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MTB
What went down and who triumphed at Red Bull Rampage 2019
Check out the results, see the best runs and recap all the action from freeride mountain biking's biggest, burliest and most jaw-dropping event of the year, Red Bull Rampage.
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Red Bull Rampage continues to push the boundaries of what's possible on two wheels and this 14th edition of the high-mountain MTB freeride contest certainly didn't disappoint. The 21 athletes chosen to take on the challenge at this year's event thrilled and entertained with riding that showed creativity, skill and no amount of courage on the steep and rugged mountain terrain in Virgin, Utah, on the edge of Zion National Park.
Brandon Semenuk took the victory on his first of two runs, with a ride packed full of tricks and technical riding. He now joins Kurt Sorge as a three-time winner of mountain biking's most iconic event. Brett Rheeder dropped into second place following his second run down the mountain, with Tom Van Steenbergen rounding out the podium places.
Replay the full Red Bull Rampage 2019 broadcast below:
Final
Red Bull Rampage is mountain biking’s truest test of skill and mental toughness.
It's a three-peat for Brandon Semenuk at Rampage
© Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool
Brandon Semenuk was looking for redemption after his failure to stay on two wheels last year at this location and boy did he put those bad memories to bed.
We had a good line, I didn't rush and I got something good down
On his first run, Semenuk started with an Opposite 360 on the first drop out of start hut, which was then followed by a Suicide No-Hander. He then showed his supreme technical ability by skimming a rock with a manual before greasing a cork 360 on a rebuilt feature that he wasn’t able to land last year.
There was still more to come as he traversed the mountain. A top-side Nac Nac was followed by a Front Flip on a double drop, with a Backflip One-Footed Can Can coming next. A 360 before the end topped off this jaw-dropping run that would deliver the Canadian a score of 92.33 from the judges, that wouldn't be beaten.
4 min
Brandon Semenuk’s winning run
Watch Brandon Semenuk’s winning performance at Red Bull Rampage 2019.
"Obviously last year didn't go very well, but this year we had a good line, I didn't rush and I got something good down," said Semenuk after his winning run. "It was still nerve-racking, but I was feeling it."
Semenuk, who prefers working on film projects rather than competing at events these days, didn't have to put in a second run. Brendan Fairclough, the last rider on the mountain, cut short his second run to confirm Semenuk as the 2019 winner.
Brandon Semenuk's Trek Session
© Ian Collins
2018 Red Bull Rampage winner Brett Rheeder returned to Virgin determined to stand on the top step of the podium again as the first back-to-back winner in the event's history. Things didn't look so good after the first runs however, when a couple of cased landing from his biggest tricks dropped his judging score and left the Canadian down in eighth place.
Brett Rheeder delivered the goods under immense pressure on his second run
© Michael Clark/Red Bull Content Pool
Demonstrating just why he's considered one of the all-time great contest riders, when all the pressure was on him for his essential second run, Rheeder delivered.
Starting with an incredibly difficult Front Flip off the start drop, Rheeder showed perfect composure on his unique line, cleanly landing a Backflip One-Footed Can Can off the flat drop and following it immediately with a crisp 360 on the newly-added jump to his 2018 winning line. Another clean 360 on the drop into the last jump set him up perfectly to float a smooth and incredibly slow-turning Opposite 360 to finish a huge run in style.
It was such a clean run in answer to Semenuk's marker, but fell just 1.33 points short of his great rival and Rheeder had to settle for the second step of the podium this year.
4 min
Brett Rheeder’s 2nd-place run
Watch Brett Rheeder’s run that clinched the runner-up spot at Red Bull Rampage 2019.
Tom van Steenbergen's monster drops helped him to third place
© Peter Morning/Red Bull Content Pool
Canadian Tom Van Steenbergen has made a name for himself in previous Red Bull Rampage editions for signature tricks and lines that no one else tries on the mountain. He was at it again on his first run here. Riding with flow, Van Steenbergen started with a Front Flip before repeating his massive Flat Drop Backflip of last year and ending with a Backflip One-Footed Can Can.
It was run fun of huge hucks and speed that was enough to land him a long-awaited podium spot with a score of 89.66.
4 min
Tom Van Steenbergen’s 3rd-place run
Watch the run from Tom Van Steenbergen that sealed the third podium place at Red Bull Rampage 2019.
Action got underway on what was the second year at this new mountain venue after a slight delay for a wind hold. As can be usual in Utah, the sun was out, but in the morning it can be cold. Mexican debutant Juan Deigo Salido was the only non-starter of the 21 riders after unfortunately falling victim to food poisoning.
