Lettenbichler Dominates Off-road Day 1 at Red Bull Romaniacs 2026

The German KTM factory star was on another level today, navigating the 180km course with surgical precision. Starting from third after a narrow prologue loss, Letti took the lead before the first checkpoint and never looked back, putting nearly eight minutes into his closest rival, Teodor Kabakchiev. The course featured the brutal new LIVEmaniacs sections, which saw riders tackling near-vertical ascents and loose rock descents that pushed even the world's best to their breaking point.

With three grueling days still to go, Lettenbichler strategy of building a massive early cushion seems to be working perfectly. The Austrian Michael Walkner also surprised the field with a remarkable performance on his GASGAS, finishing the day in third place. The relentless pace and technical terrain have already begun to take their toll on the pack, with several gold class riders struggling to reach the finish within the four-hour cut-off.