Wade training at home
© Kolesky/Nikon/Red Bull Content Pool
Enduro

What is the Erzbergrodeo?

Wade Young is preparing for Hard Enduro’s signature event, the Erzbergrodeo. Here are the facts.
Written by Tom Bellingham
2 min readPublished on

1 min

Red Bull Hare Scramble 2013 Battleclip

Highlights from the 2013 Red Bull Hare Scramble at the Erzbergrodeo.

What is the Erzbergrodeo?
The Erzbergrodeo is the signature event on the Hard Enduro calendar with over 1500 riders coming from far and wide to take on the Iron Giant, set in an Austrian ore mine. Erzberg is without doubt one of the toughest races anywhere in the world.
So what is the Red Bull Hare Scramble?
After two days of bum-breaking races, such as the Rocket Ride and two qualifying rides, the 500 fastest qualifiers race off on the final day from the bottom of the mine. They’ve got four hours – which may seem a long time but it’s not - to get across this grueling course in one piece.
Where is it held?
On top of an ancient iron mine in the middle of Austria. Eisenerz, the nearest town to Erzberg means 'Iron Ore.' When they started mining iron there, the most sophisticated tool was a heavy stick.
What is Hard Enduro?
Well is has the word hard in the name because… well, it’s bloody hard! It’s one of the most challenging motorsports on the planet, a combination of trials riding and endurance riding.
Wade raised a few eyebrows at the 2013 event

Wade raised a few eyebrows at the 2013 event

© Philip Platzer/Red Bull Content Pool

What makes it so amazing?
Astonishing feats of human endurance! In 2007, Taddy Blazusiak borrowed a bike and ended up winning the race. He went on to win it another four times and became an international star.
Then there’s five-time Dakar winner, Cyril Despres who made a name for himself on the Erzberg slopes and not forgetting Hard Enduro legend, Graham Jarvis who won despite being disqualified three times in the previous three years while leading.
These are the riders Wade will be up against, but carrying confidence after his recent win at the King of the Hills, three day stage race, the man is not worried.
So it’s just a load of mud, rocks and bikes?
Yes... And a beer tent.

Part of this story

Erzbergrodeo 2014

Get ready for the 20th edition of this Hard Enduro classic featuring the Red Bull Hare Scramble.

Österreich

Jonny Walker

British rider Jonny Walker is one of the leading names in hard enduro, with a trophy cabinet full of the sport's biggest prizes.

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Cyril Despres

A five-time winner of the Dakar Rally on a motorbike, France's Cyril Despres switched to the car category in 2015 and has his sights set on more success.

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Wade Young

At 16, Wade Young became the youngest-ever winner of the Roof of Africa, and he's been a top enduro contender ever since.

South AfricaSouth Africa