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 Ro
-
manian 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 vic
-
tory. 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 sail
-
ing 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!" Lettenbi
-
chler said. "I am pretty tired; the
last three days, I was struggling
quite a lot, but the last 20 kilo-
meters 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]."
Lettenbichler now leads Gas
-
Gas 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 Perfor
-
mance Award by finishing 25th
in the Silver class. Hungary's
Kornel Ott won the Silver class
just ahead of New Zealand's
Chris Birch.
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
OVERALL
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 23:22:21
2. Teodor Kabakchiev (She), 23:55:43
3. Mario Roman (She) 23:57:58
4. Wade Young (GG), 24:30:08
5. Michael Walkner (GG), 24:48:47
6. Mitch Brightmore (Hus) 27:26:49
7. Sonny Goggia (KTM) 28:57:17
8. Alfredo Gomez (Rie) 29:41:51
9. Matthew Green (KTM) 29:41:54
10. Francesco Moret (She) 30:02:34
WIND
IN THE
P62
(Left) Teodor Kabakchiev was second overall, 33 minutes back. (Right) Sandra Gomez secured the
Women's Hard Enduro Performance Award for being the top woman finisher.
