2024 FIM Hard Enduro Round 4 Results

Cycle News Staff | July 31, 2024

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler won the 2024 Red Bull Romaniacs, round four of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, July 23-27. After seizing the lead on Offroad day one, the KTM 300 EXC racer maintained his sizeable advantage for the remainder of the event to take the overall win by over 33 minutes. The victory marks the German’s third win of the 2024 Hard Enduro season, after missing round three due to injury.

Manuel Lettenbichler at 2024 Romaniacs — **KTM’s Manuel Lettenbichler won the Red Bull Romaniacs Hard Enduro, which put him back into the Championship points lead.**

Photos: Future7Media

Red Bull Romaniacs is widely regarded as the world’s toughest hard enduro rally, and the 2024 edition lived up to that billing. Competitors faced an intense city prologue followed by four grueling days of off-road racing in the mountains close to the home city of Sibiu, totaling over 23 hours of riding.

Kicking off his return to competition with Tuesday’s prologue, Lettenbichler made a strong start to the race, but a small mistake on the opening straight left the German playing catch-up. In placing third on the tight and technical SuperEnduro-style course, “Mani” was awarded the task of leading the field on Wednesday’s Offroad day one.

First on the road into the opening full day of racing, Mani put on a faultless showcase of hard enduro racing. Navigating his way through what many described as the toughest single day in Red Bull Romaniacs history, the reigning Hard Enduro World Champion went fastest on nine of the 11 checkpoints to clock an advantage of over 28 minutes at the finish.

Teodor Kabakchiev at 2024 Romaniacs — **Teodor Kabakchiev was second overall, 33 minutes back.**

Offroad day two marked the first half of a challenging marathon stage, where riders would part with their teams on Thursday and not reunite until Friday afternoon. Mani fought for the lead all day, swapping places with rival Teodor Kabakchiev. Despite finishing as runner-up to the Bulgarian, Lettenbichler increased his overall race lead to close to 35 minutes.

On Friday’s Offroad day three, Mani continued to control the race from the front, maintaining a good rhythm on the varied Romanian terrain while not taking any unnecessary risks. Thanks to the German’s consistency and relentless pace, he completed the day as runner-up and would enter Offroad day four holding a comfortable lead of over 40 minutes.

On Saturday’s final day of racing, just 60-plus miles stood between Mani and his fifth career Red Bull Romaniacs victory. A solid third-place finish on Offroad day four was enough to ensure the German held on to his overall race lead, ultimately claiming victory by 33 minutes and 22 seconds. Confidently sailing up the iconic, final hillclimb, Lettenbichler took to the top step of the Red Bull Romaniacs podium to regain his lead in the overall championship standings.

“That was great!” Lettenbichler said. “I am pretty tired; the last three days, I was struggling quite a lot, but the last 20 kilometers before the finish, I felt better knowing I was close. You always find that last bit of energy to push to the finish. The other guys have ridden unbelievably well all week, but I’m stoked with my riding and my fifth win in a row! Even though it’s been tough for sure, it feels good to come back from injury and go straight to the top of the podium. We have a little time now to build on my fitness and then it’s back to it at TKO [Tennessee Knockout].”

Mario Roman at 2024 Romaniacs — **Mario Roman made it a Sherco 2-3.**

Lettenbichler now leads GasGas rider Wade Young, fourth at the Romaniacs, and Sherco’s Mario Roman, who are tied for second, by just five points.

Sandra Gomez secured the Women’s Hard Enduro Performance Award by finishing 25th in the Silver class. Hungary’s Kornel Ott won the Silver class just ahead of New Zealand’s Chris Birch.

Sandra Gomez at 2024 Romaniacs — **Sandra Gomez secured the Women’s Hard Enduro Performance Award for being the top woman finisher.**

After a three-week summer break, the 2024 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship heads stateside for round five at the Red Bull Tennessee Knockout on August 23-25.CN