Mani Lettenbichler Secures Fifth Consecutive Erzbergrodeo Victory, Equals Record
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Manuel Lettenbichler won the 2026 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo for the fifth straight time, finishing nearly nine minutes ahead of second place.
- 5
- nearly 9 minutes
- 3:05:39.953
What Happened
Starting from pole position after a fourth-place finish in the qualifying Iron Road Prologue, Lettenbichler made a strong start and moved into the lead by checkpoint four. He steadily increased his pace, opening a 40-second lead by checkpoint 13 and stretching it to five minutes by checkpoint 18. At Carl's Dinner, he held a 12-minute advantage and crossed the finish line almost nine minutes ahead of his nearest rival.
“Five wins at Erzberg, I have no words! It's been an unbelievable race and I couldn't be happier. I had an alright start, but quickly got in the mix with Mitch and Trystan 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!”
Trystan Hart, also riding for KTM, delivered an outstanding ride to finish second, completing a KTM 1-2. Hart ran third through the early checkpoints, moved into second by checkpoint 11, briefly lost ground but reclaimed second after an intense battle with Mitch Brightmore. He maintained a strong pace to secure second overall.
- 1. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 3:05:39.953
- 2. Trystan Hart (CAN), KTM, 3:14:10.574
- 3. Mario Roman (ESP), Husqvarna, 3:18:10.926
- 4. Teodor Kabakchiev (BUL), Sherco, 3:22:01.999
- 5. Mitch Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 3:24:56.786
Why this matters
The victory cements Lettenbichler's status among the race's all-time greats and highlights KTM's dominance in hard enduro racing.
Terms in This Story
- Erzbergrodeo
- An annual hard enduro motorcycle race held in Eisenerz, Austria, known for its extreme terrain.
- Hare Scramble
- A type of off-road motorcycle race where riders race over a long course with multiple laps and obstacles.
- Iron Road Prologue
- A qualifying race for the Erzbergrodeo that determines starting positions for the main Hare Scramble.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.