Source: KTM.

Karl Katoch, the man behind the concept of the Erzbergrodeo, and the very difficult Red Bull Hare Scramble promised at the outset that the 21st edition of this extreme hard enduro that it would be the toughest ever.

All of the five riders that made it to the finish at the bottom of Austria’s Iron Mountain will agree that he succeeded. The four riders were declared joint winners.

Some 500 starters lined up to contest the toughest one-day hard enduro on the sporting calendar and of the five finishers, four were declared joint winners in an event that was marked by high drama from start to finish.

KTM riders Jonny Walker (GBR) and Andreas Lettenbichler (GER), and Husqvarna riders Graham Jarvis (GBR) and Alfredo Gomez (ESP) rode together up onto the Red Bull winner’s arch and each took their turn in holding up the famed trophy – a piece of rock from the Iron Mountain.

Drama unfolded right from the start of the first wave of 50 riders, the fastest qualifiers from the Iron Road Prologue.

Riding alongside each other were Red Bull KTM’s five-time Hare Scramble winner, Taddy Blazusiak of Poland and his factory teammate and 2014 winner Jonny Walker.

They charged together up the steep gravel slope that launches the race and just before the summit, their bikes touched. Walker got away unscathed but Blazusiak went down and was struck on the head by the bike. He was taken to hospital with concussion.

Walker then took the lead and 27 minutes into the race had a 4 minute 27 advantage over Jarvis, Lettenbichler Gomez and Mario Roman, the only other finisher who crossed the line just 32 seconds inside the four-hour time limit.

But when riders reached the section called Carl’s Diner, a bolder strewn passage that had to be crossed twice, it was clear that this was going to be no walk in the park.

Then all four lead riders were together when they reached a new section called “Downtown” an uphill slope that finally proved to be impossible to ride.

Jarvis was the first to get stuck and very soon the other three were backed up behind him. After close consultation, they decided to pool their resources and help each other up the hill, a process that took more than an hour.

By the time they got to the top, organizers had decided to remove one of the checkpoints near the end and the four riders opted to ride together to the finish.

2015 Erzbergrodeo
Erzberg, Austria

Red Bull Hare Scramble results:
1. Alfredo Gomez
1. Jonny Walker
1. Graham Jarvis
1. Andreas Lettenbichler
2. Mario Roman Serrano