Latest news with #RedBullHardline
STV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- STV News
Scottish mountain biker first woman to complete tough downhill race
Scottish mountain biker Louise Ferguson has made history by becoming the only woman to complete the final course of the Red Bull Hardline in Wales. The 29-year-old from Fort William, who is based in New Zealand, became the first female rider to qualify in the history of the event, which is held in the Dyfi Valley, on Saturday. In the event's 11 years, a female rider has never completed the course – hailed as one of the toughest downhill mountain bike races in the world – in full. The run is well known due to the scale of its jumps and the challenging terrain. On Sunday, Louise made history by battling slippery conditions to complete the run, becoming the first ever rider to win the women's category in the event's history. She beat some of the world's best female riders including Vaea Verbeeck, Kirsten Van Horne, Cami Nogueira and Hannah Bergemann. Ferguson, currently ranked 14th in the world, recently won the British National Championships the week before attending Red Bull Hardline UK for the second time. She said to get through the finish line was the 'craziest feeling'. 'It doesn't feel real, to be honest'. 'I'm just taking it all in, and I'm super proud and happy with the effort. I can't explain how nervous I was at the top, so to get through to the finish line was just the craziest feeling. It was super greasy at the top – some of the guys are making it look easy, but it's not.' 'It's hard to explain how much it means to achieve this. The other girls have definitely got this and I would've loved to have come down with them. 'I know it's just a matter of time and it's going to be something I can do with them in the future. To see them at the finish means so much. The support is unreal and our community is something else. I'm just so happy.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
American Vermette victorious at Hardline Wales finals day
American Asa Vermette has won the 2025 Red Bull Hardline Wales event in Machynlleth. Vermette, who came second at Hardline Tasmania earlier this year, was competing in the Welsh event for the first time. The 18-year-old becomes the youngest rider to win the Welsh competition. The Junior World Champion clocked a time of 2:24.477, improving on his qualifying time by 4.586 seconds. "It's insane, I did exactly what I wanted to do all week," said Vermette. Shrewsbury's Charlie Hatton finished second following a stellar World Cup season, just 1.681 seconds behind the winner. Hatton said: "I'm absolutely over the moon to be honest. "The emotions here are so high. I don't think I've ever had such an adrenaline spike after finishing a ride. "A podium at Hardline is always a good Sunday." Last year's champion Ronan Dunne finished in third place despite sustaining a puncture in the top section of the seeding run. "After winning Hardline last year, I definitely wanted to do it again, but it was nice to come away with a podium," said Dunne. "Hats off to Charlie and Asa, they both ripped it." Course co-creator and Hardline pioneer Gee Atherton finished in the top 10, taking ninth place over Chilean Felipe Agurto. The 40-year-old becomes the oldest competitor in the competition's history. And mountain bike internet sensation Matt Jones had difficultly in his run, but managed to make it down the mountain and finish the course. Jones was one of the only riders in attendance who does not race World Cups regularly. He told BBC Sport Wales: "I just about completed it, I ended up crashing twice in one run, which honestly just shows how gnarly it was. "I'm particularly unfit compared to these guys who are halfway through a World Cup season, but I made it happen." Ferguson makes Hardline Wales history Scottish rider Louise Ferguson made history on Saturday by becoming the first female rider to qualify for Sunday's final of Hardline Wales. In the event's 11 years, a female rider has never completed the course in full - mainly due to the scale of the jumps and challenging terrain. On Sunday she then became the first woman to do a full finals run and complete the course. The 29-year-old won Rider of the Week, which is given to athletes who have been the most supportive and helpful on the course throughout the week of practice. "I'm just so buzzing, I love downhill but Hardline is next level," Ferguson told BBC Sport Wales. "I feel really proud, just to put a run together." Welsh-based rider Kaos Seagrave completed his run, making it to the bottom despite a crash off the final jump. Although Seagrave crossed the finishing line, he was disqualified after riding outside the course parameters during the top section of his run. "I pulled a bit off the jump," said Seagrave. "As soon as I pulled I knew it was going to go wrong. "I got disqualified at the top, but still completed the run so I'm stoked."
