Ultra-endurance cycling is mourning the loss of Max Riese, the German-born, Austria-based rider who died in a cycling accident on Tuesday 15 September 2026.
Riese, 36, was born in Dresden, Germany, and lived in Elsbethen, in Salzburg’s Flachgau district. He crashed on the Roßfeld-Panoramastraße, an alpine road through the mountains near Berchtesgaden on the Austria-Germany border, not far from his home. According to police and colleagues in the ultra-endurance scene, Riese was descending at speed when he was involved in a suspected collision with a deer, an impact severe enough to destroy his bicycle. A passing motorist found him badly injured in the road and raised the alarm. Fire crews from Au and Berchtesgaden responded quickly, and a rescue helicopter was scrambled, but Riese died of his injuries at the scene.
Investigators have brought in a technical expert and are appealing for witnesses as the precise circumstances remain under investigation.
Riese was an accomplished ultra-distance racer who placed fourth in the 2025 Tour Divide, won the Hellenic Mountain Race in May 2026 and finished second at the Silk Road Mountain Race in August. His standout achievement came in August 2025, when he climbed Salzburg’s Gaisberg 95 times, covering 26,553 metres of elevation and 479.2 kilometres, to set a new Triple Everesting world record in 37 hours and 37 minutes. He beat the previous record, set just weeks earlier by Jakob Wagenhofer, by almost three hours.
Riese’s death was confirmed by GravGrav, the gravel and ultra-riding community he founded, in a statement on social media describing him as “a special soul.” The organisation added that although ultra-racing is an individual pursuit, Riese cared deeply about the people and community around it.
Tributes have poured in from across gravel and bikepacking circles, with riders and race organisers remembering his positivity and the encouragement he gave newcomers to the sport.
Gran Fondo Daily News extends its condolences to Riese’s family, friends and the wider ultra-cycling community.
Photo Credit: Max Riese
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