Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler has won the 2024 Red Bull Romaniacs, round four of the 2024 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. Taking the lead on Offroad Day 1, the KTM 300 EXC racer maintained his sizeable advantage for the remainder of the event to win by a dominant 29 minutes. The victory in Romania marks the German’s third win of the 2024 Hard Enduro season, after missing round three due to injury.
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 offroad racing in the mountains close to the home city of Sibiu, totaling close to 22 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. Ultimately placing third on the tight and technical SuperEnduro-style course meant Mani would have the unenviable task of leading out the field on Wednesday’s Offroad Day 1.
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.
Offroad Day 2 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 3, Mani continued to confidently 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 4 holding a comfortable lead of over 40 minutes.
On Saturday’s final day of racing, just 100 kilometers stood between Mani and his fifth career Red Bull Romaniacs victory. A solid third-placed finish on Offroad Day 4 was enough to ensure the German held on to his overall race lead, ultimately claiming victory by 29 minutes and 13 seconds. Confidently sailing up the iconic, final hill climb, Lettenbichler took to the top step of the Red Bull Romaniacs podium to regain his lead in the overall championship standings.
Round five of the 2024 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship heads stateside after a three-week summer break for Red Bull TKO on 22-25 August.
Manuel Lettenbichler: “That was great! 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. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Provisional Results – 2024 Red Bull Romaniacs
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 23:22:21
2. Teodor Kabakchiev (BGR), Sherco, 23:55:43 +33:22
3. Mario Roman (ESP), Sherco, 23:57:58 +35:37
4. Wade Young (RSA), GASGAS, 24:30:08 +1:07:47
5. Michael Walkner (AUT), GASGAS, 24:48:47 +1:26:26
Provisional standings - FIM Hard Enduro World Championship (after 4 of 7 rounds)
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 67 pts
2. Wade Young (RSA), GASGAS, 62 pts
3. Mario Roman (ESP), Sherco, 62 pts
4. Teodor Kabakchiev (BUL), Sherco, 57 pts
5. Mitch Brightmore (GBR), Husqvarna, 50 pts