AMERICAN VERMETTE WINS RED BULL HARDLINE
American teenager Asa Vermette mastered the course on Sunday last rider down to be crowned as the youngest ever Red Bull Hardline winner in North Wales as Louise Ferguson – after becoming the first woman to do a top-to-bottom and qualify at Red Bull Hardline UK – made history as the first to win the women’s category.
Red Bull Hardline has been a standout stop on the global mountain bike calendar since 2014 when British MTB star Dan Atherton created a private test event to the present day, where it has solidified itself as mountain biking’s most highly anticipated progressive downhill race.
“The run was probably one of the sketchiest ones that I have done all week, honestly. Felt like I was all over the place. I’m stoked. Through the bottom, I was just pumping as hard as I could through the jumps. On top of the world. It is pretty sick. The track is insane.”
After Canadian duo Jackson Goldstone and Gracey Hemstreet triumphed at the second Red Bull Hardline Tasmania edition back in February, 32 of the world’s best riders descended on the Dyfi Valley this week to try and conquer a brutal course with massive jumps, drops and technical challenges.
Over 3,000 spectators turned up to the sold-out event in changeable weather conditions to see the riders tackle features such as the infamous ‘Road Gap’ jump and spirits were high on practice day.
Eighteen-year-old Vermette from Colorado – considered one of the fastest and most exciting prospects in the sport – finished second in Tasmania and he looked calm on Friday down the compact and dry course that allowed the talented field to pick up top speeds with good grip on the ground.
Scottish star Ferguson – originally from Fort William – also made history by becoming the first female rider ever to make it to the Red Bull Hardline UK finals.
The 29-year-old added: “I feel so much pride and it’s not going to take long before there’s more of us completing the course.”
Sunday’s race day was another thrilling spectacle for fans on site or watching on Red Bull TV around the world as Ferguson got down the course in 3:44.593 to finish 18th on the day and become the first to win the women’s category in Wales.
Vermette said: “The run was probably one of the sketchiest ones that I have done all week, honestly. Felt like I was all over the place. I’m stoked. Through the bottom, I was just pumping as hard as I could through the jumps. On top of the world. It is pretty sick. The track is insane.”
