Red Bull Hardline 2017 Riders Announced

Sep 5, 2017 at 15:44
by Red Bull Bike  
What is one of the more challenging downhill races in the world, Red Bull Hardline, is set to return for its fourth edition at the end of this month, and this time, it will be held in the hills of the Dyfi Valley in the north of Wales. The preliminary riders list for the 2017 battle is so loaded that the competition for a place on the podium will be more intense than ever before.

Last year's winner, Bernard Kerr, will be returning to defend his title, despite being injured earlier this season and having to sit out the remainder of the World Cup race series. The 2015 Hardline champ, Ruaridh Cunningham will also be returning. Cunningham has also struggled with injury this season, however, both riders are keen to return to the top step of the podium on September 24.


This year, Hardline course designer, Dan Atherton, will also join the lineup alongside his brother, Gee Atherton. Kiwi shredder Brook Macdonald and Brits Brendan Fairclough and Sam Reynolds are also planning to drop in with the world's bravest mountain bikers.

A number of other names that will add a little more spice to the 2017 event include freeride legend, Darren Berrecloth. The Canadian rider is a pioneer of slopestyle, helping to progress the sport to where it is today. He's also no stranger to big mountain freeriding, as he's a regular competitor in Red Bull Rampage. Professional Enduro World Series competitor and colorful personality, Yoann Barelli, has also accepted the invitation to compete in the event and is looking forward to riding such a different trail to what he normally spends his time on.


Riders List

Adam Brayton (GBR)
Alexandre Fayolle (FRA)
Bernard Kerr (GBR)
Brage Vestavik (NOR)
Brendan Fairclough (GBR)
Brook Macdonald (NZ)
Charlie Hatton (GBR)
Craig Evans (GBR)
Dan Atherton (GBR)
Darren Berrecloth (CAN)
Dave Mcmillan (AUS)
Gee Atherton (GBR)
Graham Mudd (AUS)
Greg Williamson (GBR)
Jérôme Caroli (SWI)
Kaos Seagrave (GBR)
Laurie Greenland (GBR)
Reece Wilson (GBR)
Ruaridh Cunningham (GBR)
Sam Reynolds (GBR)
Taylor Vernon (GBR)
Yoann Barelli (FRA)


Due to high demand, more tickets for Red Bull Hardline 2017 will go on sale on Tuesday, September 12 at 12pm. Head over to the Red Bull Bike Facebook on this day to get your hands on them.


MENTIONS: @redbullbike


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137 Comments
  • 181 4
 Yoann Barelli for prime minister.
  • 17 1
 Prepare for tutto tues.$&**^^ f^ck I crashed on the brick wall jump ! ... he has been training and racing the big bike..
  • 239 2
 You know what man, Why not ??!! life is an adventure so, LET'S f*ckING ADVENTURE HAHAAAAAAAAAA Smile !!!!!
PS: I can't believe I'm gonna do that thing, it's crazy.. Am I crazy ?? Oh yeah I am I forgot, all good then hahahaha Wink .
  • 12 0
 @yoannbarelli: Dude wow, go for it, we will cheer you on!
  • 9 0
 @yoannbarelli: You got this Yoann!
  • 50 0
 @yoannbarelli: you're yelling again!
  • 20 33
flag WAKIdesigns (Sep 5, 2017 at 22:50) (Below Threshold)
 Yoann Barelli wins Hardline. Enduro officially requires more balls than downhill. Fanny packs and tight electro clothing become the new thing. UCI buys 35000 tons of gravel for Val Di Sole and Andorra tracks, allows electric engines and sanctions non plus tyres for DH World Cup. The rest is history
  • 7 0
 @WAKIdesigns: and so the world burns.
  • 2 0
 @yoannbarelli: enjoy bro. you're da man
  • 3 0
 @yoannbarelli: go kill it man!!!
  • 4 0
 @yoannbarelli: your lines at Big White were looking pretty spicy, dude. Can't wait to see you on the Hardline. Please no cyclocross bike though. Ha!
  • 1 0
 Of the WORLD hahaha!!
  • 84 0
 Nice to see the Claw riding something like this - seems like it's been a while!
  • 2 1
 Will he be there for sure ?? The list might speak about the INVITED riders ... now who will participate or not, it MAY BE something else.
  • 2 0
 Well he rode rampage last year... That wasn't that long ago.
  • 1 4
 @RedBurn: Well no shit, you can't predict the future.
  • 47 1
 Barelli on a road bike!! Yoannly live once
  • 40 9
 No riders from the United States... bummer, we must be lacking the DH racing talent...
  • 65 31
 well everyone knows who would win if they invited gwin... this way all the brits finally have a chance to win something this year.
  • 4 16
flag mxmtb (Sep 5, 2017 at 19:20) (Below Threshold)
 It's a bds race
  • 13 3
 @mxmtb: false.
  • 26 3
 @whitebullit: Who's the World Champion again?
  • 7 2
 @jclnv: to be fair to @mxmtb he did say 'this year' which means only the women have won world cups. Our current world champion won last year so isn't relevant.
  • 37 14
 I got neg propped quite a lot last time I said this - but where's the womens event?

