The Olympia Rally has grown into one of Europe’s most compelling motorcycle rally raids — not because of its scale, but because of its combination of demanding navigation, varied terrain and a unique setting in the heart of the Greek Peloponnese. For the sixth time, riders from across Europe and beyond made their way to the region around ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games, to tackle six intense days of riding through forests, river valleys, mountain passes and coastal towns.
Over the years the rally has built up a loyal following. Navigation is central: riders navigate exclusively by roadbook, with GPS permitted only as a compass. The total distance of the rally is 1,350 kilometres, spread across six stages. The bivouac in Olympia served as the base for the first two and final two days, while Kalamata was home for the Marathon Stage in the middle of the week.
Day 1 – The prologue: navigation above all
The Olympia Rally 2026 got officially underway, and day one delivered exactly what was expected: a demanding opening stage, not designed to overwhelm riders, but to teach them. From the very first kilometre it was clear that this race is not only about speed — it is about making the right decisions, navigating accurately and keeping a cool head. Greek multiple enduro champion Kimon Karampelas (#52) on a Yamaha Ténéré 700 was first to finish, followed by Jacinto Vander Hoeven (#45, Belgium) on a Husqvarna FE 501 and Roman Gruber (#422, Austria) on a KTM EXC 500. On Sunday afternoon the ceremonial start took place in the city centre, where all riders were introduced to loud music, a large crowd and an explosion of colour.
Day 2 – Foloi and the Pineios: mud and concentration
Day 2 of the Olympia Rally 2026 produced one of the most demanding challenges of the event, with navigation firmly at the forefront. A total distance of 236 kilometres combined with 438 waypoints demanded constant concentration — with countless junctions and frequent changes of direction, there was little room for hesitation or error. The second half of the day was highly technical, with mud and river crossings testing the riders and even temporarily causing the course to be closed for several minutes. In the end all riders made it to the finish, covered in mud but smiling. The closing 8-kilometre river transit washed the bikes clean and brought a memorable end to a tough day. Ferdinand Kreidl (#33) on a KTM EXC 450 was first to complete the stage, followed by John Sevastopoulos (#2) on a Yamaha WR450F and David Pinvidic (#11) on a Gas Gas 350 EC.
Day 3 – The Marathon Stage: heading to Kalamata
Day 3 marked the marathon stage, as the rally headed towards Kalamata. This demanding day was split into two special sections, with a well-earned coffee break in Diavolitsi as a midway rest stop. The first section ran through Makrisia, Krestena, Smerna and Artemida, followed by the mountains of Mount Tetrazio. After the break, the second section ran alongside the main road to Kalamata via Agia Theodora. No assistance was permitted during the Marathon Stage; riders were entirely reliant on their own preparation, discipline and determination. Kimon Karampelas (#52) was the fastest of the day on his Yamaha Ténéré 700, followed by John Sevastopoulos (#2) and Ferdinand Kreidl (#33).
Day 4 – Taygetos and Mani: the most beautiful day
Day 4 brought the second part of the marathon stage, with a spectacular route around the imposing Taygetos mountain range. Departing from Kalamata, it was a shorter and more relaxed stage in which riders could enjoy the riding while managing the fatigue they had built up. The route looped across the slopes of Taygetos, combining scenic landscapes with flowing sections before finishing back in Kalamata, where the city’s beaches provided the perfect place to rest. John Sevastopoulos (#2) finished fastest on his Yamaha WR450F, followed by Kimon Karampelas (#52) and David Pinvidic (#11).
Day 5 – Return to Olympia via Ladonas and Nemouta
Day 5 marked the return from Kalamata. The route was again split into two sections. The first began with soft, flowing terrain along the Pamissos river before quickly giving way to rocky ground towards Mount Tetrazio. The second section passed through predominantly soft but challenging terrain with many damaged and broken roads. Once again Sevastopoulos was the fastest, followed by Karampelas and Pinvidic.
