Crankworx: Swede steals spotlight in comeback (+pics)

FAST AND TRICKY: Martin Soderstrom (front) navigates the Dual Speed and Style course on Mt Ngongotaha.

Many riders have travelled across the world to attend Crankworx Rotorua, but perhaps none have made as long a journey as Martin Soderstrom.

The tall Swede returned to the world stage this week after snapping his leg at Crankworx Whistler in Canada two years ago.

Soderstrom completely stole the spotlight at the huge mountain bike festival in Rotorua yesterday, winning the Mons Royale Dual Speed and Style event during the second day of action at Crankworx Rotorua.

FOR MORE FROM CRANKWORX CLICK HERE

"This makes it all worth it," he said, after the winning ride. "This is what all the hard hours have been for. I think no one can really understand just what it is like to be at home injured when all you want to do is be off with your friends on the world tour, and you can not even train.

Image 1 of 10: 260315bf4 Mons Royale Dual Speed and Style at Crankworx Rotorua. 26 March 2015 Rotorua Daily Post Photograph by Ben Fraser

"But now I am back ... and it is a super, good feeling."

The crowd was buzzing during the Dual Speed and Style event yesterday afternoon at the Skyline Gravity Park, as 24 top riders went head-to-head for the $2500 winner's cheque.

The crowd gathered around the fast-flowing course which included plenty of berms and two main jumps, on which the riders were judged for their tricks and how quickly they reached the finish.

Pro riders came together from other mountain bike disciplines to compete, including downhill and slopestyle riders.

The knockout competition eventually whittled down the riders to the top two with Soderstrom and top seed Adrien Loron (France) meeting in the final. "He will go for speed and I will go for tricks and we will see what happens," Soderstrom said before the final.

In the best-of-three showdown, Loron crashed out in the first race but managed to beat Soderstrom to the finish line in the second race.

However, a huge trick over the last jump by the tall Swede had the crowd roaring and satisfied the judges, who gave Soderstrom the victory and handed him the final.

Champagne was splashed about on the podium and a saturated Soderstrom could not talk highly enough of the tracks in Rotorua.

"The slopestyle course is the best course I have ever seen and this Dual Speed and Style course is the best that I have ridden as well."

Soderstrom was to have competed in last night's postponed Rotorua Pump Track Challenge, and will turn his attention to the main event at Crankworx Rotorua - the Crankworx Rotorua Slopestyle on Sunday.