Full Rider List Announced for 2023 Red Bull Hardline Including Josh Bryceland

May 18, 2023 at 3:08
by Ed Spratt  
photo

Red Bull has announced the list of riders who will be competing in the ninth edition of Red Bull Hardline in July.

For 2023 the one-off DH race returns right in the middle of the race season with racers set to take on the Welsh course from July 15 to 16. This year sees an even more stacked list of riders than usual with the likes of last year's winner Jackson Goldstone returning alongside new names such as Kyle Strait and even Josh Bryceland making a return to racing.

After making a comeback last year after his horrific crash while filming The Knife Edge, Gee Atherton is back once again in 2023 and says: "The legacy of Red Bull Hardline speaks for itself. To hold the event for a ninth year is just a dream. The world's best riders continue to push their own limits here in Machynlleth and the boundaries of the sport continue to be exceeded. I'm excited to see what the crew pull out the bag this year."

Last year's racing saw a huge surprise result as we saw Jackson Goldstone go head to head with Elite level riders and the Hardline course for the first time and came out on top. The 2022 winner is back this year and says: "The course at Red Bull Hardline is like no other. To take the win last year with such stiff competition was an epic feeling. I'm stoked to get back out to Wales for Round 2."

A fan favorite making a racing return seemingly just for Hardline this year is Josh Bryceland who last rode here back in 2018. On his return, Josh said: "I've been off the race circuit for a couple years now, last time I rode Red Bull Hardline was 2018. These days I've mostly been riding with mates for the fun of it, but I'm ready to get stuck back in this year and take on Red Bull Hardline for the second time."

Pinkbike Racing's own Thibaut Laly will also be joining the fun and racing in the world’s toughest downhill mountain bike race for the third time.

2023 Rider List:

Kyle Strait
George Brannigan
Adam Brayton
Josh Bryceland
Rónán Dunne
Kade Edwards
Thomas Estaque
Craig Evans
Brendan Fairclough
Sam Gale
Thomas Genon
Laurie Greenland
Jackson Goldstone
Gee Atherton
Thibault Laly
Harry Molloy
Charlie Hatton
Sam Hockenhull
Matteo Iniguez
Gaetan Vige
Bernard Kerr
Josh Lowe
Brook Macdonald
Jim Monro
Florent Payet
Johny Salido
Kaos Seagrave
Joe Smith
Theo Erlangsen
Taylor Vernon


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99 Comments
  • 59 0
 Jess Blewitt not giving it another go? Would have loved to see her back
  • 32 1
 Yeah I was expecting more women, not less
  • 58 14
 There will come a point when there are women capable of competing at Hardline, but the reality is there is still a big gulf between the best men and women DH/freeriders. Jess riding last year was courageous, but a complete miscalculation by the organisers. I certain next time there is a female entrant they will actually have the ability to comple the course. Hopefully it's sooner than later.
  • 59 12
 @IMeasureStuff: At risk of being downvoted into oblivion again. I hope you are right, and I am wrong. My hunch at the beginning of the last hardline was that women riders have or will have the skill level to do the individual sections in the future. But due to difference in males and females' physiology (lower cardiac output, lower vo2max) it is actually the linking the sections together that is/will be the limiting factor. Unfortunately, Jess crashed while linking sections that she had previously ridden successfully. Yes, I know it is a sample size of one.
The only sport where females are statistically superior to men is ultra running races of over 199km.
Massive respect to all the female riders. I hope Jess has healed up well and Robins head is ok.
DISCLAIMER: Riding over a curb is becoming difficult for me.
  • 11 58
flag enduroNZ (May 18, 2023 at 5:01) (Below Threshold)
 @gcrider: complete BS
  • 20 47
flag TheJD (May 18, 2023 at 5:11) (Below Threshold)
 @gcrider: That part about cardiac output and vo2max is complete BS in relation to riding a bike downhill. For sure there are rather big physiological differences between men and women but vo2max or cardiac output are not the limiters here. Those would be limiters if they were riding the course uphill.
  • 21 9
 @enduroNZ: What part is bullshit, please advise with references
  • 34 18
 @gcrider: "What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence."