All this media/industry attention on trying to get women involved - why not have a Hardline event for women?

(preparing for the mandatory flaming/neg propping in 3....2.....1......)
  • 46 0
 Valid question but the answer still lies in the level required to ride this sort of event. AFAIK Rachel hasn't done a full run on her brother's course. If it's too big/dangerous for Rachel, who would ride it?
  • 9 12
 Probably because nobody would ride the course. But maybe they could run a "sort-of" hardline event on a slightly below average track. I bet that'd get a huge audience!
  • 32 1
 @karatechris: I'd argue that Rachel isn't the most confident woman at riding big stuff. I feel someone like Casey Brown would be more confident on the size of the Hardline features.
  • 5 3
 @karatechris: agree. Would be ace if they could make a seperate course for a womens event though
  • 2 1
 Nah good call. I wonder if they invited any?
  • 7 1
 @samjobson: Unfortunately theres only a couple women in the world who ride like her, if that. A slightly less intense course would be cool though, and then maybe in a few years it will progress to the same course!
  • 11 3
 I think Casey brown could send it
  • 18 6
 I don't thing the gnar is holding any of the female rider. I'd rather venture to say it's the speed required to clear the jumps. Look at a WC, probably due to the weight difference, they seem to carry slightly less speed, and usually land shorter. Here, shorter probably isn't an option.
  • 19 2
 @polarproton: Yup, lack of height and weight explains why Danny Hart won the inaugural event and two World Championships. I have theories why women aren't on this course, but I am pretty sure weight and height aren't the reasons.
  • 6 0
 @polarproton: Rachel said she's not strong enough to land the jumps rather than not fast enough to send them.
  • 5 1
 @robaussie99: Wouldn't that just be a DH race?
  • 2 1
 @OzMike: good idea. All Dan Atherton yourself to build another huge DH run in his spare time
  • 36 9
 Why exactly does there have to be a women's race? Does everything have to come back to sexism? The fact is there are no women that are even remotely capable of riding this course yet. Possibly there won't be ever.

Remember when John McEnroe got in loads of trouble for suggesting that Serena Williams would be ranked 750th in the men's game and the whole world of Guardian writers melted down? Frankly most people in the real world knew he was being generous and she would be lucky to be in the top 2000. But that didn't stop the absurd "debate" happening.

Anyway the point is, can we just discuss reality as it actually is? Rather than indulging nuts, post-modern feminist patriarchal fantasies?
  • 2 0
 @mxmtb: Doubt it
  • 9 17
flag nick1957 (Sep 6, 2017 at 1:19) (Below Threshold)
 @humoroususername: wow sounds like you have some issues there
  • 6 0
 @polarproton: so you're saying women won't ride the hard-line cos they're not heavy enough?!
  • 4 0
 @samjobson: Rachel said the big jumps require a physis that the average women don't have. Yes Casey Brown did ride fest series but I think the fest series jumps are, even so they're huge, smoother in terms of landings
  • 9 0
 Softline, mushyline, quitehardline, reasonableline, noteasyline.

None of them have a ring to them.

Perhaps just "hard lines" if you're not up to the job.

