Off Road

Manuel Lettenbichler leads on penultimate day of 2019 Red Bull Romaniacs

Posted:

Saturday, August 3rd, 2019

10:30 AM

Manuel Lettenbichler three winner. Photo: Future7Media

Germany‰Ûªs Manuel Lettenbichler takes control of the race lead on the penultimate day at Red Bull Romaniacs.

With the fight for victory at round five of the World Enduro Super Series proving hotly contested, Lettenbichler took the win on Off Road Day Three over Taddy Blazusiak and Rockstar Husqvarna Factory Racing duo Graham Jarvis and Alfredo Gomez.

The fourth day of racing in the world‰Ûªs toughest Hard Enduro Rallye saw competitors from 50 nations face another long and demanding day in the saddle. An early start for all took riders over one and a half hours from the host city Sibiu, before a 142-kilometre course weaved its way back.

At the head of the field it was Gomez who led the competitors away with Jarvis and Lettenbichler in tow. Sixth on Off Road Day Two, Blazusiak favoured the terrain more today and was quickly up to speed with the leading trio of Gomez, Lettenbichler and Jarvis, with Billy Bolt right behind him.

Competitors ready to start Off Road Day 3 - Photo: Future7Media

For the majority of the day, the riders chopped and changed position. Gomez held the lead in the closing stages with Blazusiak, Jarvis and Lettenbichler closely positioned waiting for an opportunity. That came on the day‰Ûªs final climb when Gomez came unstuck. Lettenbichler was quick to pounce and took the lead to charge ahead and win the day.

‰ÛÏMy day started really well, I passed Graham at the beginning and then caught Alfredo and the two of us rode together for most of the day," Lettenbichler said.

"There was some pretty difficult stuff today, but I didn‰Ûªt struggle with the uphills as much as the last two days so I‰Ûªm pretty happy. Toward the end of the day Alfredo really opened it up on one of the faster sections ‰ÛÒ full motocross style. I thought to myself there‰Ûªs no way I can push like that so I let him go. Luckily, I caught him again right before the last uphill and managed to get past him, so that was a really good feeling. I‰Ûªm the overall leader now so hopefully I can keep that momentum until the finish tomorrow.‰Û

Spectators line the Gold category climbs - Photo: Future7Media

Gomez crossed the finish line in second, but on corrected time it was Blazusiak who edged out Jarvis to the runner-up spot, shuffling Gomez back to fourth.

‰ÛÏThe day went good today, Billy and I set off really hard and soon caught up to Graham," Blazusiak said. "I passed Jonny and Mario along the way and pretty much kept my position till the finish. I lost a little bit of time toward the end, but I‰Ûªm stoked with second. It‰Ûªs a shame I lost so much time on the first day, but we‰Ûªll take a look at the overall now and if we‰Ûªre in with a chance I‰Ûªll push hard again tomorrow. The level of riding is so close this year so when you lose a little time it‰Ûªs so hard to get it back. Either way I‰Ûªll be trying my best tomorrow on the final day.‰Û

Spain‰Ûªs Josu Artola leads Silver class - Photo: Future7Media

Spain‰Ûªs Josu Artola continued his domination of the Silver class by claiming his third victory of the week. Artola has proved the rider to beat, despite the best efforts from his closest competitors. Now finding his form in this year‰Ûªs race, Brit Sam Winterburn once again placed second to Artola to maintain his position of second in the race. With a fourth-place result, Josef Westgarth completes the overall top three.

In Bronze, Off Road Day Three marked a win for USA‰Ûªs Eric Slominski over Poland‰Ûªs Marcin Welglarz and Romania‰Ûªs Radu Sardarescu. With another top-three ride to his credit, Welgalrz holds a three-minute lead over France‰Ûªs Jean Michel Vigand.

