The action spectacle is back! This weekend sees the Red Bull Hardline in Tasmania, for many the most spectacular downhill race in the world. Fans argue whether the Hardline in Tasmania steals the show from the original in Wales. The fact is that the mixture of high speed (up to 80 km/h), monster jumps (up to 25 metres) and maximum technical difficulty in Tasmania makes for a particularly gnarly race. "I'm going to ride it like a World Cup race," says Jackson Goldstone during training, giving an idea of how uncompromisingly the young Canadian will approach his run.
The list of riders reads like a "who's who" of gravity sport. In addition to World Cup downhillers such as Asa Vermette, Ronan Dunne, Troy Brosnan and others, freeracers such as Theo Erlangsen, Kaos Seagrave and Edgar Briole will also be at the start. Of course, Mr Hardline Bernard Kerr will also be there, looking to finally claim his fourth Hardline victory. We are particularly excited about the race veterans: Sam Hill (now on Mondraker) and the 5-time Overall World Cup winner Aaron Gwin.
What, where, how?
- Event: Red Bull Hardline Tasmania 2026
- Date: Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 February 2026
- Location: Maydena Bike Park, Tasmania, Australia
- Difficulty level: Downhill MTB
- Format: Qualifications/Seeding and Final
Who will win?
Our tips:
- Jackson Goldstone looked as confident as the king of the world during training. Where others just "survived", the Canadian pulled a tabletop or let the tail break out for a motowhip. We say: Goldenchild wins. Chance of winning: 90%
- Ronan Dunne. The Irishman won Tasmania and Wales in 2024. This time he will give it his all. He won't let Asa Vermette or world champion and World Cup overall winner Jackson Goldstone take the butter off his bread. Chance of winning: 70 %.
- Now we should name the youngster Asa Vermette, but we're backing the old champion BK. The three-time winner of the Hardline is always so close to a fourth victory. Bernard Kerr is in form and determined. Chance of victory: 50 %.
In the women's race, Worlcupper Gracy Hemstreet will show Wales hardliner Lou Ferguson that she is the number one in Tasmania.
Starter list
Men
- Aaron Gwin
- Asa Vermette
- Kaos Seagrave
- Bernard Kerr
- Charlie Hatton
- Dan Booker
- Luke Meier-Smith
- Darcy Coutts
- Edgar Briole
- Ryan Gilchrist
- Rónán Dunne
- Théo Erlangsen
- Jackson Goldstone
- Troy Brosnan
- Sam Hill
- Brook MacDonald
- Connor Fearon
- Matteo Iniguez
- Oli Clark
>> How does it feel - Hardline? Tommy G reports
>> You could ride the Hardline with these bikes
>> You have to do these things! The list
Women
- Lou Ferguson (Queen of Hardline Wales)
- Jess Blewitt
- Gracey Hemstreet
- Mikayla Parton
- Milie Johnset (collarbone broken in training)
Hardline Hall of Fame
- Danny Hart (2014): The fast Brit wins the opening event of the Hardline in Wales.
- Ruaridh Cunningham (2015): In 2015, the Scottish DH champion wins ahead of Joe Smith and Bernard Kerr.
- Bernard Kerr (2016/19/21): Three victories earned BK the nickname: Mister Hardline.
- Craig Evans (2017): The 50:01 crew member from Sheffield proves that he has nerves of steel.
- Gee Atherton (2018): It was on his bucket list for a long time, and in 2018 it finally happened: victory!
- Jackson Goldstone (2022/2025): Sensation! First Hardline 2022 and immediately: victory with a big lead as the youngest participant. "Golden Boy" wins again in Tasmania in 2025.
- Ronan Dunne (2024): The young Irishman achieves a double victory. In the spring, Ronan wins in Tasmania ahead of Bernard Kerr and also takes victory from BK in Wales.
- Asa Vermette (2025)The Junior Worldcupper is the youngest Hardline competitor to win on his first appearance in Wales after finishing second to Jackson Goldstone in Tasmania the same year.
- Louise Ferguson (2025) achieves the first top-to-bottom run by a woman at the Hardline in Wales; the young Scottish woman is crowned Queen of Hardline.
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
