Red Bull Hardline Tasmania 2026: redesigned track raises stakes as seeding sets the tone

Red Bull Hardline Tasmania is back at Maydena Bike Park this weekend with a faster, reworked downhill course and a start list built to test the limits of modern racing. The main event is scheduled for Sunday, February 8, 2026, but the story entering finals is already clear: the track has been redesigned, the speeds are up, and seeding runs showed two familiar names at the top.

Men’s seeding was led by Asa Vermette, while Gracey Hemstreet topped the women’s timed session—both laying down decisive early markers on a course that punishes hesitation.

When the 2026 racing starts in ET

Racing is scheduled for Sunday afternoon local time in Tasmania, which translates to a late-night window in the United States.

The official live broadcast window is set to begin at 10:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 7, with racing running roughly through midnight ET depending on weather holds and program timing. Because this event is built around a single high-stakes finals run, any delay for wind or track conditions can shift the exact finish time.

A bigger, faster Hardline course for 2026

Hardline’s identity is simple: bring World Cup-level downhill racing to a course with oversized features—big drops, massive jumps, and technical sections that require absolute commitment. For 2026, the Tasmanian track has been redesigned again, with organizers describing it as longer and more intense than prior editions at this venue.

The practical impact is what riders have been saying all week: higher speed into critical features, less margin for error in transition zones, and more consequences if you arrive even slightly offline. It’s also the kind of setup that can reward riders who stay light on the brakes and clean in the air—while punishing anyone who loses rhythm in the mid-course technical sectors.

Seeding leaders: Vermette and Hemstreet strike first

Saturday’s seeding runs offered the best early read on who has the pace—and who can keep it together under pressure. Vermette’s run set the benchmark in the men’s field, while Hemstreet led the women’s timed session with a clear gap back to second.

Top seeding times

Seeding is not a title, but at Hardline it often functions like a warning: if you can string together a nearly mistake-free lap once, you can probably do it again—assuming the pressure and track evolution don’t bite back.

The contenders and the crash factor

Hardline’s start list typically mixes the sport’s most complete downhill racers with riders who excel when jumps get bigger and the line choices get bolder. That blend is what makes the finals so volatile: a rider can be “up” on splits, then lose everything on one feature.

This year’s field includes multiple riders known for late-season peaks and high-speed composure, along with several who can win if they’re willing to risk it. Seeding suggested a tight battle behind the leaders, and the gap from second through fifth in the men’s session was close enough that a single cleaner corner or smoother landing can reshuffle the podium.

Just as important: the course will change under tires. Braking bumps deepen, ruts sharpen, and takeoff lips can feel different late in the day. The best finals runs usually come from riders who manage risk like a dial—pushing where it’s safe, staying controlled where it isn’t.

What to watch in finals

Three things tend to decide Hardline Tasmania:

• Entry speed into the biggest features: Riders who carry speed smoothly often gain time without looking dramatic.

• Mid-course precision: The fastest riders don’t “survive” the technical sections—they look calm inside them.

• Commitment under pressure: Finals are one run. A small hesitation can cost seconds, and one mistake can end the day.

With Vermette and Hemstreet leading seeding, the pressure shifts to everyone else to find time—and to the leaders to prove they can repeat their best run when it counts.

Sources consulted: Red Bull, Maydena Bike Park, Pinkbike, BikeRadar