Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2024: the World Xtreme Enduro Supreme will shake the Erzberg from 30 May to 2 June!
The starting signal for the 28th edition of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo at the Styrian Erzberg will be given on 30 May.
In Eisenerz, it's not just the locals who are eagerly preparing for the onslaught of participants from all over the world, the top favourites are also acclimatising themselves to the ‘mountain of iron’.
In less than a week, the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo will kick off its 28th edition, and the globally unique motorbike offroad motorsport event will set new standards both in terms of sport and event atmosphere at the Styrian Erzberg. Factory professionals and ambitious amateurs from 50 nations and all continents will face the challenge of tackling the toughest Extreme Enduro event on the scene - and fighting for valuable points in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. In addition to the superstars of the current Hard Enduro World Championship season, motorsport fans can also look forward to top calibre riders from the Enduro World Championship, the Trials World Championship, the American Supercross and Hard Enduro scene and even from Rally Raid racing. The next generation of Hard Enduro athletes will also be fully represented, as the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo also counts as a round of the FIM Hard Enduro Junior World Championship. And then, in addition to the thousands of amateur motorsport athletes, the respective top riders from the national offroad racing series will also be at the start!
The top favourites for the toughest race on the scene have arrived in Eisenerz and are acclimatising themselves for the challenges ahead. Manuel Lettenbichler, Trysan Hart, Graham Jarvis, Mario Roman, Teodor Kabakchiev, Wade Young and Austria's top hard enduro rider Michael Walkner have already been spotted on their mountain bikes in the breathtaking surroundings of the Erzberg.
The biggest enduro festival in the world traditionally kicks off with the Mitas Rocket Ride uphill race on Thursday. The number of participants is limited to 300 riders, the starting field is fully booked and the racing action is guaranteed to be spectacular. After the qualifying heats, the 48 fastest riders will go through to the Rocket Ride Superfinal on Thursday evening - and provide superlative offroad action in front of thousands of enthusiastic fans! Freestyle MXer Tobi Merz will once again perform his legendary backflip in this year's final...
On Friday and Saturday 1,308 participants will then take on the almost 15-kilometre-long race track over the Erzberg in the Blakläder Iron Road Prologue. The selective, high-speed gravel track, peppered with a number of chicanes, winds its way from the start next to the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo Arena across the open-cast mining tracks of the Erzberg compound to the finish. The riders start individually, with the faster of the two running times deciding victory or congratulations. As part of the Akrapovic Speed Challenge, the top speed will be measured in the middle of the race track and a prize of EUR 1,500 will be awarded. After two days of racing, the 500 fastest participants will qualify for the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo main race...
With the Siberia Trial Xtreme Challenge, the organisers are offering another racing highlight for all participants and visitors. On the gritty obstacle course in the centre of the Acerbis Action Arena, almost 200 riders will race on identical GASGAS trial motorbikes on Friday and Saturday for a wildcard starting place in the first Red Bull Erzbergrodeo starting row on Sunday. In the Superfinals on Saturday evening, intense racing action awaits the fans, who will create a tremendous atmosphere in the Action Arena grandstands...
The favourites for the most prestigious victory in the Hard Enduro scene
Manuel Lettenbichler (DE, KTM), currently the most successful Extreme Enduro athlete in the world, is at the top of the list of favourites. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing factory rider has already won the last two Red Bull Erzbergrodeo editions in 2022 and 2023 and also won the first round of the 2024 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship in Wales, England. “Manuel is probably the rider with the best combination of riding technique, physical condition and mindset. He will be the hunted on the Erzberg and we can't wait to see how he deals with the pressure.”, says Red Bull Erzbergrodeo mastermind Karl Katoch, describing the 26-year-old Bavarian's role as favourite.
‘Letti's’ toughest rivals are the Canadian Trystan Hart (KTM, podium 2022 & 2023), the British Beta factory rider Jonny Walker, Spain's Alfredo Gomez (ESP, Rieju) and the strong Sherco Factory Racing factory team with Mario Roman (ESP, podium 2022), Teodor Kabakchiev (BG) and Cody Webb (USA). Among the hunters is Graham Jarvis (UK, KTM), probably the best-known rider figure on the scene. The Briton is a true legend with 5 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo victories and, even at the age of 49 (!), continues to ride at the top of the world! In addition, there is a whole phalanx of young top riders, including the Austrian Michael Walkner (AUT, GASGAS). Walkner has already finished the toughest race in the world in the top 10 twice and is aiming for his first podium finish on the Erzberg in 2024.
