We’re saddened to share the news of the passing of accomplished ultra-endurance bikepacker Max Riese of Salzburg, Austria, who was involved in a fatal accident while riding on Tuesday. Find photos and a tribute to the passionate young cyclist here…

Austrian ultra-endurance cyclist Max Riese was a fixture in the European bikepacking community, and he seemed to have boundless energy to pour into projects, races, and rides. His bike regularly popped up in our race rig roundups from ambitious bikepacking events around the globe, from the Atlas Mountain Race to the Tour Divide and the Highland Trail 550.

Tracing the 2025 Tour Divide Eddie Clark

Winner of demanding events including the Hellenic Mountain Race, Sneak Peaks, and Further Elements, he was a powerful force and an inspiration to countless folks dipping their toes into the world of bikepacking and racing. I had a chance to meet him briefly in Germany, and his radiant positivity was unmistakable.

Tragically, only in his mid-30s, Max died in an accident earlier this week. You can find a short tribute posted on the GravGrav.cc Instagram account, where hundreds of fellow riders from all over the globe have expressed their sympathies.

Statement from GravGrav.cc

It is with extremely heavy hearts that we share the news that Max Riese passed away in a fatal accident on the 15.09.2026.

As we all know, Max is a special soul. Although ultra-racing is an individual pursuit, Max cared deeply about the people and the community around it. He leaves behind an irreplaceable space, in the larger community, for gravgrav, but mostly for his family, for Lisa, and his closest ones.

Let’s all continue riding, exploring, bringing people together, and keep connecting the community Max cared about so deeply.

Your spirit will live on in our hearts, in our ideas, and in our actions. You will be missed more than words can express.

See you around, Max 🤍

2019 Silk Road Mountain Race Finishers

Ride on, Max. Thank you for your untold contributions to the bikepacking world, both on the ground in Europe and for the many people who were moved and uplifted by your stories, talks, endeavors, and dedication to the sport.

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