BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2026 Romania: The adventure in the Carpathians has been decided
After six days of riding, around 1,500 kilometres and an exceptionally demanding route through the Romanian Carpathians, the tenth BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy has been decided. Team Germany (Fabi Fenner, Norman Pleissner, Flo Thomann) won the men’s competition with 203 points, while Team Europe (Chrissie Harcourt, Anja Filak) prevailed in the women’s competition with 200 points.
The anniversary edition went farther, higher and was more technical than ever before – across narrow forest trails, washed-out mountain paths, riverbeds and historic high-altitude routes. At the same time, it remained true to what defines the GS Trophy: a shared adventure in which team spirit, precision, endurance and mutual support matter more than outright speed.
The outcome was decided only in the final challenge. Ahead of the last day, just two points separated Team International and Team Europe in the women’s competition, while Team Germany defended an eleven-point lead over Team Europe in the men’s competition. Under maximum pressure, the eventual winners demonstrated precisely the qualities that defined this GS Trophy: trust, composure and consistent teamwork.
In the women’s final, Chrissie Harcourt from Great Britain and Anja Filak from the Netherlands rode with control and close coordination to secure victory for Team Europe. Team Germany, comprising Fabian Fenner, Norman Pleissner and Florian Thomann, crowned a consistently strong performance throughout the week with overall victory in the men’s competition.
The winners: Team Germany and Team Europe.
BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2026 Romania – Final standings.
Women’s teams:
1. Europe – 200 points
2. International – 184
3. Australia – 164
4. China – 159
5. Germany – 146
Men’s teams:
1. Germany – 203 points
2. Europe – 147
3. Ukraine – 144
4. Australia – 138
5. Japan – 135
6. Korea – 131
7. International – 128
8. China – 102
Teamwork makes the dream work.
The winners of the women’s competition, Team Europe, had not known each other before this event: one came from Wales in the United Kingdom, the other from the Netherlands. Over the course of the event, they grew together as a team and, with mutual support, overcame every obstacle on their way to victory.
Chrissie Harcourt, Team Europe: “I can hardly describe this feeling. My head is a little all over the place; everything feels a bit shaky. It will take a while for it to truly sink in. I am incredibly proud of both of us.”
Anja Filak, Team Europe: “We were certainly the smallest team in the competition. But we rode like one body, as one unit. Chrissie is amazing. She gave me a lot of advice, and I was able to follow her and make it through. I gained more confidence because I knew I could follow her and stay focused. I took everything she told me over these days very much to heart and tried to put every piece of advice into practice – and it worked!”
What made the 2026 GS Trophy special.
The tenth edition set new benchmarks: six days, around 1,500 kilometres and approximately half of the route away from paved roads. For three consecutive days, the teams spent eleven to twelve hours on the move; day three featured more than 300 kilometres, including 170 kilometres of trails. Cold temperatures, dense fog, wet camps and constantly changing terrain made recovery and personal organisation just as important as riding skill.
The most formidable challenges awaited high in the Carpathians: the eight-kilometre Metzeler Enduro Navigation Challenge on narrow single trails, the uncompromising climbs to the Strategica Mountain Road and an exposed descent along a narrow goat track. Riverbeds, deep fine gravel, wet grassy slopes and washed-out forest tracks added to the challenge. The combination of distance, technical difficulty, navigation and fatigue made Romania one of the toughest and, at the same time, most impressive GS Trophies to date.
Another defining feature was the interplay between authentic adventure and international community. Under the motto “Back to Basics”, 30 riders from 13 nations experienced Romania’s wild landscapes, historic high-altitude routes and warm hospitality. The BMW R 12 G/S proved itself as a versatile competition bike – powerful, precise and controllable on every type of terrain.
