Lettenbichler extends Hard Enduro World Ranking lead

Mani makes history on the Iron Giant

The 30th edition of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo delivered another huge chapter in hard enduro history, with Manuel Lettenbichler taking victory on the Iron Giant for the fifth consecutive time.

The Bavarian Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider secured the maximum 2,000 points, as Erzbergrodeo carried Supreme category status in the Hard Enduro World Ranking for the first time. With the win, Lettenbichler not only strengthened his lead in the ranking, but also equalled the legendary Erzberg records of Graham Jarvis and Taddy Blazusiak.

Next year, Mani will have the chance to stand alone at the top with a record-breaking sixth victory in Eisenerz.

Erzberg remains the ultimate test

The 30th Red Bull Erzbergrodeo once again showed why it is considered the most prestigious single-day hard enduro race in the world. A total of 1,125 riders took on the challenge of the Iron Giant, all hoping to prove they were tougher than the mountain itself.

Out of the 500 Main Event starters, only 15 riders managed to reach the finish line within the four-hour race limit, underlining once again just how brutal and selective Erzberg really is.

First 2,000-point win in the ranking

Because of its new Supreme category status, Erzbergrodeo awarded 2,000 points to the winner in the Hard Enduro World Ranking.

Lettenbichler made full use of that opportunity. After temporarily dropping to third place following Silver Kings in the USA, he now leads the ranking with 5,240 points, almost 1,000 points ahead of second-placed Trystan Hart.

Hart has been extremely consistent, finishing second both at Silver Kings and Erzbergrodeo, and now sits on 4,260 points. Mario Román remains third with 3,884 points, while Mitch Brightmore moved up to fourth after a strong fifth place at Erzberg and his first HEWC victory at Silver Kings.

E-bikes prove they can fight at the highest level

One of the biggest stories from Erzbergrodeo 2026 was the performance of the electric bikes.

After dominating the REMUS Rocket Ride, where Stark Future riders swept the entire podium, the electric machines also proved themselves in the Main Event. Eddie Karlsson finished the Erzbergrodeo in ninth place on his Stark Future bike, placing inside the top 10 at the world’s toughest single-day hard enduro race.

At the same time, legend Graham Jarvis brought the electric prototype of his new Jarv-E brand to the finish in 10th place.

For the first time, Erzberg clearly showed that electric bikes are not just interesting projects anymore. They are now competitive at the highest level of hard enduro.

Website updates bring more transparency

The Hard Enduro World Ranking platform has also received a series of important updates, aimed at making the ranking easier to follow and more transparent for riders, teams, organizers and fans.

The Season Ranking section now displays the total number of riders, nations and races included so far. Clicking on a rider now shows not only total points, but also the exact races, categories and results that contributed to the rider’s score.

Another important improvement is the ability to filter by nation, allowing riders to see where they stand in their own national comparison.

The Event section has also been improved. Events are now sorted chronologically by month, and clicking on an event opens more details. Users can filter races by nation, class and category, while completed races are listed at the bottom of the page.

So far, the Hard Enduro World Ranking includes 1,864 riders from 40 nations, across 16 races.

Working group moves into concrete planning

The next step for the Hard Enduro World Ranking is the creation of a dedicated working group, aimed at improving not only the website, but the ranking system and the sport as a whole.

Hard enduro is a complex sport, with riders, organizers, manufacturers, federations, sponsors and media all playing important roles. The goal of the working group is to better understand the needs of all sides and to help unlock more of the sport’s potential.

The working group will include representatives from WERA, top riders, young talents, the motorcycle industry, event organizers and motorsport federations such as FIM and AMA. The most prominent name involved is Manuel Lettenbichler.

Lettenbichler fully supports the project

Manuel Lettenbichler believes the working group can help hard enduro grow in the right direction.

“I’m 100% on board with the working group because I believe it’s a fantastic opportunity to make our sport bigger and better. We riders are already seeing a lot of positive things in the Hard Enduro World Ranking, and we can unite the global Hard Enduro scene here. We have the chance to create something truly unique together, and I think the sport needs that right now.”

Mani also pointed out the benefits for young riders and organizers, especially through national comparisons and global event visibility.

North America will also be represented by experienced hard enduro specialist Cody Webb.

“I’m very happy to be involved because I promote our sport with conviction. I’m a bit older, wiser, and more experienced now. Well, not quite like Graham, but still. I want to see the sport grow, and this task in the working group will be very interesting,” said Webb.

Romania next on the calendar

The Hard Enduro World Ranking calendar now turns its attention toward Romania, with two major events coming up.

First is Ditrocks Hard Enduro, scheduled for 16–19 July 2026, listed as a Challenger category race.

Then comes the big one: Red Bull Romaniacs, taking place from 28 July to 1 August 2026, also carrying Supreme category status.

Romaniacs mastermind Martin Freinademetz says the team is already deep into preparations for the 23rd edition of the world’s toughest hard enduro rally, with more than 25 track managers working on over 1,000 kilometres of course for nine different classes. Riders from 58 nations are expected, and all classes are fully booked.

Romaniacs will also continue expanding hard enduro toward Adventure Bike classes, while Graham Jarvis is set to take on the Gold class on his electric Jarv-E.

Hard Enduro World Ranking Top 10 after 16 races

1. Manuel Lettenbichler — GER, KTM — 5,240 points
2. Trystan Hart — CAN, KTM — 4,260 points
3. Mario Román — ESP, Husqvarna — 3,884 points
4. Mitch Brightmore — GBR, GASGAS — 3,860 points
5. Teodor Kabakchiev — BUL, Sherco — 3,680 points
6. Ashton Brightmore — GBR, GASGAS — 2,580 points
7. Ryder Leblond — USA, Husqvarna — 2,293 points
8. James Moore — RSA, Beta — 2,275 points
9. Eddie Karlsson — SWE, Stark — 2,184 points
10. Matthew Green — RSA, KTM — 1,998 points

With Erzberg now behind us, Lettenbichler has opened a clear gap at the top, electric bikes have proven they belong in the fight, and the Hard Enduro World Ranking is starting to become a bigger part of the global hard enduro picture.