2006 Red Bull Romaniacs Hard Enduro Race Results Day Two – Dirt Rider Magazine

Veni, vidi, vici – Giovanni Sala shows his strengthDay 2: Sinaia – SibiuRed Bull Romaniacs Hard Enduro Rallye, 13.-19. August 2006An Italian triumph on the professional track trough Giovanni Sala, a spectacular hill climb with a view over Dracula’s castle and the surrender of two-time winner Cyril Despres due to a previous injury – these are the highlights of the second day at the 3rd Red Bull Romaniacs hard Enduro rallye from Sinaia to Sibiu.At seven o’clock the second leg for hobby, experts and pro class (no quad/ATV race today) started under bad weather conditions – rain and thunderstorms – on time. Despite all historical expectations, the clouds were gone right at the time when the riders entered Bran, the village in which Dracula has his castle built. By then the riders already had single trails, river sections and river crossings behind them.A hellish uphill face to face with the vampire’s entourage was waiting for the competitors in the pro class: extreme uphills on loose ground, root hairs and stones big like hands on a winding track. The first to arrive at this crucial point was last year’s winner Cyril Despres. The Frenchman took his time to refill his water backpack and to fix his GPS, which took him more than ten minutes. After some track information from organizer and track scout Martin Freinademetz, Despres made his way up the hill – not without a crash and the help of the supporters. Shortly after, countryman Michel Gau made it to this point on the leg, tried another way and vanished similarly to Despres. Veni, vidi, vici – might have been the motto of Giovanni Sala, placed third at this time of the day: With the experience and the eyes of a five-time Enduro World Champion, the Italian chose the direct way up this hill and did not have to fight with windings and broken stones. The 42-year old managed this part of the track without a crash.The South African gang – in 2006 represented by Darryl Curtis and Riaan van Niekerk – followed soon after. They had a few more problems than the others before them. The help of each other and the support of the crowd enabled the Erzberg conquerors to continue their race.At the second tank stop on the foothills of the Fagaras Mountains the Italian Sala has taken over the lead on the pro track; Michel Gou was still behind him and Alex Antor was in third. Cyril Despres had to give up the race due to heavy pains in his injured arm and there was no way of continuing the race: “My arm and shoulder had made problems the day before, today it was getting worse every minute and that’s the way it would continue.”The planned finish line for pro and experts in Sibiu was replaced with the finish of the hobby class in Scoreiu. “Heavy rainfalls in the days before the rallye made the track more challenging and slow. We did not want to leave the riders on the track until midnight, so we had to shorten today’s track,” organizer Martin Freinademetz explained.At the finish line, Giovanni Sala’s lead had grown up to 18 minutes ahead of the next rider, Michel Gau. The South African van Niekerk was even 51 minutes behind the Italian, who had taken the lead after this second leg: “The rainy start made me think of a hard leg and I am a little tired, but happy to be here. The weather changed and everything is going quite well! However, Cyril had problems with his arm. I think he has surrendered because he has given me his GPS.”In the expert class the Romanian winner team from 2005, Emanuel Gyenes/Laszlo Olah, won the leg. The French-Romanian Team Moto Verde with Romeo Dunca and Francois Vuillet was able to extend their lead in the overall standings.Standings after Day 2
Pro
1. Giovanni Sala (ITA)
2. Michel Gau (FRA)
3. Darryl Curtis (RSA)