Red Bull Erzbergrodeo mastermind Karl Katoch is delighted about the influx of top riders. “The density of top international riders means we can expect exciting decisions in the individual racing competitions. From the Mitas Rocket Ride to the Blakläder Iron Road Prologue and the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo on Sunday, there will be fights for every position. The Siberia Trial Xtreme Challenge on Friday and Saturday is also high-calibre, with the winner winning a starting place on the front row of the main race on Sunday.”, says Katoch.
Red Bull Erzbergrodeo with spectacular new racetrack
The changed racetrack of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo main race on Sunday is generating a lot of interest this year. In 2024, the legendary signature checkpoint Carl's Dinner will be served in the first half of the race. Carl's Dinner is a section of the track littered with boulders, some as high as a man, that demands everything from the riders and requires excellent riding technique. With a total length of 3,700 metres (divided into 3 sections), the section is considered one of the
toughest tests in Hard Enduro sport. “By moving Carl's Dinner to the first half of the race, we want to give as many participants as possible the chance to experience this iconic section with all its challenges for themselves. We are expecting around 200-250 riders in Carl's Dinner this year, so spectacular motorsport action is definitely guaranteed. Extreme Enduro athletes love to take on the most difficult tasks and the Red Bull Erzbergodeo offers exactly this challenge!", says Karl Katoch…
The other track highlights are of course also back on the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo menu in 2024: with 24MX Wasserleitung (CP1), Blakläder Zentrum am Berg (CP4), Wacker Neuson (CP6), George Avenue (CP12), Machine (CP14), Elevator (CP17), Motorex Highway (CP23) and Dynamite (CP25), all the classics await the 500 qualified starters on Sunday.
Visitors to the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2024 can expect an equally packed programme of action-packed entertainment. In addition to the racing competitions, which can be experienced up close in the visitor zones along the race tracks, there are numerous side events such as the Louis One-On-One rider presentation on Friday and Saturday, the Raid on Eisenerz powered by HDI or the popular autograph session in the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo Arena. Particularly impressive are the helicopter tours over the huge Erzberg area, which can be booked at the Heli-Port during the event.
Red Bull Erzbergrodeo LIVE on ServusTV and Red Bull TV
Thousands of motorsport fans will experience first-hand how the world's best off-road athletes take on the mighty Erzberg and probably the most selective race track of the Xtreme Enduro season. If you can't watch the extraordinary spectacle live on location, the globally unique race with an extended set-up and great commitment of man and material will also be broadcast live on ServusTV from 12:50 pm in 2024. Presenter Andreas Gröbl and his experts Stefan Nebel and Heinz Kinigadner will host the programme, while presenter Nicole Oberlechner and Dakar Rally winner Matthias Walkner will provide interviews and interesting facts from the start and finish area. The livestream of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo will also be available on the ServusTV ON streaming platform from 12:50 pm.
The international live stream on Red Bull TV will be hosted by Pat Parnell and Ed Leigh as well as experts Darryl Curtis, Billy Bolt and race reporter Paul Bolton on Sunday, 2 June from 12:30 pm. The international livestream will also be available to Red Bull Erzbergrodeo visitors on site in the Acerbis Action Arena.
kronehit Event-Radio creates a great atmosphere at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo
For the fifth time, private radio station kronehit will be broadcasting live from the glass studio in the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo Arena under the motto ‘We are the most music’ - reaching more than 2 million listeners with its Erzberg programme. The presenters Nicole Hammer and Christian Mederitsch will also be regularly on the road during the action on the mountain and will again reach more than 200,000 fans on Instagram and Facebook with their contributions from all side events. On the kronehit live stage, there will be interesting interviews with celebrities from sport and business every day, and the in-house DJ will provide the right atmosphere in the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo Arena.
Legendary: the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo Rider Parties in the EGGER BIER marquee
Ein wichtiger Fixpunkt für jeden Teilnehmer und Visitors to the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo must visit the legendary Egger beer tent. In addition to providing the Erzberg community with culinary delights and cool drinks, the marquee also hosts the daily rider briefings, award ceremonies - and the legendary rider parties. On the marquee stage with mega video wall, organiser Karl Katoch presents the highlight videos of the day every evening, announces important information for the next race day, crowns the winners of the individual racing competitions - and then opens the party evening for the thousands of guests in the Egger Bier marquee! Everyone from the works pro to the Erzberg rookie will be there...
The detailed schedule and all information about the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo can be found at www.redbullerzbergrodeo.com
Visitor tickets for the ultimate Red Bull Erzbergrodeo live experience at www.redbullerzbergrodeo.com
MR/Redaktion