1 rider crashed on a linking section so women won't be able to do the event. Absolute nonsense.
  • 18 3
 @hexhamstu: Agree with both your points.
Does that also mean that there is no evidence that women can do the event?
I ask this in a exercise in reasoning not some sexist internet bullshit that some people seem to like in other parts of the internet.
  • 31 46
flag Muckal (May 18, 2023 at 6:10) (Below Threshold)
 @dontrideontheroads: maybe some could identify as women for the day and we could have a womens' hardline. That would be f'in inclusive.
  • 77 5
 I don't know what you guys are on about. Going down the rider list, there appears to be plenty of women. Lets see here, there's Brooke, Laurie, Taylor.... Florence...
  • 45 1
 I feel like women are just plain too smart to ride a course like that. But seriously, I don't think we need to measure womens athletic capacity with mens. They have different physical capacities, generally speaking, and it's not some sort of overblown moral issue like people like to make it out to be. Progress to me looks more like everyone honoring women, not trying to get women to necessarily do the same stuff men are doing. May the downvotes commence!
  • 8 18
flag Durtwrx (May 18, 2023 at 7:27) (Below Threshold)
 @Muckal: hahahahahahahahahaha
  • 12 1
 @MT36: I think your point about women being "plain too smart" is dead on, men and women have different tolerances and appetites for risk. Assumed physical differences aside, the psychological differences specifically around dopamine in our brains seem to suggest that fewer women proportionately see the enough reward to take this kind of risk.
  • 2 14
flag Intense4life (May 18, 2023 at 7:44) (Below Threshold)
 @MT36: nobody really gives a shit
  • 4 1
 @MT36: not sure about being 'too smart' to ride the course but I think your other points are spot on.
It's an almost impossible task to design the most difficult dh track in the world, one that stretches top pro men to their limits, and still make it equally accessible to women. It was brilliant seeing Jess there last year, maybe they could consider two tracks, or options on the existing track to have a separate mens and womens line.
  • 8 1
 You dont under stand this track is only for the top level riders, haters going to hate but its the truth, as an example the Juvenile rider at the Fort Bill British national beat all the Elite woman, that 13 would be safe down this track than any of the ladies fact.
  • 7 2
 @gcrider: dude.......can you point to a 199km+ ultra that the top female time is faster than the top male time?


the Male record for the Badwater 135mi Ultra is 21:33

the female record" 24:09.

2.5 hours different. so no, not even in ultras are women superior to a male. anything requiring endurance and strength, men will always outperform women. at every level. Yes Serena Williams can beat me at tennis, but if she were to play in the men's pro division, she would literally never qualify for a tournament.

these are simple facts.
  • 13 1
 @TheJD: tell me you aren't fast downhill, without telling me you aren't fast downhill. LMFAO


yeah, DH racing isn't physically exhausting at all. basically the same effort as bowling!!11!!!
  • 6 2
 @Mtbdialed: Jasmin Paris is the course record holder for the 268 mile Spine race in Scotland.

There are other ultras where women have won overall, like Cortney Dauwater and Katie Wright.

You're right that it's mostly men winning, but your 'simple facts' need checking
  • 2 0
 @Mtbdialed: Sorry this unit got his units stuffed up. Miles not KM
  • 2 0
 Same. If Hardline keeps running we'll see more women riders for sure. The new crop of ladies coming up is bonkers talented for their age. Seeing Aletha Ostgaard eventually run it seems a safe bet (from the US side anyway).
  • 2 0
 @Mtbdialed: WTF man?! That's not what I wrote. I just pointed out that cardiac output or VO2max are not the main performance limiters for downhill.
  • 1 0
 @Intense4life: apparently they do.
  • 2 1
 @TheJD: you might be surprised to find out that they are very very pivotal to maximum performance on a WCDH track. Ask yourself why the top 10 racers are always ridiculously fit and train cardio so much?
  • 3 1
 @gcrider: The part where you propose that a professional female DH racer doesn't have the cardio to match a field that includes hard partying free riders and professional youtuber bros.
  • 1 1
 @gcrider: I didn't realize this was purely a thought exercise. When you started your intelligent-sounding statement with "My hunch..." that kinda destroys all credibility.
  • 2 0
 @plyawn: Fair call. I was avoiding saying "educated guess." as didn't to use the word "guess" . also I didn't want to sound more of a dick I already do by saying I studied anatomy and physiology at university a long time ago. I have read out of interest numerus CAS and WADA doping reports and scientific papers regarding Trans and Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) over several years. for the reason of not wanting to get into the trans athletes in sport debate.
  • 3 0
 @plyawn: There’s no reason female competitors won’t have ‘the cardio’ - what I believe is in question is the overall physical ability required to ride the full hardline course.

