Sea to Sky 2026 Forest Race: Teodor Kabakchiev Wins
Teodor Kabakchiev has won the Sea to Sky 2026 Forest Race, beating James Moore by just over 50 seconds in Kemer, Türkiye. Mitch Brightmore finished third after winning the Beach Race, while Ashton Brightmore secured fourth as attention turns to Saturday’s mountain finale.
The second day of Sea to Sky has changed the picture at the front of the field. Kabakchiev has demonstrated that his speed on the beach was no fluke, while Moore has stayed firmly in contention and Mitch Brightmore has backed up his opening-stage victory with another podium finish.
With the final race taking riders from the coast towards the summit of Mount Olympos, Friday’s results provide an important form guide. However, the mountain finale presents a very different challenge, meaning the Forest Race winner is not guaranteed to take the overall Sea to Sky honours.
Kabakchiev Delivers in the Forest
Kabakchiev completed the official Forest Race in 1:45:02.41, taking victory ahead of South African rider James Moore, who finished in 1:45:52.52. The margin of 50.11 seconds was enough to secure the win, but Moore remained close enough to keep the pressure on.
The Bulgarian has arrived at Sea to Sky with serious momentum following his victory at the Roof of Africa. His Forest Race win provides another demonstration of the form that has made him one of the riders to watch in the latter stages of the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.
What stands out is the way Kabakchiev has responded across different challenges. The Beach Race demanded explosive speed and the ability to attack a short, intense course. The forest required riders to maintain their pace over a longer race while managing the physical and technical demands of off-road terrain.
Kabakchiev has now shown that he can be competitive in both environments. That makes him a serious threat heading into the mountain race, although the most demanding test of the weekend is still to come.
James Moore Keeps the Pressure On
Moore was the closest challenger, finishing just over 50 seconds behind Kabakchiev. It is another strong result for the South African, who has already demonstrated his ability to win at Sea to Sky and remains a rider capable of making the difference when the terrain becomes more demanding.
The gap is significant enough to give Kabakchiev the bragging rights from Friday’s race, but it is not large enough to write Moore off for the finale. Hard enduro can change dramatically when the course becomes more technical, particularly when riders face steep climbs, awkward obstacles and sections where maintaining momentum is difficult.
My take: Moore could be one of the most interesting riders to watch tomorrow. He has finished second in the forest and has already been near the front on the beach. If he can turn that consistency into a clean, aggressive ride on the mountain, he could challenge for the headline result of the weekend.
Mitch Brightmore Completes the Podium
Mitch Brightmore finished third in 1:46:45.74, around one minute and 43 seconds behind Kabakchiev. After his Beach Race victory, the British rider remains firmly in the mix as Sea to Sky moves towards its decisive stage.
It would be easy to view third place as a step back after his opening-day win, but the bigger picture is more encouraging. Brightmore has now delivered a winning performance on the beach and a podium result in the forest, demonstrating speed across two very different formats.
That matters because tomorrow’s mountain race is unlikely to reward outright speed alone. Riders will need to combine pace with sound judgement, manage their energy and avoid mistakes that can cost valuable time on difficult terrain.
Brightmore has put himself in a position to challenge again. The question is whether he can carry his Beach Race-winning form into the most demanding test of the event.
Ashton Brightmore Gives Britain Two Riders in the Top Four
Ashton Brightmore finished fourth in 1:47:57.18, giving the British contingent another strong result. He was followed by David Cyprian in fifth, with hard enduro veteran Graham Jarvis finishing sixth.
Jarvis continues to show why experience matters in this discipline. A race such as Sea to Sky tests more than speed: riders must read the terrain, choose their lines carefully and avoid wasting energy when the course becomes difficult.
Dieter Rudolf finished seventh, Alfredo Gómez eighth, Toby Shaw ninth and Luke John Walker tenth in the official classification supplied for the Forest Race.
