​Red Bull District Ride: When freeriding took the city by storm. A success story

2004: The beginning

The beginning is also known by another name: Ride to the Lake in Meersburg on Lake Constance. The brains behind the idea are Cory Moore and Tarek Rasouli. Their concept: bringing freeride to where people are anyway – right in the heart of the city.

The premiere is a resounding success. Around 30,000 spectators watch stars such as Cedric Gracia, Kyle Strait, Wade Simmons, Carlo Diekmann and Guido Tschugg as they jump over rooftops and drop down staircases. Urban freeriding is born.

2005: Nuremberg becomes a cult venue

In 2005, the event moved to Nuremberg – and found its home there. Starting at the Kaiserburg, the course winds its way across ramps, walls and wooden structures through the old town. For the first time, there were various ‘districts’, as well as a Best Trick Contest under floodlights. The winner of the inaugural event was Aaron Chase.

A year later, the single race had grown into a small series. As well as Nuremberg, the District Ride made its debut in Catania, Italy. Paul Basagoitia won the overall classification and drove home in a pick-up truck as his prize.

2011: The tricks are getting crazier and crazier

After a five-year hiatus, the District Ride 2011 is making a comeback. Course designer Aaron Chase has given the course a spectacular upgrade: the run-up to the Big Air starts at Nuremberg Town Hall, with riders launching into the final jump from a huge wooden wave. For the first time, the event is being broadcast worldwide via livestream. Sam Pilgrim wins with a backflip no-hander.

2014 The District Ride is truly world-class. Over 65,000 spectators watch the showdown between Brandon Semenuk and Brett Rheeder. Andreu Lacondeguy wins the Best Trick Award, whilst Nicholi Rogatkin, then just 18 years old, makes his Nuremberg debut.

2017 Rogatkin sets new standards. With a near-countless number of rotations, the American takes the win ahead of Emil Johansson. Szymon Godziek wows the crowd with a tsunami backflip, whilst Erik Fedko finishes fifth, achieving his best District Ride result to date.

2022: Record audiences and new directions

The pandemic-related hiatus means the next edition has been postponed until 2022. It’s worth the wait: according to the police, around 120,000 visitors flock to Nuremberg’s old town. For the first time, women practise on the course and take part in the Best Trick competition. Emil Johansson wins ahead of Rogatkin, with Erik Fedko coming third.

In 2024, the Swede goes one better. He defends his title ahead of Rogatkin and Fedko. Once again, the police put the number of spectators at around 120,000 – making the District Ride the world’s most-watched mountain bike race. Shortly afterwards came the surprise: Red Bull announced a three-year hiatus.

2026: A new chapter

The District Ride is leaving Germany for the first time and heading to Groningen in the Netherlands. As the city lacks the kind of slopes found in Nuremberg, the entire course will be built using artificial ramps and wooden structures.

The event is also making sporting history: for the first time, there will be a fully-fledged women’s slopestyle competition. Six female riders will be competing – five have qualified via the rankings, whilst one has been awarded a wildcard. Among the men, Erik Fedko is one of Germany’s hopes, whilst Johanna Nussbaumer is among the women’s favourites.

The District Ride thus remains true to its original concept: bringing mountain biking right into the heart of the city – spectacular, close to the public and a little bigger each time.