An example could be hurdle male vs female height but there are lots.

Contrary to some that believe ‘progression’ or ‘confidence’ will make all the difference we also have to accept the ceiling will have a biological component - is that reached at hardline, I don’t know but it’s definitely playing a large part.
  • 1 1
 @IMeasureStuff: although it could be a bit like women surfing Pipe or Tahiti on the WSL and that growth from participation is the best thing. Everyone sees the gap between male and female riders / surfers but that doesn’t harm things. If the course had ride arounds and a proper group of women to encourage one another it would progress culturally and technically
  • 2 0
 Why Are Women Beating Men in Ultra-Endurance Events?

@justanotherusername:
@ IMeasureStuff:
@enduroNZ:
@ Mtbdialed:

interesting 32min podcast.
Dr. Beth Taylor is an associate professor of kinesiology at the University of Connecticut and the Director of Exercise Physiology Research in Cardiology at Hartford Hospital.

lithub.com/why-are-women-beating-men-in-ultra-endurance-events

NOTE: The distance where women start to beat men is about 200 miles, not Km as some idiot (me) said below
  • 2 0
 @gcrider: They can definitely do it, but differently. They have a different style with a more locked core which doesn't engage as a male rider shredding the course. If I want to get pumped before a ride I'll watch a male rider with some metal music, a metal monday can't be be the same without the style Jack Moir has for example.
  • 3 0
 @Mtbdialed: Perhaps because they train to perform their best? Why are you asking dumb questions? Of course it helps a lot with their performance, but it's not the main limiter unless you are completely out of shape and even then strength would probably be the more important parameter.
  • 4 0
 @gcrider: Interesting stuff and kind of backs up my viewpoint that we need to step back from constant calls for absolute equality and expectation and accept the fact that women and men are different and perform differently in different situations, something to appreciate not remove.
  • 1 0
 @BMXrad: @BMXrad: You're sort of right and sort of wrong.... Yes Harry Schofield beat ALL the women, but whilst he's a super super talented kid, i still think Jess for example would be more prepared for Hardline than Harry. He's a hell of a ride but i'm not sure he's got the outright strength. Youth class above has riders who regularly beat 50% of the Elite MEN !!!! The leading Youth rider (15-16 years old) was 28th out 48 in Elite male.... Now that... is quite frankly bonkers.
Couple of weeks before Sam Hatfield would have finished inside the top 50% Elite Male at Rheola..
  • 1 0
 @BMXrad: straight facts.
  • 1 0
 @Yerts: unlikely
  • 1 1
 @MT36: incorrect or they would find a way
  • 48 0
 Nothing like easing yourself back into racing after a few years off.
  • 33 0
 Warner on commentary?
  • 5 0
 For sure. He sticking to Red Bull
  • 4 2
 And hopefully Rachel again too! I thought she killed it last year
  • 34 2
 Brage got robbed?
  • 7 2
 Can't believe they wouldn't have wanted him there, we need an explanation pronto.
  • 41 0
 I understand it is because the builders/race organizers are very concerned about the freight train of Norwegian destruction he would wantonly unleash upon the course, making it unridable for subsequent athletes.
#bragemafia
  • 29 0
 If Gee gets first and Josh second, will Josh goad Gee about singing the national anthem?
  • 8 0
 God (save the King), I hope so. Absolute gold.
  • 6 0
 Dude, are you singing? I laughed my ass off...
  • 19 0
 Lyle!
  • 17 1
 I wonder if Bryce feels the same way about Redbull as he did/does Monster Energy haha
  • 13 0
 50to01 presence is going to be strong there 3
  • 3 0
 Ratboy and Sam but who is the third?
  • 4 0
 @singletrackjamaica: cregskin
  • 2 0
 @pacojo: cool. I missed him when scanning the list.
  • 12 1
 Good to see ratboy back in a race.
  • 10 0
 rat race
  • 2 0
 Yeah it's awesome. He was there before but didn't actually race. I can't remember why though. Hope Brook gets to race this year too. What happened with Brayton?
  • 2 0
 Oh I do see Braytons name. I guess I was excited about Ratboy and didn't look good
  • 7 0
 It is amazing to see riders signing up for hardline after massive injuries. There's Gee, Brook and Kyle just to name a few. Damn these dudes are tough.
  • 9 0
 Long Live The Rat.
  • 11 8
 Was hoping to see Jess and a handful of other shredders back with the idea that Dan could cut some B lines through the 5000' gaps and we'd get an actual women's race.

