History Made at the first Red Bull Hardline Tasmania

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Red Bull Hardline Tasmania: a history making event

Ten years following the debut of the inaugural Red Bull Hardline in Wales, founder Dan Atherton proudly commemorated the race's first expansion beyond Wales with a remarkable event in Tasmania. This spectacular occasion, which launched the 2024 downhill MTB race season, not only underscored the competition's status as one of the most demanding in downhill mountain biking but also celebrated significant milestones, including the first participation of female athletes.

Historic Event: The First Women to Complete a Hardline

Nineteen-year-old Canadian Gracey Hemstreet made history as the first woman to complete a full top-to-bottom run at the Red Bull Hardline. Delivering a flawless descent, she clocked in at 3:56.586, kicking off the event's broadcast with her outstanding performance.

The other female competitor, twenty-seven-year-old British rider Louise Ferguson, faced challenges with two falls during the final that kept her from clinching victory. Nonetheless, she showcased incredible bravery by finishing the course and tackling every obstacle head-on. Finishing over a minute behind Hemstreet, Louise also earned significant praise for her remarkable spirit, marking a historic moment in mountain biking.

The Men's Race: Ronan Dunne Dominates, Scare for Goldstone

In the men's competition, Ronan Dunne excelled on the Hardline course, clinching victory with a margin of nearly two seconds. His new Mondraker setup was a game-changer, enabling him to outperform three-time Hardline champion Bernard Kerr by 1.876 seconds. George Brannigan rounded out the podium, finishing just behind Kerr in a closely contested race.

Jackson Goldstone, a top contender, experienced a harrowing fall in the initial segment of the course, which prevented him from completing his run. Goldstone, who was setting a remarkable pace, lost control of his Santa Cruz on a rocky stretch and was thrown over the bars, his head perilously nearing a tree. The crash, occurring at high speed, left onlookers and fellow competitors who had finished their runs in shock. Thankfully, the young Canadian talent managed to rise uninjured from this alarming incident, much to everyone's relief and happiness.

Rankings

Women

1st. Gracey Hemstreet: 3:56.586

2nd. Louise Ferguson: +1:11.826

Men

1st. Ronan Dunne: 3:08.145

2nd. Bernard Kerr: +1.876

3rd. George Brannigan: +2.876

4th. Matteo Iniguez: +4.902

5th. Connor Fearon: +5.324

6th. Laurie Greenland: +6.032

7th. Sam Gale: +6.555

8th. Sam Blenkinsop: +6.576

9th. Theo Erlangsen: +7.662

10th. Gaetan Vige: +7.699

11th. Brook Macdonald: +8.462

12th. Baxter Maiwald: +9.927

13th. Adam Brayton: +10.363

14th. Thibault Laly: +10.582

15th. Kaos Seagrave: +12.687

16th. Vincent Tupin: +13.302

17th. Jim Monro: +14.380

18th. Dennis Luffman: +17.342

19th. Johny Salido: +28.195

20th. Remy Morton: +37.462

21st. Matt Jones: +45.962

22nd. Reed Boggs: +51.417

23rd. Thomas Genon: +1:11.771

Dan Booker: DNF

Jackson Goldstone: DNF

Conclusions

The 2024 Red Bull Hardline Tasmania will go down in history as a groundbreaking event, not only for its technical demands but also for championing the inclusion and success of women in such a prestigious competition. These accomplishments celebrate not just individual triumphs but also the sport's evolution, showcasing a competition that relentlessly expands the boundaries of what's achievable in downhill mountain biking.

For further information on the outcomes and updates from the event, EurekaBike suggests visiting the official Red Bull Hardline website or keeping up with the latest on Red Bull TV and YouTube!

Image Credits: Red Bull

Jacopo Vigna

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