The world's best mountain bike riders will hit the ground at Maydena Bike Park this weekend for the second Red Bull Hardline in the Southern Hemisphere.
The invite-only line-up of 34 male and female mountain bikers will battle it out on some of Tasmania's toughest terrain.
Minister for Sports and Events, Nick Duigan, said the Red Bull Hardline confirmed Tasmania's status as Australia's mountain biking capital.
"We are honoured to once again be hosting the Red Bull Hardline event here on Tasmanian soil, after last year's highly successful inaugural event," Minister Duigan said.
"Elite athlete events are such a drawcard for local and interstate visitors, with 1,600 interstate and international visitors having travelled to Tasmania specifically to attend the event in 2024," Minister Duigan said.
"That's more than a 4:1 return on our investment, which is great for regional Tassie.
"The Tasmanian Government has committed to locking in the future of our iconic events as part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future. That why we're pleased to be supporting Red Bull Australia with funding of $1.4 million to deliver the event for three years through to 2026."
Minister Duigan said this event has the attention of many mountain biking fans internationally. The intense course, built by Dan Atherton, combines tricky technical downhill features with huge freeride-style jumps.
"This is one of the most challenging downhill riding contests in the world, having originated in Wales, and I have no doubt that Maydena Bike Park's steep and rugged terrain will fit the brief," Minister Duigan said.
The Red Bull Hardline runs over two days alongside the Maydena Gravity Fest, which features a range of competitive and social events.
The Red Bull Hardline main race will take place on Saturday, 8 February at Maydena Bike Park and will be livestreamed on Red Bull TV, and broadcast on Stan, ESPN and Samsung.