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
American Vermette victorious at Hardline Wales finals day
American Asa Vermette has won the 2025 Red Bull Hardline Wales event in who came second at Hardline Tasmania earlier this year, was competing in the Welsh event for the first 18-year-old becomes the youngest rider to win the Welsh competition. The Junior World Champion clocked a time of 2:24.477, improving on his qualifying time by 4.586 seconds."It's insane, I did exactly what I wanted to do all week," said Vermette. Shrewsbury's Charlie Hatton finished second following a stellar World Cup season, just 1.681 seconds behind the said: "I'm absolutely over the moon to be honest."The emotions here are so high. I don't think I've ever had such an adrenaline spike after finishing a ride."A podium at Hardline is always a good Sunday."Last year's champion Ronan Dunne finished in third place despite sustaining a puncture in the top section of the seeding run. "After winning Hardline last year, I definitely wanted to do it again, but it was nice to come away with a podium," said Dunne."Hats off to Charlie and Asa, they both ripped it."Course co-creator and Hardline pioneer Gee Atherton finished in the top 10, taking ninth place over Chilean Felipe Agurto. The 40-year-old becomes the oldest competitor in the competition's mountain bike internet sensation Matt Jones had difficultly in his run, but managed to make it down the mountain and finish the course. Jones was one of the only riders in attendance who does not race World Cups told BBC Sport Wales: "I just about completed it, I ended up crashing twice in one run, which honestly just shows how gnarly it was."I'm particularly unfit compared to these guys who are halfway through a World Cup season, but I made it happen." Ferguson makes Hardline Wales history Scottish rider Louise Ferguson made history on Saturday by becoming the first female rider to qualify for Sunday's final of Hardline the event's 11 years, a female rider has never completed the course in full - mainly due to the scale of the jumps and challenging Sunday she then became the first woman to do a full finals run and complete the course. The 29-year-old won Rider of the Week, which is given to athletes who have been the most supportive and helpful on the course throughout the week of practice."I'm just so buzzing, I love downhill but Hardline is next level," Ferguson told BBC Sport Wales."I feel really proud, just to put a run together."Welsh-based rider Kaos Seagrave completed his run, making it to the bottom despite a crash off the final jump. Although Seagrave crossed the finishing line, he was disqualified after riding outside the course parameters during the top section of his run."I pulled a bit off the jump," said Seagrave. "As soon as I pulled I knew it was going to go wrong."I got disqualified at the top, but still completed the run so I'm stoked."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ferguson reaches Hardline Wales finals to make history
Scottish mountain biker Louise Ferguson has made history by reaching Sunday's finals of Red Bull Hardline Wales. The 29-year-old from Fort William, who is based in New Zealand, became the first female rider to qualify in the history of the event, which is held in the Dyfi Valley. In the event's 11 years, a female rider has never completed the course in full - mainly due to the scale of the jumps and challenging terrain. Elite women's rider Tahnee Seagrave invites riders to compete at Hardline Wales and posted on social media that she was "so proud" to see the women giving it their all at the event and to see Ferguson complete the qualifying stage. A "super happy" Ferguson described her accomplishment as a "relief" and hopes to see more women competing with her next year, and says they are getting closer to a standalone women's race at the event. "I wasn't sure if we'd ever get to do all of the features, I really feel like we're making progress," she said "Tahnee Seagrave has put in so much effort to get us here. We've had so much support and this is finally achieving some of the goals we set." Seagrave encouraging more women to race the 'hardest downhill track' Mountain bikers bid to conquer 'deepest, darkest Wales' Seagrave targets elusive world title
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Ferguson reaches Hardline Wales finals to make history
Scottish mountain biker Louise Ferguson has made history by reaching Sunday's finals of Red Bull Hardline 29-year-old from Fort William, who is based in New Zealand, became the first female rider to qualify in the history of the event, which is held in the Dyfi the event's 11 years, a female rider has never completed the course in full - mainly due to the scale of the jumps and challenging women's rider Tahnee Seagrave invites riders to compete at Hardline Wales and posted on social media that she was "so proud" to see the women giving it their all at the event and to see Ferguson complete the qualifying stage.A "super happy" Ferguson described her accomplishment as a "relief" and hopes to see more women competing with her next year, and says they are getting closer to a standalone women's race at the event."I wasn't sure if we'd ever get to do all of the features, I really feel like we're making progress," she said"Tahnee Seagrave has put in so much effort to get us here. We've had so much support and this is finally achieving some of the goals we set."