For many of those athletes who competed at this location in 2018, this year's Red Bull Rampage was about continuing to work on lines they took down the mountain last year. For the rookies and those new to the location, fresh lines had to be scoped, or negotiating with riders to share existing lines.
There's no taming Andreu Lacondeguy on finals day
© Paris Gore/Red Bull Content Pool
A satisfying Rampage debut and experience for Emil Johansson
© Peter Morning/Red Bull Content Pool
Brendan Fairclough, aka the Canyon Flipper
© Peter Morning/Red Bull Content Pool
Szymon Godziek was super stylish as always
© Peter Morning/Red Bull Content Pool
Most riders made it down from the top of the mountain to bottom in one piece, though there were a few crashes on the mountain. American Cam Zink went down twice, while Belgium's Thomas Genon also crashed hard on his first run.
American Carson Storch put down the marker early on with a superb score of 85.66, while 2019 Red Bull Joyride champion Emil Johansson of Sweden also impressed on his Red Bull Rampage debut with a 79. Then came Semenuk of course with his brilliant run.
4 min
Carson Storch's run
Get a glimpse into the Red Bull Rampage experience with Carson Storch.
Brendan Fairclough was a big fan favourite in 2018 and he had the crowd on their feet again with an excellent highly technical run of 87.66 that featured a breathtaking backflip over a canyon. Polish star Szymon Godziek, two-time American winner Kyle Strait and compatriot Tyler McCaul all reeled off impressive runs in the 80s.
5 min
See Szymon Godziek land the People's Choice Award at Rampage 2019
Get a glimpse into the Red Bull Rampage experience with Szymon Godziek.
One of the most memorable runs was from 2018's runner-up Andreu Lacondeguy, who crashed hard on his first run and then rode a second run that was a wild rodeo, where he barely managed to control his bike and somehow didn't head sideways off a cliff.
6 min
Andreu Lacondeguy's run
Get a glimpse into the Red Bull Rampage experience with Andreu Lacondeguy.
Genon, Reece Wallace, Reed Boggs and Ethan Nell all managed to improve their scores on their second runs compared to their first.
Semenuk secured his third Red Bull Rampage win
© Paris Gore
Brandon Semenuk celebrates sitting in first place after his first run
© James Stout
Carson Storch making time for the fans
© James Stout
Brendan Fairclough was stoked with his first run
© James Stout
As with other Rampage editions there were a bunch of awards to hand out: Best Trick, the People’s Choice Award, Kelly McGarry Spirit Award and for the first time, the Digger Award.
Best Trick, as Presented by Maverik, went to Brett Rheeder for his huge can-can backflip. Szymon Godziek took home the People’s Choice Award, winning fans over with his bold choices throughout the contest.
The participating athletes named Tyler McCaul as this year’s recipient of the Kelly McGarry Spirit Award. The criteria for the vote was to select the peer they thought most embodied McGarry’s spirit. The Digger Award, presented by Venmo, honoured the hardest working Red Bull Rampage dig team. Brett Rheeder’s team were voted by the internal team that chooses and builds the Red Bull Rampage Course every year to take this inaugural award.
Thousands voted to see Szymon Godziek get the People's Choice Award
© Paris Gore/Red Bull Content Pool
Szymon Godziek won The People's Choice Award
© Long Nguyen/Red Bull Content Pool
Brett Rheeder won the Best Trick Award
© Paris Gore
Brett Rheeder landed a huge Can-Can Backflip to claim the Best Trick Award
© Long Nguyen/Red Bull Content Pool
Red Bull Rampage 2019 results
RANK
RIDER
NATIONALITY
POINTS
1.
Bradon Semenuk
Canada
92.33
2.
Brett Rheeder
Canada
91.00
3.
Tom Van Steenbergen
Canada
89.66
4.
Brendan Fairclough
Great Britain
87.66
5.
Tyler McCaul
USA
87.00
6.
Szymon Godziek
Poland
86.66
7.
Ethan Nell
USA
86.00
8.
Carson Storch
USA
85.66
9.
Kyle Strait
USA
83.33
10.
Vincent Tupin
France
81.33
11.
Reed Boggs
USA
80.00
12.
Emil Johansson
Sweden
79.00
13.
Graham Agassiz
Canada
76.33
14.
Thomas Genon
Belgium
74.00
15.
Reece Wallace
Canada
72.00
16.
DJ Brandt
USA
70.33
17.
Andreu Lacondeguy
Spain
52.33
18.
Kurt Sorge
Canada
51.66
19.
Bienvenido Aguado Alba
Spain
45.33
20.
Cam Zink
USA
36.66
21.
Juan Diego Salido
Mexico
DNS
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