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Red Bull Hardline 2024The toughest downhill race in the world: Now in Tasmania

Dimitri Lehner

 · 23.02.2024

Gracey Hemstreet belongs to the growing group of fearless women who take part in the Red Bull Hardline.
Photo: Graeme Murray / Red Bull
The idea is brilliant. "We're building the toughest downhill track in the world," said the Atherton siblings Dan, Gee and Rachel and set to work. The track is located in the Dify Valley in the north of Wales. Dan, the most experienced track builder among the Athertons, took the lead and devised the stunts and jumps. His brother Gee, two-time downhill world champion, tests the features. Et voilà: the Red Bull Hardline was born!

The event took place for the first time in 2014, and since then the Red Bull Hardline mission has become increasingly professional. What started out as a freak event is now beginning to overtake the biggest mountain bike competitions, even the World Cup or the prestigious Red Bull Rampage. The Hardline has become a real force in the sport. Some scene insiders claim that winning the Hardline is similar to winning the Red Bull Rampage and now ranks far higher than first place in a World Cup race. This year, for the first time, a second race will take place in Tasmania alongside the original event in Wales. Once again, Dan Atherton was in charge of the course layout and stunt selection.

The route of the "Super-Downhill" is a mixture of technical passages with rock fields, blocked rock sections and jumps & drops that are designed to test the limits of what is possible. The Hardline thus mixes elements of dirt jump, freeride, downhill and motocross. The UCI would never allow such features in its downhill courses, including drops 10 metres high and higher and 30-metre jumps.

Interesting to see: Even the most experienced professional riders first have to "work out" the various features, exchanging ideas, sharing experiences and supporting each other. This team spirit is what makes the Hardline so unique, according to participants.

Due to the special difficulties involved, only riders who have been selected and invited by the organisers are allowed to compete. However, there are not that many applicants, as the stunts and jumps are too extreme for most professional bikers. Even downhill experts such as Greg Minnaar, Andy Kolb and Josh Bryceland have already pulled out and cancelled their participation in the final. The only German hardline participants so far: Johannes "Fischi" Fischbach (2021) and Eric Irmsch (2018); neither of them took part in the final.

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New Zealander Jess Blewitt was the first woman to take part in Hardline in 2022. Since then, many have followed her example and the women's faction at the Hardline is constantly growing. With three victories, Brit Bernard Kerr is considered the king of the Hardline, jokingly dubbed "King Bernard, the Third" by commentator Rob Warner. In 2022, Canadian Jackson Goldstone, then aged 19, took first place by many seconds and became the youngest winner of the Red Bull Hardline.

Jess Blewitt was the first woman to take part in the Red Bull Hardline.Photo: Karolina Krasinska / Red BullJess Blewitt was the first woman to take part in the Red Bull Hardline.

Previous winners of the Red Bull Hardline:

Bernard Kerr won the Hardline three times and is regarded as the most experienced rider. In 2022, he crashed in a front wheel washout after qualifying fastest.Photo: Nathan Hughes / Red BullBernard Kerr won the Hardline three times and is regarded as the most experienced rider. In 2022, he crashed in a front wheel washout after qualifying fastest.Jackson Goldstone can't believe that he actually won the Red Bull Hardline in his first participation at the age of 19. Here in the 2022 hotseat.Photo: Samantha Saskia Dugon / Red BullJackson Goldstone can't believe that he actually won the Red Bull Hardline in his first participation at the age of 19. Here in the 2022 hotseat.

Particularly entertaining and therefore our tip: the web edits by Bernard Kerr. Here from the training for the next race, the Hardline in Tasmania, where it becomes very clear how much adrenalin, tension and overcoming are involved. The final will take place on 24 February and will be broadcast by Red Bull TV with star commentator Rob Warner.

Dimitri Lehner

Dimitri Lehner is a qualified sports scientist. He studied at the German Sport University Cologne. He is fascinated by almost every discipline of fun sports - besides biking, his favourites are windsurfing, skiing and skydiving. His latest passion: the gravel bike. He recently rode it from Munich to the Baltic Sea - and found it marvellous. And exhausting. Wonderfully exhausting!

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