Enduro
Get ready for the Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble 2018
The race to become this year’s ultimate Enduro champion ramps up as the World Enduro Super Series heads to Austria’s iconic Iron Giant for the Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble.
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Gearing up for its 24th edition, the Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble has become the Mecca for Enduro riders around the world. A four-day dirt bike festival, it’s an octane-fuelled, high-revving affair that attracts thousands of competitors and spectators from the around the world as Europe’s largest open-cast iron mine ceases production to host the toughest Hard Enduro on the planet.
Staged over four days, the action kicks off with Thursday’s Rocket Ride. A hill climb like no other, competitors go head-to-head as they bid to conquer one of the Iron Giant’s steepest quarry climbs. Friday and Saturday are all about the Iron Road Prologue as 1,500 competitors aim to qualify for Sunday’s main event. Against the clock, riders compete in a time trial as they blast their way up the maze of gravel-based quarry roads, hoping to become one of the fastest 500 riders who will start the legendary Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble.
Relive the best of the Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble 2017 in the video below:
2 min
Red Bull Hare Scramble 2017 highlights
Enjoy the best of the 2017 edition of the Red Bull Hare Scramble hard enduro race.
Getting down to business on Sunday, the lucky 500 qualifiers face the world’s toughest Enduro course. Approximately 35km long, they have four hours to complete 20 checkpoints that are strategically placed around the Iron Giant. However, standing in the way of the finish line are signature sections like Carl’s Dinner, Cuckoo’s Nest, Dynamite, Devil’s Kitchen and The Cage. These sections are a mixture of punishing near-vertical climbs and descents, boulder gardens and treacherous forestry that are designed to destroy both man and machine. Naturally, of the 500 starters, it’s a race where only the strongest survive and only the legends of the sport have won.
Only a few make it to the finish line
© Philipp Schuster/Red Bull Content Pool
Bolt is the current leader of the WESS
© Red Bull Content Pool
But with the world’s best Enduro riders alongside him on the start line, the road to glory won’t be easy. Runner-up to Bolt in Portugal, Jonny Walker is hungry for success. As a three-time winner of the Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble, he knows what it takes to win. So too does Graham Jarvis – arguably the world’s best Hard Enduro rider. Jarvis put in a come-from-behind ride in 2017 to finish as runner-up to Spain’s Alfredo Gómez. And with Gómez absent this year due to injury, he’s focused on making amends for his loss of 12 months ago.
As the event’s most successful rider, five-time champion Taddy Błażusiak would love to make it title number six. Although last a winner in 2011, Błażusiak’s current form is not in question. At round one of WESS he charged his way from 44th to fourth – if his rivals hand him a clear track in Austria, he might be difficult to catch.
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Finishing third in Portugal, Germany’s Manuel Lettenbichler is a serious threat for another podium result. And with his father Andreas, a 2015 winner, in his corner, the Lettenbichlerscould make history as the first father and son to lift an Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble trophy. Aiming to create his own piece of history, Cody Webb looks to become the first American winner of the race. A podium finisher in 2016 and 2017, it’s time for Webb to step things up.
A real survival race...
© Philip Platzer/Red Bull Content Pool
Adding in a host of world class talent, riders like Wade Young (South Africa), Mario Román (Spain), Paul Bolton (GB), Josep García (Spain), Lars Enöckl (Austria), Joakim Ljunggren (Sweden), Colton Haaker (USA), Travis Teasdale (South Africa) and Kevin Gallas (Germany) plus many more ensures a place inside the top 15 will be fiercely fought over. America’s Ty Tremaine, competing with Alta Motors, also aims to become the first electric bike finisher in the history of the race.
Check out Paul Bolton's top tips to get to the finish line:
3 min
The perfect bike set-up for a hard enduro
Check out this video to find out the best set-up of a hard enduro bike.
Talkin' Scramble
Get the lowdown on all things Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble.
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Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble schedule
- May 31: Mitas Rocket Ride
- June 1: Blakläder Iron Road Prologue – from 8am CEST (6am UTC)
- June 2: Blakläder Iron Road Prologue – from 8am CEST (6am UTC)
- June 3: Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble – 2.30pm to 6.30pm CEST (12.30pm to 4.30pm UTC)
1,500 participants take the start
© Philip Platzer/Red Bull Content Pool
Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble Past Winners
- 2017: Alfredo Gómez (KTM)
- 2016: Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna)
- 2015: Jonny Walker (KTM), Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna), Andreas Lettenbichler (KTM), Alfredo Gómez (KTM)
- 2014: Jonny Walker (KTM)
- 2013: Graham Jarvis (Husaberg)
- 2012: Jonny Walker (KTM)
- 2011: Taddy Błażusiak (KTM)
- 2010: Taddy Błażusiak (KTM)
- 2009: Taddy Błażusiak (KTM)
- 2008: Taddy Błażusiak (KTM)
- 2007: Taddy Błażusiak (KTM)
- 2006: David Knight (KTM)
- 2005: David Knight (KTM)
- 2004: Chris Pfeiffer (Gas Gas)
- 2003:Cyril Despres (KTM)
- 2002: Cyril Despres (KTM)
- 2001: Juha Salminen (KTM)
- 2000: Chris Pfeiffer (Gas Gas)
- 1999: Stefano Passeri (KTM)
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