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2003 Red Bull Ride
Australia, January 19 - 24, 2003
Australians Dominate At World's Most Extreme Mountain Bike Contest
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Reigning 17-year-old Australian World Junior Champion Sam Hill won the 2003 Red Bull Ride from an experienced international field of 28 competitors yesterday, January 21, at Jindabyne.
The mountain-biking prodigy from Glen Forrest, WA, claimed victory in a flawless final run of the day on a specially made course that is recognised as the toughest ever created. Fellow West Australian John Waddell, 22, came second with Nathan Rennie, 22, of Kurrajong Heights, NSW, placing third.
"The wind was really strong for the big drops and it was really smoky towards the end, but I don't think the day could have gone any better," said Hill.
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Australians filled eight of the top 10 placings in the event, with Frenchman Cedric Gracia - (rated number two in the world) finishing seventh and British world no. 1 Steve Peat withdrawing due to a knee injury incurred during training.
"The Australians were taking it to a new level, really - I'm not sure why. The ground's a lot harder here, but maybe the overseas guys just don't have the overall all-round ability," said Waddell.
The precipitous kilometre-long course included a nine metre (30ft) vertical drop, a 14 metre (46ft) step down gap, rhythm jumps, a wall ride and a 'sled-saw', a giant moving seesaw on rails that's never been seen before. Highly-regarded US rider Shaums March was unable to continue after taking on the 14m gap, blowing his front tyre, buckling his wheel and snapping his bike into two pieces on landing.
"It was the most awesome time I've ever had on my bike, I was scared the whole time and it was great!" - Tyler 'Super T Klassen' (Winner Red Bull Rampage 2002).
"It was such a gnarly course that you could never expect to do it all cleanly" - John Waddell (2nd Place Red Bull Ride 2003).
Results
Qualifying Top 10 1 Nathan Rennie (Australia) 118.5 2 Jared Rando (Australia) 113.0 3 John Waddell (Australia) 109.0 4 Ben Cory (Australia) 104.0 5 Steve Marsh (Australia) 103.5 6 Cedric Gracia (France) 103.5 7 Thomas Vanderham (Canada) 102.5 8 Sean McCarroll (Australia) 98.5 9 Sam Hill (Australia) 97.5 10 Shane Wode (Australia) 96.0 Final results Best score 1 Sam Hill (Australia) 128.5 2 John Waddell (Australia) 126.5 3 Nathan Rennie (Australia) 118.5 4 Steve Marsh (Australia) 118.0 5 Jared Rando (Australia) 113.0 6 Ben Cory (Australia) 104.0 7 Cedric Gracia (France) 103.5 8 Thomas Vanderham (Canada) 102.5 9 Sean McCarroll (Australia) 102.0 10 Shane Wode (Australia) 96.0 11 Tyler Klassen (Canada) 94.0 12 Dave McLaughlin (Australia) 91.5 13 Kyle Strait (United States) 91.0 14 Justin Havukainen (Australia) 89.5 15 Dave Watson (Canada) 84.0 16 Robbie Bourdon (Canada) 80.5 17 Darren Barrecloth (Canada) 77.5 18 Gareth Dyer (Canada) 58.5 19 Richie Schley (Canada) 47.0 20 Shaums March (United States) 26.0 21 Grant Allen (Australia) 8.5 Dns Steve Peat (United Kingdom) Dns Timo Pritzel (Germany) Dns Stijn Deferm (Belgium) Dns Danny Mills (Australia) Dns Clinton Williams (New Zealand)
