Lettenbichler Equals Record with Fifth Erzbergrodeo Crown
Manuel “Mani” Lettenbichler cemented his place among hard enduro’s greatest riders after claiming a fifth consecutive victory at the 30th edition of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, matching the all-time win record at the world’s toughest off-road motorcycle race.
Held on Austria’s legendary “Iron Giant” mountain, the milestone event attracted more than 1,500 riders from over 40 countries and drew over 57,000 spectators across the week. The demanding race once again proved why it is regarded as the ultimate test of endurance, skill and determination in off-road motorsport.
Riding for KTM Factory Racing, Lettenbichler completed the gruelling course in 3:05:39, joining hard enduro legends Graham Jarvis and Taddy Blazusiak as the only riders to win the event five times. The German star also became just the second rider in history to secure five consecutive Erzbergrodeo victories.
The race featured one of the strongest fields ever assembled, with leading competitors collectively holding nearly 50 world titles. Among those challenging for victory were Trystan Hart, Jonny Walker, Mitch Brightmore, Teodor Kabakchiev and Mario Roman.
Despite a brief early setback after a minor crash, Lettenbichler quickly regained control of the race. After chasing down early leader Mitch Brightmore, he established a decisive advantage through the notorious Carl’s Dinner section and maintained his lead for the remainder of the event.
His toughest challenge came at the 13th checkpoint when Canadian rider Trystan Hart closed the gap. However, Lettenbichler responded immediately, extending his lead and ultimately crossing the finish line more than eight minutes ahead of Hart.
“It’s crazy to win another title here. To actually deliver on the expectations and make it five in a row is something special.”
said Lettenbichler
Hart secured second place in 3:14:10, while Spain’s Mario Roman completed the podium in third. Teodor Kabakchiev finished fourth after another impressive ride on the punishing course.
The anniversary edition also marked a historic milestone for the event as electric motorcycles were allowed to compete alongside traditional combustion-powered machines for the first time. Swedish rider Eddie Karlsson showcased the potential of electric technology by finishing ninth despite losing his rear brake on the opening corner. Veteran Graham Jarvis, competing on the electric JARV-E machine he helped develop, finished tenth at the age of 52.
As always, the Iron Giant proved unforgiving. Of the 500 riders who qualified for Sunday’s main race, only 15 managed to beat the four-hour time limit. The challenging new sections added for the 30th anniversary contributed to some of the slowest finishing times in recent memory.
For Lettenbichler, experience once again proved decisive. Having first raced the mountain in 2014, he used his extensive knowledge of the terrain to navigate the brutal climbs, rocky descents and technical obstacles better than anyone else.
With five consecutive victories now to his name, Lettenbichler enters the 2027 edition with the opportunity to become the most successful rider in Red Bull Erzbergrodeo history. A sixth victory would place him alone at the top of the all-time standings and further strengthen his status as the king of the Iron Giant.
For now, the German remains the benchmark in hard enduro, and the rider every competitor must beat if they hope to conquer the world’s most demanding off-road race.
