Enduro
Graham Jarvis clinches his 4th Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble win
The King of Hard Enduro reigns supreme as Graham Jarvis conquers Erzberg's Iron Giant to claim victory once again in the Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble.
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Digging deep when the going got tough, Graham Jarvis once again showed why he's one of the best Hard Enduro riders in the world, as he put in a come-from-behind ride to take victory in round two of the World Enduro Super Series, the famed Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble.
Watch the Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble 2018 replay in full below:
Main race
Hard Enduro's crown jewel celebrates its 24th edition, but who will master the course and claim victory?
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The race was a battle right until the very end, and Jarvis crossed the finish line just 41 seconds ahead of runner-up Jonny Walker, while Manuel Lettenbichler secured his debut podium result in third. After such a close race, Jarvis was in no doubt that this ranks as one of his greatest Hard Enduro wins. "It's always special to win the Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble, but to do it in a manner like that ranks as one of my best victories," he said.
It’s always special to win the Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble, but to do it in a manner like that ranks as one of my best victories
Proving one of the most dramatic editions of the race in recent years, the Iron Giant pulled no punches on the 500 competitors eager to take up the challenge of the world's toughest single-day enduro.
From the start the pace was hot and frantic, as five-time winner Taddy Błażusiak set the early pace, but with Walker, Lettenbichler and WESS round one victor Billy Bolt in hot pursuit, things changed quickly.
In the early wooded sections, Lettenbichler and Bolt got past Walker and Błażusiak, and began to pull away. By Checkpoint 15 they were one minute clear of Walker and almost six minutes up on Jarvis, who was recovering from a bad start. With the feared Carl's Dinner boulder field still to come, that gap was soon closed by Jarvis, though, who was beginning to find his pace.
Once again, the Red Bull Hare Scramble was a living hell
© Future7Media/Red Bull Content Pool
At Green Hell, the race was turned on its head, as the vertical woodland climb shook things up, Arriving first, Lettenbichler got stuck, followed by Bolt. The duo opted to pull each other up, but Jarvis, third on the scene, had other ideas. Getting within 20m of the summit solo, he doggedly pushed his Husqvarna to the top and into the lead. Following suit, Walker also got past Lettenbichler and Bolt, keeping the pressure on his long-time rival.
Jarvis was determined not to see his hard work undone, though, and maintained control of the race to arrive at the finish line as the winner.
Graham Jarvis
© Philip Platzer/Red Bull Content Pool
Graham Jarvis on his way to a fourth Red Bull Hare Scramble win
© Sebastian Marko/Red Bull Content Pool
"When I got to Green Hell, I wasn't quite sure what was happening, but I saw Billy and Manuel stuck," explained Jarvis. "I got up so far and was able to push the rest. That for me was where the race was won, but with Jonny chasing me home, I couldn't relax until the chequered flag. It’s always special to win the Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble, but to do it in a manner like that ranks as one of my best victories."
For Walker, it was a case of running out of road in challenging Jarvis for the win. Despite getting close enough to see him in the remaining sections, he wasn't able to make a move. However, with two second places in the opening two rounds of WESS, he now takes up the championship lead.
I'm happy with second. Although it would have been nice to take the win, it's great to be leading the World Enduro Super Series championship
Jonny Walker
© Future7Media/Red Bull Content Pool
"I managed to clear Green Hell and came out of there in second. The rest of the race from then on was less tricky and I pushed as hard as I could, but couldn’t quite catch Graham before the finish. I'm happy with second. Although it would have been nice to take the win, it's great to be leading the World Enduro Super Series championship," said Walker.
Coming within four checkpoints of claiming his first Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble win, Lettenbichler had to settle for a debut podium.
Manuel Lettenbichler
© Markus Berger/Red Bull Content Pool
"I had a really great ride up until Green Hell", commented Lettenbichler. "Billy and myself were pushing the pace a lot and we had built up a gap on the others, but unfortunately things went wrong in Green Hell and Graham came past us. I gave it everything I had. I wanted to win so badly, but just lost out towards the end. This is my debut podium at the Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble, though, so it's something to celebrate."
I gave it everything I had. I wanted to win so badly, but just lost out towards the end
Wade Young
© Markus Berger/Red Bull Content Pool
Putting in a strong ride, Wade Young crossed the finish line in fourth, while Bolt ended his race fifth. In total 23 of the 500 starters finished within the four-hour allotted race time.
With two rounds complete the WESS marches on to France for next weekend's Trèfle Lozérien AMV Classic Enduro on June 8–10.
Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble results
- Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 2h 05m 59s
- Jonny Walker (KTM) +00:41s
- Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) +03m 03s
- Wade Young (Sherco) +15m 45s
- Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) +24m 04s
- Travis Teasdale (Beta) +32m 50s
- Paul Bolton (KTM) +33m 41s
- Taddy Błażusiak (KTM) +35m 52s
- Pol Tarrés (Husqvarna) +48m 41s
- Mario Roman (Sherco) +52m 58s
World Enduro Super Series standings (After 2 of 8 rounds)
- Jonny Walker (GBR) 1,700 points
- Billy Bolt (GBR) 1,610
- Graham Jarvis (GBR) 1,610
- Manuel Lettenbichler (GER) 1,540
- Wade Young (RSA) 1,220
- Taddy Błażusiak (POL) 1,180
- Travis Teasdale (RSA) 1,030
- Paul Bolton (GBR) 1,020
- Pol Tarrés (ESP) 890
- Blake Gutzeit (RSA) 760
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