The best of the best in world mountain biking are gearing up to return to Cairns as it hosts an action-packed fortnight of mountain biking at the iconic Smithfield trails, with the return of Crankworx Cairns and the UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships.
Crankworx Cairns and the UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships are set to run back-to-back in May 2025 and will deliver a fortnight of high-octane competition featuring many of the world's best riders.
The Crankworx World Tour, the world's largest gravity mountain bike festival, has launched the 2025 dates for its six events and returns to the iconic tropical rainforest trails of Cairns for its fourth year.
Riders from across the globe will converge for a week-long celebration of all things two wheeled, pushing the limits of their abilities, while offering fans a unique opportunity to witness the sport's top athletes competing on the world class trails at Smithfield Mountain Bike Park.
Over the past three years, Crankworx Cairns has delivered $19.5 million in economic impact to the state of Queensland, with more than 67,000 room nights, and 23,644 unique attendees. Additionally, hosting the worlds most watched mountain bike event has generated over 1.9 million broadcast views globally.
In its second year in Cairns, the UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships will see hundreds of riders from around the world, all above the age of 30, take to the Smithfield trails seeking World Championship glory and the right to take home the iconic UCI Rainbow Jersey.
The prestigious event continues Cairns' rich mountain bike heritage of hosting UCI Mountain Bike World Cup and World Championship events, with many world class riders returning as Masters riders to relive the glory of the 1996 and 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Championship.
Together, these two world-class events solidify Cairns' status as a global mountain biking destination, with its unique combination of technical tracks, breathtaking landscapes, and unparalleled fan experiences. Visitors can expect a perfect blend of intense competition and festival vibes, including music, food, art, and other outdoor adventures that showcase the natural beauty of Far North Queensland.
Minister for Tourism and Sport Michael Healy said Crankworx Cairns was set for another cracking year in 2025.
"The 2024 event brought in more than 8,000 attendees and pumped $7 million into the Queensland economy, and the great news is we're expecting even bigger things this time around," he said.
"Cairns is fast becoming the go-to spot for mountain biking, and it's no wonder with trails as iconic as Smithfield.
"With Crankworx and the UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships back-to-back, we're in for two weeks of adrenaline-pumping action featuring elite athletes who'll showcase our spectacular trails to a global audience and help promote Tropical North Queensland as an adventure-lover's paradise."
For many local and Australian riders, the events are a chance to not only test their abilities but also to rub shoulders with their heroes, the elite athletes who inspire them and set the standard for the sport. Running side by side, the two events give opportunities for riders of all ages and abilities to take to two wheels and push the boundaries of what's possible on an international stage.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said the return of Crankworx Cairns and the UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships to Smithfield was a tremendous win for the region.
"These world-class events not only highlight Cairns as a premier destination for mountain biking but also bring substantial economic benefits to our community," she said.
"We are thrilled to once again welcome riders and fans from around the globe to experience the unique blend of sport, culture, and natural beauty that Tropical North Queensland has to offer."
Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mark Olsen said mountain biking was an integral part of the destination's sporting calendar drawing participants and spectators from interstate and overseas.
"Tropical North Queensland's reputation as a mountain biking destination is well respected in the sport after three years of hosting Crankworx Cairns and this is helping us to attract attendees from outside Queensland," he said.
"The marketing of these events has been assisted by the Federal Government's International Tourism Recovery Funding and we were delighted with the results last year, particularly for the first year of the UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships.
"Overseas Masters participants stayed an average of 8.6 nights so they could enjoy exploring our dual World Heritage areas and soak up our tropical lifestyle with 43.9 per cent from interstate and 28.6 per cent from overseas."
Events on the Crankworx schedule will include Slopestyle, Downhill, Dual Slalom, Speed & Style, Pump Track, and Whip-Off. The Masters Mountain Bike World Championships will feature Cross Country and Downhill disciplines.
Racing action at Crankworx Cairns, as well as at all other stops on the 2024 Crankworx World Tour,
will be available live and on demand on Red Bull TV. The UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships will be shown on SBS.
Crankworx Cairns and the UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships are supported by Cairns Regional Council, Tourism Tropical North Queensland and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.
For more on Crankworx Cairns and the Crankworx World Tour visit: www.crankworx.com/cairns
