Red Bull Romaniacs winner Jonny Walker
© Jonty Edmunds/Future 7 Media
Enduro

Jonny Walker wins Red Bull Romaniacs 2014

After an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride, Jonny Walker has won Red Bull Romaniacs for the first time.
By Robert Lynn
4 min readPublished on

5 min

Red Bull Romaniacs 2014 Day Four highlights

After an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride, Jonny Walker has won Red Bull Romaniacs for the first time.

Entering day four with a slender five-minute advantage over defending champion Graham Jarvis, Jonny Walker put the hammer down early on to destroy any hopes Jarvis had of claiming his fifth win.
Getting to grips with the fast flowing trails during the morning he extended his advantage to nine minutes before the halfway service point. Pushing on he held Jarvis at bay and became the new King of the Red Bull Romaniacs.
“I’m so pumped to have got this win in the bag,” said Jonny Walker. “It’s a race that’s taken me three years to figure out. I was nervous this morning – I knew Jarvis would be charging – but I kept my head down and did what I needed to do. It’s awesome to have won.”
Reluctantly admitting defeat to Walker, Jarvis ended day four in third to place as the runner-up in the race.
“Hat’s off to Jonny – he’s rode great all week,” admitted Jarvis. “I gave it my best shot today but I just couldn’t catch him. I’m pleased with second. I gave it everything I had.”
The battle for the final step of the podium was even closer than the fight for victory. On fire all week, Wade Young had nearly 20 minutes in hand over Paul Bolton. But with Bolton refusing to yield, the Brit rode the best day of his life.
Hunting Young down, he passed him and then Jarvis to chase Walker across the line. With Bolton winning the day outright it was a nervous moment as the results were tallied up. Luckily, Young had him covered by just four minutes and bagged his first Red Bull Romaniacs podium.
“I can hardly describe how happy I am right now,” confirmed Young. “I came here hoping for top five, to come away with third is just incredible. I prepared hard for this race and it’s paid off.”
With Bolton taking fourth, Andreas Lettenbichler completed the top five.  
Ireland's own David McNulty and Mick O’Leary

Ireland's own David McNulty and Mick O’Leary

© Jonty Edmunds/Future 7 Media

Boys in green hooked on Romaniacs

While the Gold Class grabbed the limelight, for some completing the Red Bull Romaniacs was a victory in itself. Venturing to Romania for the first time, the boys in green David McNulty and Mick O’Leary became the first Irish riders to finish the race.
Competing in Silver Single, the race was a rollercoaster of emotions for McNulty: “After watching the race for years I finally made it here. Silver Class was even harder than I expected – I’ve ridden trails I never imagined possible, but reaching the finish was magic. I’ll be back.”
Riding Bronze Single Class, O’Leary already has plans to return in 2015. “It’s been an adventure of a lifetime. The race has delivered more than I thought it would. It’s Enduro paradise. If you ever get the chance to come here, do it but get in line because I’ll be first on the list to come back in 2015!”
Stephan Hoeltz and Ralph Medele

Stephan Hoeltz and Ralph Medele

© Joe Figl

Just what the doctor ordered...

Name: Dr. Stephan Hoeltz Occupation: Doctor (Orthopedist) Age: 51 City: Munich Country: Germany
I used to be the race-doctor at Red Bull Romaniacs but I love Enduro and wanted to experience the race as a competitor.
Last year I competed in the Hobby Class but could not make it to the finish. This year my fellow doctor and friend Ralph Medele and I switched to Iron Class.
From the past editions I knew that Red Bull Romaniacs is really well organised but it's a really tough competition. It's no picnic when you're on the bike four days with more than eight hours and more than 100km every day.
The Iron Class tracks are rideable for me as an experienced endurist, but the tracks are pretty challenging with endless singletrails, uphills and sometimes really steep downhills. And you get wet with all those river crossings.
A good physical preparation is essential. Some training in advance and proper nutrition are a good recipe.
So that’s the 2014 Red Bull Romaniacs done and dusted. There’s been a changing of the guard and for the next 12 months Jonny Walker is the new King of Transylvania.

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