Freddy Matz is German Enduro Champion 2026
A Season of Highs and Lows - From Injury to German National Champion
Last weekend, Germany’s best Enduro racers lined up at Ochsenkopf to battle for the 2026 German Enduro Championship title. The format delivered a true test of racecraft and consistency: training in the morning, racing in the afternoon, and eight stages for the Elite field - one including a blown out downhill track.
Ochsenkopf added another layer to the challenge. Rocky terrain at the top, roots and flatter sections lower at the bottom. Long demanding stages created race times and conditions more reminiscent of an international Enduro event than a typical national championship.
For Freddy Matz, it was a race that demanded full commitment from start to finish.
“The race was really fun, but the stages were definitely challenging. I had never raced at Ochsenkopf before, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I had heard a few things about the trails, but I was still surprised by how rough some sections were. There were rocks everywhere, and in some places you really had to stick to a very precise line. If you didn’t, it hit hard. But it was absolutely awesome and I had a lot of fun.”
A Season That Tested His Limits
Freddy’s 2026 season has been anything but straightforward.
A new team. A new bike – twice. New partners. New goals.
After a period of intense preparation and promising early results, the momentum was stopped by injury in the middle of the season.
Getting back to race pace was one challenge. Returning to the fight for the national title was another.
“It was definitely a goal, and the fact that it actually happened is pretty overwhelming. I still can’t really process it. But it means a lot to me, because at the beginning of the year there were all these challenges with the team change and the bikes, and then the injury in the middle of the season. There were just so many little things I had to overcome before I could finally go full gas again.”
One Final Stage. One German Champion.
Coming into the final stage, the championship was still wide open.
Freddy took the title by just 1.7 seconds, finishing ahead of the lightning-fast Max Pfeil and defending champion Moritz Silberhorn.
And it all came down to the final stage.
Freddy moved from third place to the top step through a combination of speed, precision and – most importantly – consistency. While technical issues and crashes cost his closest rivals valuable time, Freddy kept his run clean and maintained his pace when it mattered most.
Consistency is key.
In Enduro racing, outright speed only gets you so far. Eight stages, changing terrain and a full day of racing leave no room for unnecessary mistakes. Freddy delivered when it counted and secured the 2026 German Enduro Championship title.
From injury to the top step of the podium – what a comeback.
Congratulations, Freddy!
Ride The Enduro High
