ASK someone on the street what the Erzbergrodeo is and they will probably just look blankly at you or think it’s a gathering of German cowboys.

Well, the Erzbergrodeo, now in its 22nd year, is widely regarded as the world’s toughest test of endurance for off-road bike riders.

Taking place at an iron mine in Austria known as the Iron Giant, it is made up of a handful of extreme events which culminate in the punishing Red Bull Hare Scramble.

Entrants have four hours to complete a gruelling 23km course made up of endless downhill and arduous uphill sections, narrow forest trails and merciless rock passages.

Few riders finish within the time limit each year, which isn’t surprising given the lengths they must go to in getting themselves and their machines to the course summit.

And Brad Williams, an 18-year-old from Cross Keys, knows just how tough it is having ridden in the race in 2015.

Riders need to pass through various checkpoints along the way and Williams had reached 15 of 22 last year when time ran out.

Williams will return to Eisenerz later this month looking to complete the main event but also go one better in the Karcher Rocket Ride.

The Rocket Ride is a straight hillclimb where the fastest to the top wins – Williams was an impressive second in the final 12 months ago.

“Last year was the first time I took part in it and a group of us went out to Austria in a double-decker bus and raised money for charity,” he said.

“It was a brilliant experience and to come second in the Karcher Rocket Ride was great considering the best riders in the world were there.

“The Red Bull Hare Scramble is one of the toughest things you can do and to get to checkpoint 15 was pretty good going, but it was exhausting.

“I drank three litres of water in the first 20 minutes and there were bits where I had to pick up my bike and carry it.

“It was 37C out there as well and it’s quite difficult to explain just how hard it is.”

He added: “I’m a lot fitter and stronger this time, and a bit taller which helps.

“I’m looking forward to it and want to come first in the Rocket Ride and complete the Hare Scramble.

“I just love it. Racing is in my blood and the adrenaline you get from it is amazing.”

To line up for the Hare Scramble, the teenager must first finish inside the top 500 of the 2,500 riders taking part in the Iron Road Prologue, the qualifier for the main event.

This year’s Erzbergrodeo runs from May 26-29.