Crank The Shield | Mountain Bike Stage Race

Crank The Shield 2022!

Jul 29 - Jul 31, 2022

3-DAYS OF RACING

A multi-day point to point stage race with food, chip timing, medals and more!

BEAUTIFUL SCENERY

A cycling odyssey through stunning norther Ontario countryside!

FINISHER PRIZES

Finisher medals, T-shirts, socks and more!

VIP SPOTS AVAILABLE

50 VIP spots available with accommodations!

ABOUT CRANK THE SHIELDA Multi-Day Point-to-Point Adventure, that you don’t just ride, you Conquer it!

People travel from all across North America to be a part of those who hold the honour of Cranking The Shield. Crank participants describe the courses as the best they have ever ridden anywhere!

Crank the Shield offers a unique experience to riders from across North America. This is Eastern North America’s most challenging and popular mountain bike stage race that combines amazing food over the duration of the event, cabin accommodations, baggage transport, event goodies, great aid stations and some of the best and most rewarding days you will experience on a bike. Riders will also experience some of the best mountain biking Eastern Canada has to offer!

What you get!

3 days of EPIC riding in the Canadian wilderness

Camping (Bring your own tent) & RV parking

Incredible food to keep you fueled throughout the event

Chip timing

Finisher medal

Event shirt, socks & other goodies

Award ceremony feast

1 free beer each day (courtesy of Outspoken Brewery)

Parking

Bag transportation

Entry for special draw prizes

Friends for life

What's new for 2022!?

MORE great singletrack

Improved food with vegetarian options

No 87kn death march on day 1 – Batchawana Mountain optional

Long weekend gives you an extra day to enjoy everything

Sean is working on his vocals for improved after-party karaoke!

3 unique days of ridingThe flavour of each day of crank the shield is like going through a history of the sport!

STAGE 1

Day 1 rides like an homage to the early days of Mountain Biking. Beautiful, winding fire roads, several crystal clear river crossings, massive climbs and stunning vistas. A longer day in the saddle, the 75km day also features an optional – 14 km add-on. Add Batchawana mountain and make this a truly epic day! Your time up the mountain is taken off your time. 21 riders tackled the mighty Batchawana in 2019, going home with a custom shirt.

The countryside you see in day 1 is truly stunning. Some narrow ATV trails, and a singletrack finish add some new-school flavour, and an incredible view of Lake Superior away riders at the second aid station!

STAGE 2

Our second day is a shorter loop – keep your tent up as we finish where we start at incredible Stokely creek lodge! Don’t let the 55km fool you – there is a TON of climbing, some amazing, tough singletrack and even a swimming hole at the 35km mark! Summit King mountain – one of Ontario’s highest peaks – and enjoy the aid station before you continue on one of the coolest trails you’ve ever seen! An awesome singletrack decent caps off an epic day of riding before a refreshing dip in the crystal clear waters of Stokely Creek!

STAGE 3

Our third day starts with a flat, 15km neutral ride. After a long climb, riders are treated to one of the longest singletrack descents in Ontario! After Bee Sting, 20km of fast, fun ATV trails links riders with the newly created farmer lake trails, and the established singletrack cornucopia of Kinsmen Park! Sault Ste. Marie has put loads of work into these trails, you’re sure to be in singletrack heaven! 35 incredible, continuous kms of hand built and machine built trail cap off 3 of the most challenging, rewarding days you’ll ever have on the bike!

Finish off the event with the Awards Ceremony, some great food and beer c/o Outspoken – but save some room for the famous Crank the Shield SSM after party!

Download Schedule

AccomodationsParticipants will enjoy the warm hospitality of northern Ontario

Participants can break up their travel and book-end the race weekend on Thursday and Sunday night at the Holiday Inn Express Sault Ste Marie. Special rates are available for the race weekend! Racers can stay the weekend there or set up a tent at the Stokley Creek Lodge for the event days – Friday and Saturday. Day one and two both end at Stokley Creek, making it the perfect basecamp for your race weekend! It’s also where 50 VIP riders will be staying!

Stokely is located in the Algoma Highlands, just north of the U.S. border in Goulais River, Canada. Near the shores of Lake Superior, Stokely has perfect terrain for outdoor fun. 100 kilometers of trails traverse to the highest peaks of King Mountain and cross the valley and creeks below.

Note: Holiday Inn is our host hotel for the weekend. Click the link below for special race-weekend rates!

Holiday Inn

WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAY

“A thoroughly satisfying test of your mental and physical strength, that you can share with the whole family. Sean and his amazing team of volunteers did an awesome job!!!”

The Clarks

‘Crank the Shield was an event to remember! Rocks, water, beer, dropper seat posts, and friends… this event had it all and kept me smiling for the whole three days of riding. It will forever be Ontario’s most legendary race!’

Erica

‘Crank has been on my list of must-do events for years. I got to take in the awesome accommodations and experience the unreal beauty of the Lake Superior region first hand. I’ll be back and suggesting it to all my friends!’

Matt

“I’ve raced Crank twice and it’s hands down some of my best memories on two wheels! The courses were always amazing, just challenging enough and made for great stories while hanging around each evening between stages!”

Jay

Our SponsorsThanks to our great sponsors! We are also working with the Quebec Singletrack Experience to offer discounts to anyone doing both events, so contact us for more details!

Have questions?We’re here to make Crank The Shield the best experience you’ll have on two wheels! Please feel free to contact us if you need any further information.