BREAKING4 weeks ago
Max Riese Dies at 33
Max Riese died on September 15, 2026, in a cycling accident, colliding with a deer while descending at speed. He was 33.
What this means
Ultra-bikepacking loses not just a top-four Tour Divide finisher but the person who built the infrastructure connecting its scattered riders — GravGrav now continues without its founder.
A month before, Riese had climbed 26,553 metres on Salzburg's Gaisberg in roughly 37 hours — a Triple Everesting, three ascents of the mountain in one continuous effort. He placed fourth at Tour Divide in 2025 and was still racing this year, winning Hellenic Mountain Race and taking second at Silk Road Mountain Race. He also founded GravGrav, the platform that turned bikepacking's scattered following into a community. As GravGrav put it: «Although ultra-racing is an individual pursuit, Max cared deeply about the people and the community around it.»
Sources
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