Five-time winner Taddy Blazusiak will return to Erzberg in 2013.

KTM’s extreme enduro specialist Taddy Blazusiak has confirmed he is returning to ride at the 2013 Erzberg Rodeo for one final shot at conquering Austria’s notorious Iron Mountain.

Blazusiak, first discovered at Erzberg in 2007 and signed by the KTM Factory Team, is a five times winner of the Erzberg Hare Scramble, the event that tops a long weekend that offers some of the world’s most challenging extreme riding.

“Taddy will return to Erzberg to tackle the Iron Mountain one more time to see if he can win for a sixth time,” said Alex Doringer, KTM factory team manager. “If he doesn’t make it, he wants to be there to shake the hand of the rider who beats him.”

Blazusiak will ride the KTM 350 EXC four-stroke machine instead of the two-strokes usually favored for the event.

KTM’s head of motorsports, Pit Beirer and KTM Motorsport legend Heinz Kinigadner both welcomed the news that Taddy will compete at Erzberg.

Blazusiak will join fellow KTM factory rider and 2012 winner Jonny Walker on the start line after a year’s absence from the iron Mountain. Taddy won the event in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 and now concentrates on the international EnduroCross competition on both sides of the Atlantic.

Blazusiak, who comes from a trials background, first rose to prominence during the 2007 Erzberg Rodeo. He was spotted by the KTM Factory Team, was offered the use of a factory bike to compete in the Hare Scramble and went on to win the event.

The Erzberg Rodeo attracts a field of 1500 for the early part of the competition and features riders from all over the world. It is the most important event on the annual Austrian motorcycle calendar.