Enduro
Take a look back at 4 memorable Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble races
Relive some of the most enthralling moments from the world's toughest off road motorycle race, as amateur riders and superstars of hard enduro tackle Austria's fearsome Iron Giant.
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With Rob Warner and a host of pro riders discussing their favourite Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble moments live on Red Bull TV on June 21, we too have looked back at previous editions of this legendary hard enduro race staged in the giant open-pit Erzberg mine – most difficult single-day endurance event in the world.
Here are four memorable races from the iconic Erzbergrodeo event in central Austria that each year sees 1,500 competitors fight for just 500 entry spots.
2013 – Wet and wild
Heading into this race, Graham Jarvis had previously been disqualified four times in the event's history for taking the wrong route, while fellow Briton Jonny Walker was tipped to shine alongside Polish serial winner Błażusiak.
However, when torrential rain kicked in and Walker's engine was flooded straight after the start, it became clear that this was going to be a far from ordinary year, as the course was deluged.
Only 14 riders from the original 500 made it to the finish within the designated four-hour limit, with Jarvis navigating slippery paths and perilous descents to finally get his first Erzbergrodeo win. He finished 19 minutes ahead of German legend Andreas Lettenbichler, while Walker somehow emerged from his early muddy nightmare to push Alfredo Gómez close for third.
2015 – Downtown hell
And then there were five... Red Bull Hare Scramble
© Robert Lynn/Future 7 Media
The elite field, including father and son Andreas and Manuel Lettenbichler, were faced with several obstacles in 2015, including a brand new Downtown section.
Rising star Jonny Walker established an early lead and powered up the Iron Mountain to create a gap over Graham Jarvis. Behind the leaders, spectacular crashes and smoking engines accounted for hundreds of riders, while the younger Lettenbichler was disqualified for riding without a helmet due to the heat.
The race took a big turn when Walker, Jarvis and Gómez reached the Green Hell of Downtown and had to help each other for almost two hours through a seemingly unpassable forest.
Finally navigating their way through the hugely challenging obstacle, the resulting open-throttle dash for the chequered flag saw Walker, Jarvis, Gómez and Andreas Lettenbichler ride side-by-side into the finish, as race organiser Karl Katoch announced the first ever four-way tie for first.
2016 – Uphill battle
5 min
Erzbergrodeo: A Rocket Ride up the Iron Giant
The 22nd Erzbergrodeo kick started with the Rocket Ride up the Iron Giant.
American Cody Webb rode for KTM at the 2016 edition, as he looked to finally put his stamp on the world's most fearsome Hard Enduro test.
Hot favourite Błażusiak bolted into an early lead, before Webb took control, but it was the Carl's Dinner section that this time would haunt the entire field. Jarvis held his nerve to reach it first, ahead of Webb and Gómez, but Błażusiak dropped back to ninth place with a broken brake lever and clutch problems.
As Jarvis rode on to claim his third victory, Spaniard Gómez looked certain for second place until Webb battled past after several tries to overtake him at the key Lazy Noon climb, becoming the first American rider to secure a podium spot.
Teenage Brit Billy Bolt finished in fifth place on his Erzbergrodeo debut to herald a changing of the hard enduro guard.
2019 – Anniversary duel
Graham Jarvis celebrates another Erzbergrodeo win
© Philipp Schuster/Red Bull Content Pool
Spaniard Laia Sanz had already made history at the prestigious Dakar Rally race by finishing in the top 10 overall in 2015 and four years later, at the 25th anniversary Erzbergrodeo, she was looking to once again carve her name into the record books. Looking to become the first woman to finish the gruelling Austrian race, she gave it her all, but couldn't complete the challenging 27 checkpoints.
However, there was plenty of drama up front, with Manuel Lettenbichler impressing early, before Jarvis used all his experience to nick past him at Carl's Dinner.
Lettenbichler eventually chased Jarvis down at Green Hell to set up a titanic duel, but the Briton found another gear to secure a record-equalling fifth victory at the grand age of 44, as 16 competitors from seven nations completed the relentless Red Bull Hare Scramble.
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