2020 Season Rewind: Top 5 Rides of Iron Cowboy

By: Darci Miller

PUEBLO, Colo. – Through nine events of the Unleash The Beast schedule, there has been no shortage of rank rides and incredible moments.

The PBR’s Iron Cowboy, presented by Ariat, held in Los Angeles in February, was the second Major of the season. The progressive-elimination event featured five rounds of competition, and saw the sensational debut by rookie Cole Melancon as he squared off against “Mr. Major” Joao Ricardo Vieira, who was looking to win a record-setting fifth Major.

The PBR may be on hiatus, but you don’t have to miss out on all the action. Read on to relive the Top 5 rides, and tune into CBS Sports Network on Sunday, March 22 at noon ET to watch Iron Cowboy in its entirety.

1. Ryan Dirteater – 92.75 points on Smooth Over, Round 2

 
The Cherokee kid may have had to doctor out of Iron Cowboy after Round 3 due to multiple thoracic fractures, but he made his Round 2 ride count in a big way. Dirteater won the round with the second-highest scoring ride of his career, a huge 92.75 points on Smooth Over, and finished fifth overall in the event aggregate.

2. Joao Ricardo Vieira – 90.25 points on M.A.G.A., Round 2

 
World No. 3 Vieira is a three-time Iron Cowboy winner, and he very nearly won the event a fourth time in 2020. Though he ultimately fell just short and finished second overall, Vieira earned his third 90-point ride of the season with his 90.25-point trip aboard M.A.G.A. in Round 2.

3. Cole Melancon – 89.75 points on Spotted Demon, Round 4

 
Cole Melancon was part of the Team USA squad that won the inaugural PBR Global Cup in Edmonton, Alberta in 2017, and then turned his focus back to his rodeo career. In 2020, Melancon decided to make the leap to the PBR, and won Iron Cowboy in his premier series debut, becoming just the second rookie ever to win a PBR Major. His 89.75-point trip on Spotted Demon in Round 4 is a career-high, and he currently ranks No. 7 in the world standings and No. 1 in the Rookie of the Year race.

4. Cody Jesus – 88.5 points on Gambini, Round 1

 
Jesus has had a rough go of things since tearing his groin nearly a year ago, but he still has round-winning potential when he’s on top of his game. He won Round 1 in Los Angeles with an 88.5-point ride aboard Gambini for his first round win of the 2020 season and a sixth-place finish at the event.

T5. Eduardo Aparecido – 88.25 points on Money, Round 1

 
Aparecido, ranked No. 8 in the world standings, advanced into Round 3 of Iron Cowboy, and finished in second place in Round 1 with 88.25 points aboard Money

T5. Cole Melancon – 88.25 points on Bad Decisions, Round 2

 
Melancon followed up an 85-point ride on Let’s Play Clay in Round 1 with an 88.25-point trip on Bad Decisions in Round 2 en route to his Iron Cowboy win.

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