The 2026 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo once again proved why it sits at the summit of hard enduro racing, and it was Manuel Lettenbichler who rose above the chaos to etch his name even deeper into history with a record-equalling fifth consecutive victory at the Iron Mountain.
In a brutal edition that tested all 500 starters across 35 kilometres of unforgiving terrain, Lettenbichler emerged from a fierce early fight at the front to take control by Checkpoint 4 and never looked back. From there, the German steadily built his advantage through the iconic sections of Carl’s Dinner, Dynamite and Lazy Noon, stretching a margin of 40 seconds by Checkpoint 13 and blowing it out to five minutes by Checkpoint 18 as the race began to break apart behind him.
At Carl’s Dinner, he already held a 12-minute buffer, and by the time he reached the finish line in 3:05:39, he was almost nine minutes clear of the field, sealing a dominant win that places him alongside legends Taddy Blazusiak and Graham Jarvis with five straight Erzbergrodeo victories.
“It’s been an unbelievable race and I couldn’t be happier,” Lettenbichler said after the finish. “I had an alright start, but quickly got in the mix with Mitch [Brightmore] and Trystan [Hart] and they were really pushing me hard. After that I felt so good on the bike and just enjoyed every section so much. It feels incredible to make it five in a row and equal the record. I am speechless!”
Behind him, Trystan Hart delivered a determined and intelligent ride to secure second place and complete a KTM 1–2 finish. Running inside the top three from the opening checkpoints, Hart climbed into second by Checkpoint 11 after a strong charge through the field, briefly slipped back during the mid-race chaos, then fought his way back past Mitch Brightmore in a tight battle for position. From there, he settled into a strong rhythm and held firm to the finish.
Hart admitted it was far from straightforward but left satisfied with a hard-earned result. “I’m happy to come away with second place at Erzberg,” Hart said. “It was a really tough race and I had to manage a few issues throughout, so it definitely wasn’t straightforward. I felt like I rode well in sections, but there were also areas where I know I can improve. That’s part of racing at an event as demanding as this. We’ll take the positives, keep working, and come back stronger next year.”
The battle for the final podium spot was equally intense, with Spanish rider Mario Roman ultimately taking third after a race-long scrap that also featured Brightmore, Teodor Kabakchiev and others before late-race attrition shuffled the order. Behind them, only 15 riders would eventually reach the finish, highlighting just how brutal the course conditions were once again.
In a race that again stripped everything back to survival, skill and endurance, Lettenbichler not only matched history but reinforced his status as the man to beat at Erzbergrodeo, while Hart’s resilient ride confirmed his place among the elite in one of motorsport’s most demanding arenas.
Final Results – Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2026:
1st – Manuel Lettenbichler (DE, KTM) – 3:05:39.953
2nd – Trystan Hart (CAN, KTM) – 3:14:10.574
3rd – Mario Roman (ESP, Husqvarna) – 3:18:10.926
4th – Teodor Kabakchiev (BG, Sherco)
5th – Mitch Brightmore (UK, GASGAS)
6th – James Moore (RSA, Beta)
7th – Michael Walkner (AUT, GASGAS)
8th – Ashton Brightmore (UK, GASGAS)
9th – Eddie Karlsson (SWE, Stark Future)
10th – Graham Jarvis (UK, Jarv-E)
11th – Lorenzo Gandola (ITA, Sherco)
12th – Toby Martyn (UK, Stark Future)
13th – Cody Webb (USA, Yamaha)
14th – Dieter Rudolf (AUT, GASGAS)
15th – Ryder LeBlond (USA, Husqvarna)