Day 6 – The epilogue: nothing is certain until the end
Day 6 brought the event to a close with a final day that demanded as much as ever. The first section ran through Smerna and was technical and navigation-driven in character. The second section passed through Alfiousa, where fatigue and focus had to be kept in balance right to the very last metre. With the final kilometres completed, riders crossed the finish line knowing they had survived six intense days of competitive riding across the most varied terrain Greece has to offer. The rally concluded with the official closing party and prize-giving, where achievements were celebrated, stories were shared and friendships were sealed. Sevastopoulos was again the fastest on the final day, with Karampelas and Pinvidic in second and third.
Netherlands strongly represented through Memo Tours
Dutch outfit Memo Tours once again had a notably large contingent at the start. Dennis Schans (#14) finished third in Class 1, Lodie Boelhouwer (#101) fourth, and Nico Dekker (#16) sixth in the same class. Bert Veenje (#35) claimed victory in the Legends sub-category. In the Adventure Ride, Jeanette Cox took the category win, followed by teammate Harold Clijsen. Jaap Martens and Onno Ellens also featured in the final standings, as did Jacinto Vander Hoeven (BE) representing the team. Memo Tours once again confirmed its role as one of the most important service teams from the Benelux at this event.
Final result – John Sevastopoulos wins overall
The winner of the Olympia Rally 2026 is John Sevastopoulos (#2) on a Yamaha WR450F, with Kimon Karampelas (#52) on a Yamaha Ténéré 700 in second overall, and Giannis Trigkas (#22) on a Suzuki DR-Z4 in third.
Below are the top finishers in each category, based on the final standings:
- Class 1 (up to 350cc): 1. Giannis Trigkas (GR) – Suzuki DR-Z4s – 20:16:26 / 2. David Pinvidic (FR) – Gas Gas 350 EC – 20:37:09 / 3. Dennis Schans (NL, Memo Tours Team) – Husqvarna FE 350 – 21:40:03
- Class 2 (351–450cc): 1. John Sevastopoulos (GR) – Yamaha WR450F – 19:28:58 / 2. Ferdinand Kreidl (A) – KTM EXC 450 – 20:22:30 / 3. Vladimír Oboňa (SK) – Kove 450 Rally – 21:07:21
- Class 3 (451–501cc): 1. Roman Gruber (A) – KTM EXC 500 – 21:19:38 / 2. Jimmi Christensen (DK) – KTM EXC-F 500 – 21:43:39 / 3. David Wormald (UK) – KTM 500 EXC-F – 21:59:05
- Class 4: 1. Tomica Ganzer (HR) – Husqvarna 701 Enduro – 22:27:24
- Class 5 (Adventure/Big Bike): 1. Kimon Karampelas (GR) – Yamaha Ténéré 700 – 19:49:56 / 2. Stanislaw Radzikowski (PL) – Kove 800 Rally – 21:35:33 / 3. Konstantinos Chatzimichalis (GR) – Suzuki DL V-Strom 800 – 24:08:41
- Women: 1. Tanja Kreidl (DE) – KTM EXC 350 – 22:49:46 / 2. Ida Hansen (DK) – KTM EXC 500 – 23:03:38 / 3. Zornitsa Todorova (BG) – Husqvarna FE 350 – 23:22:01
- Veterans: 1. Ferdinand Kreidl (A) – KTM EXC 450 – 20:22:30 / 2. Stuart Cryer (UK) – KTM EXC 500 – 22:45:07 / 3. Alastair Bramwell (UK) – KTM EXC 450 – 22:58:07
- Legends: 1. Bert Veenje (NL, Memo Tours Team) – KTM EXC 450 – 23:05:02
- Rookies: 1. Michael Wenning (DE) – Beta RR 390 Racing / 2. Ilias Tsaniklidis (GR) – Voge 300 Rally / 3. Ben Lyons (UK) – Husqvarna FR 450 Rally
- Rally Challenge: 1. Themistoklis Papameletiou (GR) – Honda CRF250L – 23:04:45
- Adventure: 1. Jeanette Cox (NL, Memo Tours Team) – Beta 390 RR – 26:15:04 / 2. Harold Clijsen (NL, Memo Tours Team) – KTM 690 – 26:21:50
