Lettenbichler Sweeps Extreme XL Lagares and Takes the Hard Enduro Championship Lead

Manuel Lettenbichler delivered a perfect weekend at Extreme XL Lagares 2026, taking victory across all three days and moving into the lead of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship after round two in Portugal.

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider came into the Portuguese classic with clear intent, and by Sunday afternoon he had completed the job: maximum points, the overall win, and control of the championship standings.

Mani Sets the Pace from Day One

Lettenbichler opened the weekend with a strong win in Friday’s Endurocode Stage, completing the 60-kilometre course more than three minutes ahead of his closest rival.

That early statement carried into Saturday’s Extreme Penafiel race, where Mani again proved to be the benchmark. Over 120 kilometres of demanding Portuguese terrain, he stretched his advantage even further, taking the win by more than eight minutes.

Sunday Brings the Real Fight

While the first two days showed Lettenbichler’s control, Sunday’s main race was a much tighter battle.

The Extreme XL Lagares main event was run over a two-hour-plus-one-lap format, and the fight at the front stayed close until the very end. Mitch Brightmore pushed hard and came within striking distance, but Mani kept his cool when it mattered most.

At the finish, Lettenbichler took the win by just 7.9 seconds, sealing a clean sweep of the weekend.

Brightmore Impresses, Kabakchiev Stays Consistent

Mitch Brightmore delivered a standout ride for X-GRIP Racing Team, finishing second and proving he had the speed to challenge Lettenbichler directly in the main race.

Teodor Kabakchiev completed the podium in third for Sherco, finishing over four minutes behind the winner, but still collecting important championship points. Mario Roman and Billy Bolt rounded out the top five after a hard Portuguese battle.

Lettenbichler Takes Championship Control

With maximum points from Portugal, Lettenbichler now leads the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship after two rounds.

He sits on 61 points, 15 clear of Teodor Kabakchiev, with Billy Bolt, Mitch Brightmore and Mario Roman close behind in the top five.

The next championship round will be Silver Kings Hard Enduro in the United States on June 18–20, but before that Lettenbichler heads to Austria to defend his crown at the legendary Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, from June 4–7.

Manuel Lettenbichler

“Full house this weekend, we’ll definitely take that! To win all three days and come away with maximum points is exactly what we were aiming for, and I’m really happy with how everything came together here in Portugal. I felt good on the bike from the start and was able to ride consistently across all the different stages, which was key with how tough and varied the terrain was. The main race was super intense, especially towards the end, but I stayed focused and pushed right to the finish. Overall, I’m really stoked with my riding this weekend and it’s a great feeling to take over the championship lead.”

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Results – 2026 Extreme XL Lagares

1. Manuel Lettenbichler, KTM – 2:24:05
2. Mitch Brightmore, GASGAS – 2:24:13, +7.9
3. Teodor Kabakchiev, Sherco – 2:28:32, +4:27.2
4. Mario Roman, Husqvarna – 2:29:24, +5:19.4
5. Billy Bolt, Husqvarna – 2:29:47, +5:41.9

Provisional Championship Standings

2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, after 2 of 8 rounds

1. Manuel Lettenbichler, KTM – 61 pts
2. Teodor Kabakchiev, Sherco – 46 pts
3. Billy Bolt, Husqvarna – 44 pts
4. Mitch Brightmore, GASGAS – 43 pts
5. Mario Roman, Husqvarna – 35 pts