We could have a women only spectators section, like at an Indian cricket match. That would definitely not be sexist.
  • 6 5
 Hang on, yes. Yes it would be sexist. You can't say no men, because that's sexist against men. No, no. Hang on. You can't be sexist against men because of white privilege, or something.
  • 2 0
 @polarproton: Not sure its the avg weight difference between men and women explain why women aren't clearing jumps. Troy Brosnan probably weighs as much as the avg woman in the WC field and he sends it just fine.
  • 2 1
 I have been considering the sex change.. local pro women's DH better watch out
  • 2 1
 @maxson: you don't need gender realignment therapy these days. Just tick the "gender non binary" box on the entry form then you can race in whatever category you identify as.
  • 23 0
 Riding hardline and rampage just sounds extremely stressful
  • 15 0
 Yeah that's why I turned them down. I'll be riding my sofa this fall.
  • 14 0
 I think I heard in some podcast where Brendog said he was going to do this event this year and skip Rampage. It'd be cool to see this get the viewership that Rampage does some day.
  • 1 0
 Geb skipped it last year because of Rampage. Two years ago he did both. Let's hope he does both
  • 1 0
 *three years ago
  • 8 0
 Talk about unusual suspects! Can't wait to see what Darren Berrecloth and Alexandre Fayolle bring to the table!
  • 9 4
 Great. Want tickets but have no interest in a Facebook account. Might have to make a temporary one with an alias. So no one knows it me and feels the need to wish me Happy Birthday for last month.
  • 3 5
 Not many of us not on the Facebook
  • 1 0
 @Allen82 Not to mention all those friend requests from people you haven't had anything to do with for the last 10 years.
  • 1 0
 I didn't have a FB account for a while but had no choice, because local enduro competitions are announced in FB only. It isn't too hard to create a simple Wix or WordPress site, but people get what they want (tagging themselves on photos from the comp) :-(
  • 13 0
 I don't have a facebook account but I do have a pinkbike account. So happy 35th birthday Allen!
  • 6 0
 Happy birthday for last month.
  • 18 0
 Thanks for the birthday wishes! I'll upload a photo of my dinner later...
  • 3 0
 Happy Birthday last month
  • 5 1
 I gotta say, Gee Atherton doesn't get the credit he probably deserves as a MTB rider. The guy does WC DH racing, he's done the Rampage in the past, and he'll do races like Hardline. He's probably not anyone's favorite... but I've got a lot of respect for what he does on a bike.
  • 3 1
 his brother made the course..plenty of other top riders could attend in his place possibly? I'd like to see Ratboy there
  • 3 0
 @maxson: I know Hardline is Dan's thing, but that doesn't really change my point, right? Gee has competed at the highest level of WC Racing and Freeriding, and there's not a lot of riders who do both- whatever the reason.
  • 5 1
 ...." is set to return for its fourth edition at the end of this month, and this time, it will be held in the hills of the Dyfi Valley in the north of Wales."

That suggests a change of location. Anyone know for sure?
  • 3 3
 no I believe that is indeed the location last years event occupied. Even if gee had built a new track this year (unlikely) he'd probably build it on the same land, after all he's paid for all that land I think he'd like to use it.
  • 1 0
 Maybe this track?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfSJI0tUEeE
  • 5 0
 @ryanandrewrogers: this is the work of Dan not Gee
  • 1 0
 From the Red Bull Hardline event page:

"...the fourth edition of Red Bull Hardline returns to the hills of Dyfi Valley in the north of Wales on September 24th, 2017."

