The longest and the toughest race in the whole enduro calendar, the Red Bull Romaniacs 2014 has kicked off in the iconic scenery of Sibiu, central Romania. 2014 marks the 11th edition of this terribly grueling competition, by far one of the highlights in every enduro rider’s career.
Just like in the previous years, the first day of the Romaniacs brings in the fearsome prolog, an obstacle course laid out in the center of the city, comprising numerous obstacles, from the huge boulders in Carl’s Dinner at Erzberg, to similar sectors filled with big tree stumps, ramps, jumpers, teeter-totters, wall-of-death segments and pretty much any hardships an enduro rider may run into, save for mud and river crossings.
One of the really tough sectors in the 2014 Prolog was a simulated forest, with vertical beams arranged in a not-that-orderly manner, with fir tree branches attached to them and acting as a very nasty thicket. And because there was no straight path through the beams, riding at full speed between them was a very, very bad option.
However, Paul Bolton managed to win this year’s Romaniacs Prolog, for the second time consecutively. He was followed on the podium by Graham Jarvis and Johnny Walker. Jarvis is eyeing his 5th victory in the Red Bull Romaniacs this year, and the Romanian race is one of his favorite. At the same time, Walker’s recent victory at Erzberg in Austria and David Knight’s win in the English Tough One event, Jarvis is definitely going to push as hard as possible for the win in Romania.
Next, the riders will be heading for the savage Carpathian trails, where the real hardships expect them. Exceptionally tough obstacles and rough terrain, combined with blazing fast sectors will complement a lot of river crossing, with the GPS and navigation instincts making the difference between the winner and the rest. With three more days of extreme enduro ahead, make sure you keep up with the unfolding of the Red Bull Romaniacs 2014. More videos coming soon!
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