned for his pedal strength and versatility across disciplines, pushed hard in the final section, nearly closing the gap, but ultimately fell short by just 0.812 seconds.

Jackson Connelly completed yet another Australian podium sweep with a strong ride for third.

RockShox Downhill – Top 3 Men:

1. Jackson Frew (AUS) - 3:17.965

2. Ryan Gilchrist (AUS) - 3:18.777

3. Jackson Connelly (AUS) - 3:21.218

Full results here.