Cycle News Staff | July 24, 2018
Great Britain’s Billy Bolt kicked off the start of the 15th addition of the Red Bull Romaniacs Hard Enduro in Sibiu, Romania, July 24, with the prologue win in the Gold class. This year’s Red Bull Romaniacs is also a round (four) of the new World Enduro Super Series (WESS) and runs through Saturday, July 28.
Bolt (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) led from start to finish, with South Africa’s Wade Young (Sherco Factory Racing) taking second and Poland’s Taddy Blazusiak (Red Bull KTM) third.
“It feels great to get a win in the bag already,” Bolt said. “I know it’s only the beginning of a very long race but it definitely offers a good sense of confidence and motivation heading into the mountains tomorrow. The race was perfect for me — I think I led it from start to finish and lapped every rider. But of course tomorrow will be a different story. With this win I can start as the third rider and then see what happens.”
Setting the fastest time in qualification, Germany’s Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) was keen to turn that speed into a winning result in the 35-rider Gold class final. However, Bolt had other ideas and immediately took control of the race lead following the Le Mans style start.
With the track heaving with competitors, the British rider kept his cool as he navigated the wacky array of obstacles with ease. Opening up an ever-increasing lead during the 15-minute final, Bolt lapped the entire field to claim the win.
Behind him however the race was anything but sedate as Young, Blazusiak, Lettenbichler and WESS series’ leader Jonny Walker (KTM – GB) all battled for the remainder of the podium positions. With a couple of laps to go, Young pulled clear to claim the runner-up result, while Blazusiak got the better of Lettenbichler on the final lap to grab third.
Walker completed the top five, with Spain’s Pol Tarres (Husqvarna) sixth. Aiming for his seventh Red Bull Romaniacs victory, Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna – GB) — the 2017 winner — got his week off to a comfortable start with seventh.
With the prologue complete, the starting order for the top three Gold class riders is reversed and will see Blazusiak lead the field out for the opening off road day, with Young second and Bolt third. The first off road day is set to be a challenging one as the competitors face a 160-kilometre ride across the Carpathian Mountains to Petrosani for the first of two overnight bivouacs.
RESULTS
Gold Class
- Billy Bolt (Husqvarna – GB) 11 laps, 17:50.377;
- Wade Young (Sherco – RSA) 10 laps, 17:56.627
- Taddy Blazusiak (KTM – POL) 17:58.377
- Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM – GER) 17:59.877
- Jonny Walker (KTM – GB) 18:17.127
- Pol Tarres (Husqvarna – ESP) 18:34.130
- Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna – GB) 18:55.377
- Paul Bolton (KTM – GB) 19:04.880
- Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna – ESP) 19:39.130
- Blake Gutzeit (Yamaha – RSA) 9 laps, 18:48.377
Click here for all the latest off-road racing news.