The latest event to fall in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic is the iconic Red Bull Erzberg Rodeo. The event regularly attracts 1,800 riders from 40 nations to compete in one of the toughest races man has ever devised. Over the four days of racing some 6,000 people including competitors and their families, staff and media gather in and around the Iron Giant which sees a further 35,000 spectators throughout the near-weeklong festival of Enduro in Eisenerz, Austria.
The weekend, which was slated for June 11-14, also serves as round three of the 2020 WESS Enduro World Championship but the Austrian government has announced that travel and gathering restrictions will most likely be in place until July. No suitable date in later 2020 was able to be found to reschedule so cancelation was the only choice.
This information follows the postponement of Extreme XL Lagares to October 2-4 and the cancellation of Trefle Lozerien AMV on May 21-23 due to COVID-19. The ISDE, which was to be held in Italy this year has also been postponed till 2021.
Winfried Kerschhaggl – WESS Enduro World Championship Series Manager: “Red Bull Erzbergrodeo is a highlight of the WESS Enduro World Championship, so this news will come as a disappointment to many. An event known the world over, it built and defined many of world’s top Enduro riders, while also providing an incredible challenge for thousands of amateur competitors. But these are unprecedented times we are currently in. Maintaining the health and safety of not only all those planning to attend, but of those who live in Eisenerz and its surrounding area is paramount. We thank Erzbergrodeo GmbH for their tireless efforts in trying to make this year’s race happen and look forward with great anticipation to what Red Bull Erzbergrodeo will bring in 2021.”
Karl Katoch – Erzbergrodeo GmbH – “Sadly, not even the great Iron Giant herself could yield the coronavirus pandemic. Confirming the cancellation of this year’s Red Bull Erzbergrodeo has been an incredibly difficult and emotional decision to make, but also the right one to take at this time. We’re living through a global pandemic and it’s not only international Enduro racing that is affected. While the current restrictions to mass gathering events ultimately prevented us from running, the health and safety of everyone is the most important thing and so racing must take second place. Since 1995 we have witnessed incredible heroics from the best riders in the world to many, many hobby riders testing themselves on the world’s toughest Enduro. We are already motivated for the second half of this year that will allow us to plan for 2021 and will create something very special indeed and for sure more historic moments in Enduro. Until then stay safe.”
