The Erzbergrodeo continues to be one of the craziest races going, with hundreds of riders blasting through quarries and forests. How to make it even crazier? Add a little rain. Or a lot.
That’s what the 2024 edition had in store for the finest hard enduro riders in the world, who had to deal with huge puddles in the bottom of the quarry where the start is located as well as seriously slippery conditions in the course’s many forest sections.
It is perhaps no surprise that KTM’s Mani Lettenbichler - who completed a perfect season in last year’s FIM Hard Enduro World Championship - took the victory. He didn’t start especially well, but took the lead early in the first lap, and didn’t look back. It was Lettenbichler’s 10th consecutive win in FIM Hard Enduro, and his third Erzbergrodeo win in succession, too.
“That was such a crazy race,2 Lettenbichler said after the race. “I’m so stoked to have been able to ride those incredibly gnarly sections. It’s amazing to have got my tenth win in a row and my third Erzberg win in a row. It feels amazing, it was definitely my day today and I’m super happy with this result.
“I’m honestly surprised at how confident I felt in the new sections, even when they were quite slippery and tough, but I just tried to use my head and choose the best lines to keep my speed up. Of course, I’m super excited for the rest of the season and I want to continue my winning streak.”
Lettenbichler finished in two hours and 47 minutes, and over 20 minutes ahead of second-placed Trystan Hart, also on KTM. Sherco rider Mario Roman, who lies second in the Hard Enduro standings after Erzberg, completed the podium, while the best Brit was Graham Jarvis in fourth, just missing the podium by a couple of minutes to Roman.
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