Sea to Sky 2026 Forest Race Results
| Position | Rider | Race time | Gap to winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teodor Kabakchiev | 1:45:02.41 | — |
| 2 | James Moore | 1:45:52.52 | +50.11 seconds |
| 3 | Mitch Brightmore | 1:46:45.74 | +1:43.33 |
| 4 | Ashton Brightmore | 1:47:57.18 | +2:54.77 |
| 5 | David Cyprian | 1:48:28.81 | +3:26.40 |
| 6 | Graham Jarvis | 1:49:29.43 | +4:27.02 |
| 7 | Dieter Rudolf | 1:50:12.14 | +5:09.73 |
| 8 | Alfredo Gómez | 1:51:02.47 | +6:00.06 |
| 9 | Toby Shaw | 1:52:10.77 | +7:08.36 |
| 10 | Luke John Walker | 1:53:48.38 | +8:45.97 |
What Does the Forest Race Mean for Tomorrow’s Mountain Finale?
The Forest Race has given us a clearer idea of who has the pace to fight at the front, but the mountain finale is a different proposition. Sea to Sky’s signature challenge takes riders from the coast towards the summit of Mount Olympos, making it a very different test from the beach event and forest stage.
That change in terrain is why I would be cautious about treating Friday’s result as a prediction of Saturday’s winner. A rider can be quick in the forest without necessarily being the strongest on the mountain. The final race will test endurance, traction, technical skill and the ability to keep moving when the course becomes increasingly demanding.
Teodor Kabakchiev: The man with the momentum
Kabakchiev has won the Forest Race and arrives at the finale with a strong result behind him. If he can maintain that rhythm on the mountain, he will be difficult to beat. His performance across the first two stages suggests he has the speed to challenge, but the final course will provide a new test.
James Moore: Close enough to challenge
Moore’s second place keeps him firmly in the conversation. He has been consistently close to the front, and a clean ride on the mountain could put him back in contention for victory. The challenge will be turning his pace into a result when the terrain becomes more punishing.
Mitch Brightmore: Can he win again?
Brightmore has already won the Beach Race and now has a Forest Race podium to his name. The mountain finale offers him an opportunity to turn that consistency into another major result. His speed is clear, but how he manages the more demanding sections will be crucial.
Ashton Brightmore is also worth watching after finishing fourth today. With both brothers showing good form, the British challenge remains one of the major stories heading into the final stage.
What About the Hard Enduro World Championship?
Sea to Sky is the penultimate round of the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, with Hixpania still to come later in October. That means tomorrow’s race matters both as the defining stage of Sea to Sky and as another opportunity to gain ground in the world championship.
Manuel Lettenbichler arrived in Türkiye as championship leader, while Kabakchiev’s Roof of Africa victory helped strengthen his position as a major contender. The precise championship impact of the Forest Race depends on the complete points classification, so it would be premature to declare the title fight decided by Friday’s result alone.
For Kabakchiev, another strong performance would build on his recent breakthrough. For the chasing riders, the mountain offers a chance to respond on the terrain that makes Sea to Sky such a distinctive event.
My Prediction for the Sea to Sky Mountain Race
Based on the results so far, Kabakchiev has to be among the favourites. He has won the forest and shown that his pace carries beyond the beach, which is an encouraging sign before the hardest test of the weekend.
However, I would not rule out Moore or Mitch Brightmore. Moore has been consistently close to the front, while Brightmore has already won one stage and now has another podium behind him. If the mountain race becomes a test of technical ability and endurance rather than outright speed, the gaps from today may count for very little.
My prediction is that Kabakchiev, Moore and Mitch Brightmore will be among the key contenders for the mountain finale. Kabakchiev has the momentum, Moore has the consistency, and Brightmore has already shown he can win at Sea to Sky. The decisive factor could be who handles the toughest sections cleanly when mistakes become costly.
Final Verdict
Teodor Kabakchiev has made the Forest Race his own, beating James Moore by just over 50 seconds, while Mitch Brightmore remains in the hunt after another podium finish. The result gives Kabakchiev momentum, but it does not settle the weekend.
Tomorrow’s mountain finale is the race that can define Sea to Sky 2026. With the terrain changing again and several riders showing strong form, the fight is still wide open — and the biggest test is still waiting.