Sounds like it will be the same track.
  • 7 0
 Dave Mcmillan. Hell yeah
  • 1 0
 He'll do well I think.
  • 3 0
 Favorite shredder! I reckon he can surprise a few guys. I would have loved to see Bryceland too!
  • 6 1
 Would have loved to see Josh Bryceland in the lineup.
  • 2 1
 No chance due to his relationship with the Atherton's I believe
  • 1 0
 @fingerbangextreme: They don't get along ?
  • 2 0
 @Whipperman: There was an incident maybe last year in Leogang if i remember it right where Gee was being interviewed and Josh went behind Gee on camera with his pants down. Later Gee tried to punch him but Sam Dale intervened i think and calmed him down
  • 4 0
 Would have loved to see Kade Edwards, surprised he's not given he rides for the Athertons
  • 4 0
 They're probably too worried he'd try and trick every jump!
  • 2 0
 @DC1988: because he would!
  • 8 3
 The Claw!
  • 5 2
 They should add this to the World Cup season. Nothing wrong with more races.
  • 2 0
 A bit higher there is a discussion why there are no women invited and apparently Rachel said that this track is simply to much for her, there is no way all the juniors/women will be able to compete, I'm pretty sure a part of man field would have troubles as well....
  • 2 2
 @winko: there are juniors competing ... but the jumps are too hard for women
  • 1 1
 @leopaul: id have to argue it's not that they are too hard but the women are unwilling to commit, some of the WC tracks are "harder" than this forsure but with smaller features..the difference is the money offered. risk vs reward
  • 5 0
 Where is kade Edwards?
  • 4 3
 If its a weight = speed thing that is keeping women from the Hardline, than maybe the sport needs some fat chicks sending it?? I for one would watch them.
  • 1 0
 I love the wandering subject lines of Pinkbike comments: course difficulty, nationalism, clothing style, transgenders, nepotism, proper grammar and more!
  • 1 0
 Does anyone have any spare spaces in their cars for two people just for entrance to Hardline, we can get to the venue but need entrance. Willing to pay ????
  • 3 0
 OH MY LINEUP
  • 2 1
 Pretty cool mix of dudes. Go CLAW! Don't be surprised to see Kaos do well.
  • 3 2
 this rider list is second to none...can't wait to tune into this ...gnar.fn.bud!
  • 2 1
 I am stoked for this. I have never watched it, just scene clips, but it looks to be sicker than many events.
  • 2 1
 Has anyone thought of getting some freeriders to race some world cup courses?
  • 2 0
 I'm not sure you'd class him as a freerider, but Remy Metailler entered a few and wasn't fast enough.
  • 1 0
 They're not that fast compared to the usual circuit racers. It's like asking a racer to do a full season of free ride. Some dabble but none excel
  • 1 0
 Kyle Strait also used to race few years ago and got into like top 20. There is a lot behind the racing that we don't see and you need to commit fully in order to reach the top...
  • 3 2
 trick riding and skids do not make a racer
  • 2 0
 All the older freeriders like Kyle Strait, Cam Zink etc. used to race to get their sponsorship
  • 2 1
 Zink raced last year with Gwin, it was in one of the YT team videos. I think it was for US nationals or something similar.
  • 1 0
 @tim-from-pa: yeah it was US nationals, how'd he do there? lol
  • 1 0
 @leopaul: The Lacondeguys started with the DH world cups.
  • 1 3
 Good Year for Downhill Brands -

Intense
Canyon
Ohlins (is it Bruni, the sus, or both! My word, it's like watching butter spread over the mountain)
YT (again)
SC Syndicate (best team, possibly?!)


Bad Year for Downhill Brands -

Trek

*Feel free to update*
  • 1 0
 Specialized sure had a good year with Finn. Winning the series on a new bike was also good for Commencal. And Transition had a good start with their new frame right away. Not too sure about Trek. Kade did impressively well. And if you include the exposure and results Casey and Brandon got in freeride, that DH bike has proven to be good for at least something.
  • 1 1
 @vinay: Agree with you on Commencal and Specialized though their success has been constant over a couple of years which is why they weren't a stand out in the way Canyon and Ohlins were. Kade is one for the future but their senior team didn't have a good year.

I'm getting Trek fanboys downvote me for my post. It just hasn't come together through injuries and bad luck, I'm not sure what people can't accept about that.
  • 1 0
 @dubod22: Ohlins has been a top leader in moto sus tech, no reason they can't shine on simpler machines
  • 1 0
 I'm scared for the riders. So gnarly.
  • 2 0
 Lol at "Graham" Mudd
  • 1 0
 He seems like such a cool dude. But man he's in for it!
  • 2 0
 @david-kooi: his name his graeme
  • 1 0
 Awesome to see some freeriders in the mix.
  • 1 1
 Would be nice if they left the line opened after the race a couple of weeks
  • 1 0
 Still missing Vinc, but finally some Freerider on the list, yeah!
  • 1 1
 WTF Yoann?? what do you use on this event? commencal has'nt CX bike lineup here wkwkwkwkwkBig Grin
  • 1 0
 @sikmik where you at son!?
  • 1 0
 brithish riders dominance?
  • 1 0
 No Szymon Godziek?...No backflip over the road gap on a 10spd? :/
  • 1 0
 Ren! Fuck yea.
  • 1 1
 *Graeme ... At least spell the names correctly!
  • 1 1
 Hard line for a world cup round
  • 1 0
 No Eddie Masters?
  • 1 0
 Bearclaw!!
  • 1 3
 Why so few riders?
Where are half the dudes participating in the Loosefest? :/
  • 1 2
 dan invites friends only. sorry gwin ????
  • 1 1
 Where's Ratboy??
  • 1 3
 Where are the Yanks?!
This would be a great race for Straight or Zink...
  • 3 6
 Saw Adam Brayton, posted this comment and closed pinkbike.
  • 2 3
 Good, now gtfoh and never come back!
  • 1 3
 Wheres the rat?
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