An ultra-cyclist has died aged 36 after apparently striking a deer during a training ride.
Pro athlete Max Riese was riding along the Roßfeld Panoramic Road near Berchtesgaden, Germany, on Tuesday evening (15 September).
He is believed to have collided with a deer on a downhill section, according to initial police findings.
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The impact was so powerful that his racing bike broke apart.
A female driver called emergency services after discovering Riese seriously injured at the side of the road at around 8.10pm.
But despite the efforts of emergency responders and a rescue helicopter, he could not be saved.
Riese was originally from Saxony, Germany, but most recently lived in the Flachgau region of Salzburg, Austria.
He described himself online as a “bikepacker and ultra endurance athlete”, as reported by Need To Know.
He founded the GravGrav Collective cycling community, which described him as a “special soul”.
In May, Riese won both the overall and men’s categories at the 2026 Hellenic Mountain Race in Greece’s remote Pindus Mountains.
The 573-mile route features 91,309ft of climbing, gravel tracks, rocky trails and asphalt roads and is considered one of the toughest in Europe.
Competing for Austria, he completed the gruelling route in three days, 13 hours and five minutes.
He narrowly beat Swiss runner-up Marc Büchel by just 24 minutes.
Riese’s passion for cycling also took him to far-flung places such as the Rocky Mountains and the high mountains of Kyrgyzstan.
He is survived by his family and his partner, Lisa, who shared his passion for cycling.
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