When the Dakar Rally officially closed the ATV category at the end of the 2024 event, I thought it was more or less the final nail in the coffin for ATVs. I anticipate a rapid decline in popularity over the next few years and a decline in the category from more races. Thankfully, not only was I wrong, it was the opposite.
ATVs had not raced at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, often referred to as the world’s toughest off-road race, since 2018. But thanks to Segway’s teaming with Red Bull, they’re back for 2026. The new class is called Segway Quad Challenge.
The new class debuted this year and is part of Iron Road Prologue. Segway sent an international team of six riders on Segway AT10 ATVs. Make no mistake, this isn’t just about giving back to the four-wheel 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 constant exploration of what is possible,” says Gabriel Cruz, Marketing Director of Segway Powersports US.
It is important to note that this class does not compete in the famous hard enduro race that takes place on the last day of the Erzbergrodeo. Instead, ATVs run a timed prologue on wide mining roads and are individually timed. It appears as if this is an open class, which means we could see many different models competing over the next few years.
Although the class this year was made up entirely of Segway machinery, it doesn’t seem like it was exclusive to the Plano, Texas-based manufacturer. But riders on Segway quads get a €100 discount on the entry fee, reducing the total from €300 to €200.
