Utah gears up for the return of Red Bull Rampage, now with a women’s comp

Red Bull Rampage. Photo: © Brendan Fairclough // courtesy of Red Bull

VIRGIN, Utah — Red Bull Rampage, mountain biking’s premier big-mountain freeride event, returns to southwestern Utah this October with a historic expansion and challenging terrain.

“For over two decades, Red Bull Rampage redefined the boundaries of freeride while reinforcing Utah’s reputation as a premier year-round sports destination,” said Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission in a statement. “Utah Sports Commission is thrilled to not only continue the support for this unmatched extreme sports event but also to extend its commitment to include the women’s competition.”

For the first time, top female athletes will compete on Oct. 10 on a new course adjacent to the men’s venue. Their venue is the first new competition site introduced since 2018.

The men’s event follows on Oct. 12, revisiting the steep 2018/19 course that adds 150 feet of vertical drop from the start, the steepest and talles of all previous venues.

The men’s course, known for its colossal boulders and cliff drops, has produced memorable moments in past competitions. Three Utah natives are among the men’s competitors: Tyler McCaul, 35, of Toquerville; Reed Boggs, 27, from Virgin; and Ethan Nell, 27, of St. George.

A coach stated, “McCaul has been putting in time to come back to the contest stronger than ever.” McCaul has four top-5 finishes in previous Rampages.

For Boggs, Red Bull Rampage officials said, “Reed had early dreams of freeride lines. After honing his skills at indoor bike parks, he moved out west and dedicated his life to one day winning Red Bull Rampage.”

Athletes from New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, Sweden, Belgium, Australia and Spain will also compete, with 14 of the 18 men returning from previous years.

The women’s competition airs Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. MST on ESPN+, Red Bull TV, and Red Bull Bike’s YouTube channel. The men’s event broadcasts Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. MST on ESPN+. Highlights will air on ESPN2 on Oct. 27, with the women’s event at 3 p.m. MST and the men’s at 4 p.m. MST.

Spectator tickets for the event have sold out.