Video: What Really Happened at Hardline 2023 - Pinkbike Racing S2E2

Nov 22, 2023
by Pinkbike Originals  


What Really Happened at Hardline 2023
Pinkbike Racing Season 2 Episode 2


Being a World Cup racer isn't just about racing the best of the best at the international series. Riders also cut their teeth on regional races, as well as fighting for bragging rights at their National Championships—and that's not all. For the last decade the best of the best have been invited to compete at the hardest race track in the world - Red Bull Hardline. Pinkbike Racing's Thibault Laly is one of those riders. What happens at the event that pushes downhill further than any other? And how do riders reconcile their desire to succeed with huge risks of potentially catastrophic injury?


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Business Casual Thibault has been helping the younger team riders all season. Hardline was meant to be his time to shine.

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Thibault was the first rider to send the big road gap this year.

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Heavy hitters.




Partners

We're incredibly grateful to these sponsors who have embraced this project and the goal of the team. Pinkbike Racing's 2023 partners are:

Continental - Tires
Santa Cruz - Frames
Adidas Five Ten - Shoes
Shimano - Drivetrain & brakes
DHaRCO - Custom kits
iXS - Helmets, protection, & goggles
Deity - Cockpit & saddle
Reserve - Wheels
Manitou - Suspension
Cushcore - Tire inserts
Stan's NoTubes - Sealant
Gtechniq - Bike Care Products
Outside - Support
Pinkbike Racing 2023

Photography: Jack Tennyson
Video: Sleeper Co


Posted In:
Videos Pinkbike Originals Pinkbike Racing Continental Five Ten Santa Cruz Bicycles Shimano Ben Cathro Thibault Laly Downhill Racing


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60 Comments
  • 108 0
 Hardline was such an exciting time this year, even if we didn't have the chance to race it. I am keen for next year!!!
  • 9 0
 So burly, I can't imagine how it feels to roll into those the first time.
  • 6 0
 Are you riding Tasmania Hardline in February?
  • 12 0
 @IsaacWislon82: I would love to man!!
  • 46 0
 Honestly, this was the best episode of PB racing yet in my opinion! Really got into the mindsets of the riders as they unlocked features and went through a wild week. I forget how mental hardline is, it makes the World Cup tracks look like an amateur competition haha.

Shoutout to RB for providing unfettered access (or atleast that's how it appears from this edit) and for Sleeper Co telling an amazing story as always!
  • 27 0
 Thank you, we appreciate it. And yes, can confirm that the Red Bull crew are great to work with in terms of media access to most of their events.
  • 10 0
 @brianpark: This was really, really good. Getting to see it all unfold, to really understand why the decision to cancel proved controversial... for BK at least. @Sleeper-co has been on a tear the last few years and the storytelling has become top-notch. This content is SO good it seems unreal I'm not watching it through a streaming platform like Netflix's "Drive to Survive".