Anna Schmolzl aims to make history tomorrow - Photo: Future7Media

The Iron class sees Germany‰Ûªs Anna Schmolzl extend her lead in the race. While Britain‰Ûªs Tom Simpson won the day, another consistent and soild ride from Schmolzl moves her 16 minutes clear of her nearest competitor Eduardo Martinez of Mexico. If Schmolzl can go on to win, she will become the first female rider in the history of Red Bull Romaniacs to do so.

‰ÛÏIt‰Ûªs been such a good week for me so far and I had a great day today," Schmolzl said. "It was the hardest day for me today because it‰Ûªs quite slippery after the rain and there was a lot of debris on the tracks. I haven‰Ûªt won a day yet but I‰Ûªm leading the overall and hopefully I can bring it to the finish tomorrow. It would mean so much to me to win the Iron class, especially as this will be the last race for me before I have to have surgery on my knee in three weeks‰Ûª time. After that I will be off the bike for maybe half a year.‰Û

Provisional Results: Round 5 - Red Bull Romaniacs, Off Road Day 3

Gold Class
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM - GER) 6:13:00
2. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM - POL) 6:01:17
3. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna - GB) 6:06:16
4. Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna - ESP) 6:07:22
5. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna - GB) 6:07:43

6. Mario Roman (Sherco - ESP) 6:14:54
7. Jonny Walker (KTM - GB) 6:22:33
8. David Cyprian (KTM - CZ) 6:37:36
9. Pol Tarres (Husqvarna - ESP) 6:44:16
10. Josep Garcia (KTM - ESP) 7:02:52

Silver Class
1. Josu Artola (ESP) 5:52:04
2. Sam Winterburn (GB) 6:10:41
3. Charles Feyrit (FRA) 6:13:56
4. Josef Westgarth (GB) 6:15:02
5. James Jackson (GB) 6:17:08
6. Dustin McCarthy (USA) 6:19:53
7. Fabien Poirot (FRA) 6:21:53
8. Marc Wulf (GER) 6:23:08
9. Tyler Kinkade (USA) 6:28:56
10. Emmanuel Genes (ROU) 6:33:24

Bronze Class
1. Eric Slominski (USA) 5:23:49
2. Marcin Welglarz (POL) 5:25:52
3. Radu Sardarescu (ROU) 5:27:57
4. Jordi Roca (ESP) 5:28:18
5. Brent Brady (AUS) 5:29:29

Iron Class
1. Tom Simpson (GB) 4:36:55
2. Anna Schmolzl (GER) 4:38:26
3. Eduardo Martinez (MEX) 4:38:57
4. Danny Melvin (USA) 4:42:00
5. Oz Nehoray (ISR) 4:44:58

Overall Classification (After Off Road Day 3)

Gold Class
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM - GER) 16:21:55
2. Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna - ESP) 16:23:04
3. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna - GB) 16:26:01
4. Mario Roman (Sherco - ESP) 16:41:31
5. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM - POL) 16:51:57
6. Jonny Walker (KTM - GB) 17:07:12
7. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna - GB) 17:42:34
8. David Cyprian (KTM - CZ) 17:51:09
9. Pol Tarres (Husqvarna - ESP) 18:37:52
10. Josep Garcia (KTM - ESP) 19:23:07

Silver Class
1. Josu Artola (ESP) 15:15:20
2. Sam Winterburn (GB) 16:02:01
3. Josef Westgarth (GB) 16:08:02
4. Dustin McCarthy (USA) 16:26:29
5. Alberto Aramburu (ESP) 16:29:25

Bronze Class
1. Marcin Weglarz (POL) 14:28:07
2. Jean Michel Vigand (FRA) 14:31:04
3. Eric Slominski (USA) 14:37:59
4. Brent Brady (AUS) 14:47:23
5. Radu Sardarescu (ROU) 14:56:47

Iron Class
1. Anna Schmolzl (GER) 13:03:11
2. Eduardo Martinez (MEX) 13:19:49
3. Agostino Crema (ITA) 13:31:40
4. Danny Melvin (USA) 13:33:20
5. Oz Nehoray (ISR) 13:37:53