Graham Jarvis wins the Red Bull Sea to Sky

The first edition of the spectacular Red Bull Sea to Sky Extreme Enduro in Kemer at the beautiful Turkish coast has been completed in optimal racing conditions. After most riders took a very strategic approach and decided to preserve energy and material on Saturday in the Beach and Forest races, which were used to determine the starting order for Sunday’s main race. It was “all or nothing” on Sunday and manifested in heated battles between the leading competitors with a high rate of drop-outs. Only 12 riders managed to see the finishing arc at the top of Mount Olympos and visit the god Zeus’ popular hangout. Sunday’s Olympos Mountain Race was a true extreme Enduro delicacy, which took the riders to their very limits, going from sea level to the top of the Olympos mountain. The excited comments of Birch, Jarvis, Lettenbichler and many others about the perfect setup, the well-distributed levels of difficulty and riding fun confirm the success for the organisers.

It wasn’t a walk in the park – or as Martin “Frejn” Freinademetz put it: “No Kinderfasching”. Jonny Walker took the lead from the start and fought as if there was no tomorrow. That did not save him from having Husaberg’s Graham Jarvis snatch the top of the podium from him in the second half of the race but he certainly consolidated his place among the world-elite of Extreme Enduro riders. Jarvis’ strategy to avoid unnecessary risks on Saturday and decide the race in the extreme sections above the tree line on Sunday had worked out perfectly. He rode like a surgeon and did not allow any doubt about his “Number One” position in the Extreme Enduro. Birch came in third. After his victory on Saturday, Birch had to go through a fierce battle with Husaberg’s Xavi Galindo to take third place on the podium. Galindo was in top form and after his impressive top-ten placement on Saturday, after riding with a flat tyre, he had another exceptional race on Sunday, finishing fourth. He missed out on the podium by a heart-beat after Birch passed him just 200m in front of the finish line due to a small lack of concentration. He wasn’t happy.

Jarvis: “I am unbelievably happy and excited to be the first winner of this new race event, which has a great future! But Jonny made me work for it, as he was flying up the mountain and I had difficulties keeping up with him in the fast sections. And even in the extreme obstacles it was not easy to pass him!”

With the tough track set out the organisers say it was natural that only about 15% of the competitors made it to the top of the mountain. Those who arrived within the maximum riding time were awarded with a Red Bull Sea to Sky Gold medal. Those competitors that were able to make it all the way up to the tree line at an elevation of about 1700m were awarded with a silver medal, and those competitors that made it through the river section and the first sections of the forest at about 600m received a bronze medal at Sunday evening’s rider beach party.

Overall Results

1. Graham Jarvis (Husaberg)
2. Jonny Walker (KTM)
3. Chris Birch (KTM)
4. Xavier Galindo (Husaberg)
5. Melcior Faja (KTM)
6. Riaan van Niekerk (Husaberg)
7. Darryl Curtis (Husaberg)