ATVs Return to the World’s Toughest Off-Road Race. You Won’t Believe Who To Thank

ATVs are back at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, and it's all thanks to Segway. You read that correctly.

Photo by: powersportsbusiness

By: Robbie Bacon

Jun 29, at 9:43am ET

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When the Dakar Rally officially discontinued the ATV category at the end of the 2024 event, I thought that was more or less the final nail in the coffin for ATVs. I foresaw a quick decline in popularity over the next few years, and more races dropping the category. Thankfully, not only was I wrong, but the opposite happened.

ATVs hadn't raced at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, often touted as the hardest off-road race in the world, since 2018. But thanks to Segway teaming up with Red Bull, they're back as of 2026. The new class is called the Segway Quad Challenge.

The new class kicked off this year and is part of the Iron Road Prolog. Segway sent a six-rider international team aboard Segway AT10 ATVs. Make no mistake, this isn't solely about giving back to the four-wheeled community; it's also about Segway showcasing its growing presence in the off-road market and gaining credibility.

“Erzbergrodeo represents everything that makes off-road racing special — determination, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of what’s possible,” says Gabriel Cruz, marketing director for Segway Powersports U.S. “Bringing ATVs back to this legendary event after eight years wasn’t simply about competing. It was about creating opportunity, celebrating the roots of our sport, and pushing off-road culture forward.”

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It's important to note that the class doesn't compete in the famous hard enduro race that takes place on the final day of the Erzbergrodeo. Instead, ATVs run a timed prolog on the wide mining roads and are timed individually. It appears as though it's an open class, meaning we could see plenty of different models competing over the next few years.

Although the class was made up entirely of Segway machinery this year, it doesn't look like it's exclusively for the Plano, Texas-based manufacturer. But riders on Segway quads receive a €100 discount on the entry fee, bringing the total down from €300 to €200.