KIWI RIDER 08 2019 VOL.2 | Page 15

T he annual takeover of the Romanian town of Sibiu by Hard Enduro fans is really quite something to behold. Not only do thousands flock to the misty valleys, but the best enduro riders in the world come to compete in the gruelling Romaniacs. For the 16th year, Sibiu was ground zero for one of the toughest Hard Enduro’s around – Red Bull Romaniacs – where the rider to come out on top at the end of the four day event is never a certainty. Pitting each competitor against a technical Prolog on the streets of Sibiu, before four full days of racing in the Romanian hills, the ‘world’s toughest hard enduro rallye’ covers over 520 kilometres of some of toughest terrain seen in the entire World Enduro Super Series championship. Taking the coveted top spot was a newcomer to the top step of the podium – KTM rider Manuel Lettenbichler – who not only took his first win in the World Enduro Super Series but also made history in being the first child of a former winner to take out Romaniacs. His father was 2009’s winner Andreas Lettenbichler who won on the short-lived BMW G450X. “I’m over the moon right now, I really can’t believe it, an elated Lettenbichler said. “This race is really something special and to win here feels amazing. The event is so long and so hard and anything can happen so I’m so pumped to take the win.” KIWI RIDER 15