Enduro
Down in deepest Transylvania, Red Bull Romaniacs is ready to get going
The longest, hardest round of the Hard Enduro World Championship, Red Bull Romaniacs, turns 21 and this time it’s even bigger and tougher.
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The longest race in the Hard Enduro World Championship is a test of endurance, skill and the will to win. It’s also a bucket list event for serious off-road riders. And the 2024 edition of Red Bull Romaniacs adds the new challenge of a Marathon Stage, where the riders must make their own repairs with minimal kit and resume racing the next morning.
The final challenge: a punishing hill climb
© Mihai Stetcu/Red Bull Content Pool
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What is Red Bull Romaniacs?
The brainchild of former snowboarding champion Martin Freinademetz, Red Bull Romaniacs is the longest event in the Hard Enduro World Championship. It sees riders competing for five days as they race into deepest Transylvania. It begins with the spectator-friendly Prolog – a series of timed runs around an obstacle course laid out in the beautiful medieval city of Sibiu, which hosts the event, before the riders set off for a marathon four days of riding over the jagged terrain that lurks deep in the forests, rivers and peaks of the Carpathian mountains.
I’m really excited to see what we will do this year and to ride some new terrain. It’ll be interesting what is going to come at the Limitless 2024
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Red Bull Romaniacs is a great adventure
The race goes into Transylvania, a beautiful and largely unspoilt region of Romania known as the Green Heart of Europe, although that might be lost on the riders as they try to heave their bikes out of a wet ravine. Freinademetz chose the location because it offers so many possibilities for off-road riding. He and his team spend most of the year finding new routes to ride varying in difficulty from very hard to staggeringly hard. This year's marathon stage will make it even tougher.
Riders puzzle out an obstacle at Red Bull Romaniacs
© Mihai Stetcu/Red Bull Content Pool
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What happens on the Marathon Stage?
For 2024, the Limitless edition will see the riders having to service their bikes, catch some rest before another full day’s racing. Apart from what they can carry on their bikes, the riders have access to some additional tools but there’s no outside assistance and they have to fix their own racing machine or at least find a way to get them running until they return to the service park 24 hours later.
Sonny Goggia in action at the Prolog to Red Bull Romaniacs
© Tiberiu Hila/Red Bull Content Pool
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Who are the riders to watch?
Defending world champion Manuel Lettenbichler arrives in Romania in search of his fifth victory at this event. The big German is the hot favourite, especially after his dominant victory at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo and will now looking to make up lost ground after a knee injury in training brought the longest winning streak in international motorsport to an end. Sadly 2021 champion Billy Bolt remains a spectator as he recovers from injury but he's with the riders cheering them on.
Manuel Lettenbichler: Red Bull Romaniacs
© Attila Szabo/Red Bull Content Pool
Wade Young won Red Bull Romaniacs in 2018
© Attila Szabo/Red Bull Content Pool
Jonny Walker wins the Red Bull Romaniacs Prolog
© Tiberiu Hila/Red Bull Content Pool
Michael Walkner at Red Bull Romaniacs
© Attila Szabo/Red Bull Content Pool
Graham Jarvis holds the record for wins at Red Bull Romaniacs
© Mihai Stetcu/Red Bull Content Pool
Pol Tarres in action at Red Bull Romaniacs
© Future 7 Media/Red Bull Content Pool
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What are the most exciting sections?
Cheered on by fans, the Prolog sees the riders tackling a series of obstacles laid out in the historic centre of Sibiu. It’s all against the clock and fun to watch. The riders head off-road and face two days of sections named things like Titanic, Brokeback Mountain, Mud Fight and Sniper before they reach the Kill ’Em All hill climb. The highlight of the last day is another climb up the brutal Gusterita. The top is the finish line, but in the heat, the sand will drain the last of your energy as you struggle for grip, and in the wet, you’re in for another mud bath.
It can get muddy at Red Bull Romaniacs
© Attila Szabo/Red Bull Content Pool
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What else should I look out for?
The weather! It's a key factor. Red Bull Romaniacs has taken place in everything from blistering sunshine to heavy rain, which cascades down the mountains in torrents. It makes it impossible to predict bike set-ups or the gear the riders need to wear and adds an even wilder element to the competition.
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Where can I watch Red Bull Romaniacs?
You can watch a full recap of Red Bull Romaniacs on Red Bull TV from July 31.
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