Giant Factory Off-Road rider Andrew Neethling scored a big win in the Jeep Air Downhill race at the Kokanee Crankworx event in Whistler, British Columbia. Neethling, the current South African Downhill Champion, rode his Giant Reign X to a win over American Brian Lopes, winner of the Air DH title the last five years in a row.

Neethling bested a field of close to 350 riders competing on the famed A-Line course in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. He completed his run, which features nearly 50 jumps, with a time of 4:13.94, edging out Lopes by less than a second.

“I had a really clean, awesome run,” Neethling said. “Compliments to Lopes, I just put together a great run.”

The Air DH win was Neethling’s second podium appearance so far at the 10-day mountain bike festival in Canada that includes a variety of events, races and competitions. He also rode his Giant Glory to a second-place finish in Sunday’s Canadian Open downhill race. Despite rain and a muddy course, a large group of spectators turned out that day to see the Factory Team put on a show, with Neethling being joined on the podium by fifth-place finisher Danny Hart of Great Britain.

The Crankworx Whistler Mountain Bike Festival runs through Sunday, with the Giant Factory Off-Road Team competing in two more events, including the Giant Slalom and Red Bull Joyride competition.