Manuel Lettenbichler claimed a record-equalling fifth victory at the 2026 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, but it was a memorable weekend for the British contingent as Mitch and Ashton Brightmore delivered standout performances on the Iron Giant.
The landmark 30th edition of the world’s toughest one-day hard enduro saw Lettenbichler take victory aboard his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine, joining hard enduro legends Taddy Blazusiak and Graham Jarvis in the exclusive five-time winners’ club.
However, Britain’s Mitch Brightmore was one of the stars of the race. The X-Grip rider ran at the sharp end from the start, taking the fight to Lettenbichler and even exchanging the lead with the German during the opening stages. Brightmore’s aggressive pace put him firmly in podium contention before the brutal terrain eventually took its toll, with the Brit securing an impressive fifth-place finish.
His younger brother Ashton also enjoyed a strong ride, bringing his bike home in eighth place to cap an excellent day for British hard enduro.
Lettenbichler’s route to victory was relatively drama-free by Erzberg standards. Starting from pole position, he avoided the chaos that has often defined previous editions and quickly established himself among the leading group alongside Brightmore and eventual runner-up Trystan Hart.
As the race unfolded through the notorious forest sections and onto Double Fault, Lettenbichler began to edge clear. By halfway he had built a lead of around five minutes and, despite suffering a mid-race crash that left him nursing a cut hand, remained firmly in control.
Behind him, Canada’s Trystan Hart and Spain’s Mario Román fought a fierce battle for the remaining podium positions. Hart eventually secured second place, finishing 8:30 behind the winner, while Román completed the podium in third.
Britain’s Jonny Walker was also in the mix during the early stages before losing ground, while hard enduro icon Graham Jarvis once again demonstrated his remarkable durability. At 51 years old, Jarvis piloted a self-developed electric motorcycle to tenth place, adding another chapter to his legendary Erzberg story.
Fellow Brit Toby Martyn also showcased the growing potential of electric machinery, finishing 12th aboard a Stark Future machine.
The 2026 event will also be remembered as a milestone for electric motorcycles. For the first time, electric bikes broke into the Erzbergrodeo top 10, with Eddie Karlsson steering his Stark Varg to ninth despite encountering brake and technical issues during the race.
In total, just 15 riders reached the finish line before the strict four-hour cut-off, underlining the relentless challenge presented by the Eisenerz quarry.
Speaking after his historic victory, Lettenbichler reflected on matching the all-time record.
Manuel Lettenbichler (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing):
“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 [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!”
With five wins now to his name, Lettenbichler has matched the achievements of Blazusiak and Jarvis — but judging by his post-race comments, the KTM rider’s attention has already turned to becoming the outright king of Erzberg.
Results
RedBullErzbergrodeo2026_kompImages courtesy of KTM
