Rockwell Smokes the Competition at Red Bull Road Rage

Competitors begin one of many mass starts. Francois Portman

Last Saturday, Red Bull hijacked the steep, winding, narrow Tuna Canyon in Malibu, California and made history with the world’s first organized downhill road race. The invite-only competition pitted world class roadies against their off road counterparts, all battling for the title of fastest descender and to take home a piece of the $10,000 cash prize.

No one knew what to expect. Among the 24 starters, equipment choice, clothing choice and attitudes varied wildly. Brian Lopes, Eric Carter and Duncan Riffle, among others, were fully clad in body armor, riding mountain bikes on skinny tires. And a few pro mountain bikers, like Myles Rockwell, competed on standard road bikes. Then there was the group on hybrids not too unlike what your mom might ride to the supermarket.

Greg Herbold tears down one of the few flat sections of La Tuna. Ian Hylands

In the individual time trial, Myles Rockwell posted the fastest finishing time and narrowly missed Dave McCook’s top speed of the day (58 miles per hour) through Avid Brakes’ Speedtrap. Three-time world champion Brian Lopes, one of the pre-race favorites took third place in the time trial---four seconds off Rockwell’s winning time of 4:24---and seemed satisfied to call it a day.

“I don’t know if I’m fit enough right now to sprint against a bunch of roadies, and I’m a little sketched out,” Lopes said. “I’ve heard stories about some of these road guys. And I’ve done some road races; I’ve seen how crazy they go for a box of Power Bars, like it’s $10 grand or something. If I was racing against E.C., Duncan [Riffle] and Weir I wouldn’t be at all sketched out.”

As the top 16 finishers raced in four person heats, tensions ran high. In the day’s first heat, Duncan Riffle---an already accomplished pro downhill racer and only 19 years old---became the day’s first real casualty. Heading into the course’s fastest section Riffle was bumped by Scott Bike’s Todd Tanner.

Francois Portman

“We were going about 55 [miles per hour] when I felt his shoulder under my elbow,” Riffle said. “That just picked me up and slammed me down. I was sliding for what felt like a year.” While skidding across the rough asphalt, Riffle disintegrated his compression suit, burned through his gloves and was left with no choice but to use his full-face helmet as a skid pad. The wreck left Riffle with extensive road rash and tattered equipment, but he fortunately walked away without any serious injuries.

Brian Lopes rails a corner. Francois Portmann

The next few heats went by without incident until Clif Bar’s Dean Meyer crashed out in a round against former four-cross world champ Eric Carter, road sprinter Dave McCook and local road racer John Wike. Meyer’s rear tire apparently blew off the rim sending him into the embankment. Even though Meyer wore full padding, he was left with a broken collarbone. Out of that round, Carter and Wike progressed into the final heat with Rockwell and Todd Tanner.

By the final round, the remaining riders had the course’s 49 curves dialed, knowing exactly where to pass, brake and pedal. Straight from the gun, Rockwell pulled ahead and stayed there. Toward the top, Tanner and Wike both bobbled and hit the ground. Although they were unharmed and quickly jumped up and took off, they lost too much time, leaving Carter and Rockwell to battle it out to the bottom.

Rockwell, aboard a stock, five-year-old Giant TCR Team road bike, plunged down the canyon, using every inch of the road in tight corners and came across the line a few seconds ahead of Carter. And Wike out-sprinted Tanner for third place.

A victorious Myles Rockwell. Ian Hylands

Rockwell’s win was a surprise. Since an arrest in May, 2004 for maintaining “a very sophisticated” marijuana growing operation in his Durango, Colorado home, Rockwell hasn’t had much time to focus on bike racing. But the retired 2000 downhill world champ obviously still has some skills in the gravity arena.

When asked if Red Bull’s Road Rage marked the beginning of his comeback Rockwell remarked: “If they keep inviting me to quirky races like this, yeah. I’ll be glad to compete in something like this again.” According to Red Bull’s Paul Malina, “All the athletes and media were stoked to be a part of the event. All indications point to this race happening again next year.” Looks like Rockwell may get the chance to prove this win was no fluke.