Crankworx Innsbruck is always one of the highlights of the year for RASOULUTION. A 2-hour drive from Munich gives the team the opportunity to attend the event in person and to support the athletes that we manage, to meet our network and watch spectacular mountain bike action of the highest level. This year was no different, with multiple podiums for our athletes over the weekend, including a record-breaking performance by Emil Johansson (SWE), who won his seventh Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Championship (SWC) contest in a row, a streak that goes back to 2019, when the Swede won his first ever SWC event in Whistler, Canada during Red Bull Joyride. Other podium spots included a Speed & Style win for French rider Tomas Lemoine as well as a second place for German Erik Fedko in Slopestyle.
In perfect conditions and in front of a full house of fans the world witnessed history in the making at the opening event of the 2022 Crankworx World Tour. Sweden’s Emil Johansson took his 7th win in a row with the highest score ever awarded of 98. Erik Fedko out of Germany, known for his amazing style and unique tricks got his own personal best score of 95.25 to finish second ahead of Tim Bringer.
“Honestly, I don’t even know how to put words into today, it’s what I put my heart and soul into. To see the hard work paying off, it’s more like a relief than a surprise, you know?” said Johansson when speaking to Crankworx after the event. “I used to cry a lot on the podiums, now I’ve just been in disbelief in the past year or so. I don’t even have any words to put into this. I am speechless, I guess.”
Emil was the undisputed pre-event favorite and man to beat, and after his first impeccable run, scoring a 98, a first for the sport, it was looked like the win was already secured. The battle for 2nd position was just as impressive as the winning run, with Erik Fedko scoring 95.25 points in a flawless 1st run with his signature 360 Indian Air Seat Grab as one of the highlights. After a solid first run, Tim Bringer was hungry for more than a 3rd place and he laid down an amazing second run, improving his previous score to 93.75, but falling just short of the silver medal marker set by Erik. Lemoine finished in the middle of the pack, taking home a 7th place with a stylish run that included a manual to barspin off the start drop, a trick that had the crowd screaming with excitement.
Max Fredriksson unfortunately had to give up his spot in the finals after suffering a heavy crash during practice.
The day before Slopestyle finals is traditionally reserved for Speed & Style, a discipline in which Tomas Lemoine has established his dominance over the years. Working his way through the round of 32, 16 and 8 in traditional Lil’ Moine fashion, with blazing speed and a solid bag of tricks, the French rider turned on the afterburners during the finals against Teodor Kovac (CZE) and winning his 5th Speed & Style contest, as well as his third in a row.
“Crankworx Innsbruck was an amazing start to the season, so happy to win a third time in a row during Speed & Style. The level just gets better every year. I’m pretty happy with a solid 7th place on Slopestyle with some mistakes in my run still; happy to bring some new moves to it also, the level was insane, the boys are on it! it’s going to be a good season I’m super excited and motivated for what’s to come!” Tomas Lemoine
Check out some impressions from the Crankworx Innsbruck contests courtesy of Clint Trahan, CWX staff photographer.