We're so lucky to have such legitimately talented cinematographers creating these stories for us. Big thanks to the creatives in this sport who could probably earn more elsewhere, but do this for their passion. Squid squad, Vital, PB, Sleeper, the late Dirt Mag, Tom Caldwell, Misspent Summers, Anthill, and so many more.
  • 1 0
 @ryanandrewrogers: if the guys at Discovery knew what they are doing they would hire Sleeper.co to make a "Drive to Survive style" documentary about the DH World Cup and out it on Netflix, Amazon, etc
  • 1 1
 @danielteleman: Don't bring the people at outside on bad ideas... ^^
  • 6 0
 @ryanandrewrogers: Wow. Such kind words! The aim for this episode was to show the process of Hardline and give context to the event you see on the live stream so good that came across. The cancelling of the event was a real left turn for what I had planned for the episode, but super happy with how it all came together in the end. Thibault is a special human, so was great to tell the story through him.
  • 1 0
 @danielteleman: discovery is going to make a documentary then sell it to another network? Ok
  • 1 0
 @bgoldstone: I'm not familiar with the composition of the Big Media Giants and the relationships between them (who is with who, etc) so I don't know the avenues Discovery has to showcase the product. I was just using the Netflix- Drive to Survive as an example to follow. Finger, moon and all that
  • 51 3
 Kade the realest dude in MTB
  • 8 90
flag scott-townes (Nov 22, 2023 at 13:14) (Below Threshold)
 Sounded like a whiney lil brat to me. Kerr woulda won it no problem.
  • 10 1
 @scott-townes: you really are rather miserable on here most of the time.
But you're right some of the time.
  • 9 0
 @scott-townes: but i think Kade was just voicing the general feeling. We've all seen the consequences of these athletes hitting features in bad conditions. Yes its a seriously risky time whenever you push it and these guys and girls are certainly doing that!
You can control the way you ride but not morher nature.
  • 2 0
 @gasman1: Agreed, but not this time.
  • 1 25
flag scott-townes (Nov 23, 2023 at 10:32) (Below Threshold)
 @gasman1: He did love yelling out that "Russian Roulette" line a ton of times at every meeting, even when they weren't discussing rider's input or belittling BK's ability and risk management skills. He should be called Karen Edwards.
  • 16 0
 @scott-townes: I don't know about that, but Scott-Clowns has a good ring to it don't it?
  • 1 13
flag scott-townes (Nov 23, 2023 at 16:02) (Below Threshold)
 @gnarnaimo: meh, I'm a bit beyond childish nicknames
  • 4 0
 @scott-townes: Maybe he didn’t want to be a pallbearer at BK’s funeral.
  • 4 0
 @scott-townes: @scott-townes: You literally called Kade "Karen" one comment above this... the lack of self awareness is monumental.
  • 29 0
 Mountain biking is excellent
  • 17 1
 Party on Wayne
  • 22 0
 When the like of Kaos Seagrave and Gee Atherton are saying its not safe to ride... I gotta trust em on that one
  • 17 0
 Hats off to the shooter and editor on this. Sound design really elevated the story.
  • 20 0
 Harry Jenkinson and the sleeper.co productions are the king at it man!
  • 2 0
 Cheers dude! Was a fun one to make
  • 15 0
 Pretty rad to see this democratic process happen! Well done to all and wise choice I'd say.
  • 26 0
 It has always been like that at Redbull Hardline. It's a common decision on everything we are doing : On and off the bike. Good mood!
  • 13 0
 This is an excellent piece of journalism, organic, raw, insightful, honestly as good as anything in media these days. Cheers
  • 12 0
 Thibaut is such a likeable guy, i‘m rooting for him every race. Gutted he didn’t get the results this year!
  • 4 0
 Thank you mate!!
  • 6 0
 So good, can´t wait for next one.

Also what I really enjoy is the sportsmanship of the riders, care about safety of the others etc. in such a high level competition. Bikes are fun.

Thibault, I hope you will be able to show off on Hardline next year. Good luck to you and whole PBR!
  • 6 0
 The moment of the year for me was Bernard Kerr's practice lap in the storm POV. Probably the craziest thing I've seen so far.
  • 3 0
 The story and sound design - just, wow. The music gets you pumped - or sends a chill down your neck. That course was WILD. Can't imagine riding it in the rain. Also, can't imagine riding it when it's dry, either - it's the most elite course of its kind!
  • 2 0
 I'm so happy this series exists, it's so refreshing to see such thoughtful content within MTB media - it brings out the optimist in me that good stories will be continued to be told. Kudos to everyone involved Smile .
  • 1 0
 That was a good watch! I was gutted it was cancelled as I had tickets but I would have been more gutted if someone got hurt because they rode in those conditions! Good call on putting riders wellbeing first!
  • 1 0
 PinkBike/Sleeper collective, you're doing great work with these documentary edits. There's been a few great ones from GoPro (Goldstone) and others....Def could do a round up of these docu's
  • 2 0
 Thibault looks like and makes me think a bit about Reece Wilson: a nice smiling simple talented guy who takes it as it is.
  • 2 0
 Great, great, episode, thank you for the subtitles!
  • 6 6
 Can we just stop it with the autoplay? It's especially annoying when it's ON THE HOME PAGE. I don't want to watch this, so don't force me to.
  • 2 0
 budak UK mmg tisu ke, sikit hujan pun x ride.
  • 7 5
 How about no auto play?
  • 1 0
 bryceland with the "I'm an old scared dad" made me laugh out loud
  • 1 2
 Maybe move the event to somewhere not the world capital of rain?
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