Is it possible I'm missing something and there will be a separate event??
  • 9 0
 I can’t wait to see some Women send hardline, but cutting B lines into HARDLINE isn’t the answer. They will ride when they and the staff feel like they can, until then we can enjoy watching them send it on the World Cup circuit!
  • 1 2
 @Chief2slo: So, likely never then?
  • 8 0
 Where is Brage?
  • 3 0
 Trysil
  • 6 1
 Somewhat surprised Jackson is going to race right in the middle of his inaugural mens World Cup season.
  • 5 0
 Hummmmm my invite must still be in the post. Never mind date's clash I'm getting my haircut done that day- thank f**k.
  • 5 0
 Best rider list yet . Great seeing Strait and other big mountain free riders.
  • 7 1
 Where's Jono? We need the Matt Jones vlog for hardline
  • 4 0
 Surprised they are holding it mid season this year. Likely better weather but to the detriment of mid WC injury worries.
  • 4 0
 Really disappointed to not see Levy on this list.
  • 4 0
 Rat Boy yup
  • 3 0
 I would like to see the GOAT Minnaar riding hardline.
  • 2 0
 I honestly don’t think he would. I recall him riding a portion of it the other year for fun. He stood at the the top of the road gap for a long time and eventually “noped” it. That was even before the new 90-100’ gaps. P.S. don’t blame him or doesn’t take anything away from his skills.
  • 2 0
 Where's Jordan Williams? Not many stand a chance at beating Goldstone.
  • 1 0
 Does Williams have any history of hitting jumps this big? Lots of DH racers are faster than many riders on this list, but don’t compete because this style isn’t in their wheelhouse.
  • 2 2
 Jackson Goldstone has an unfair advantage cuz he's so young. (Me being jealous that I started mtb at 24 and I'm overly cautious on everything)
  • 1 0
 Looks like they tried for alphabetical order then opted for the raffle drum method.
  • 1 0
 I didn’t understand a single word Josh Bryceland said in that interview. Can anyone please interpret this?
  • 1 0
 Kyle Strait...wtf...F*ck yes!!! Hopefully he is fit and will show up!

Would love to see Wyn Masters and/or Blenki!
  • 1 0
 I dont care about anything else than Josh fucking bryceland! Would have loved to see Jess again tho.
  • 2 0
 Go, Ratboy!
  • 2 0
 God Save The Rat
  • 2 2
 Good to see Ratty on the list, would be good to see an Aussie or 2.
  • 1 1
 Will Lauren Smith be there?
  • 1 0
 Speed and Power
  • 4 4
 We all want Jess Blewitt !!!!! Upvote if agree !!!
  • 4 5
 I wanna see Blenky, Gwin, and Dak up in that list!!
  • 10 3
 Why? This isn’t the right event for any of them.
  • 5 0
 @drakefan705: wym this is not the right event for any of them? this is a top downhill event. It needs top downhill athletes
  • 3 4
 Oh Kaos Seagrave and Estaque both there, will the winner get Mille?
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