NZ Enduro champion Chris Birch. Photo / Supplied
The countdown is on for the 11th edition of Red Bull Romaniacs, a five-day annual Extreme Enduro race in Sibiu, Romania. The punishing 568Km race kicks off with an inner city prologue, followed by four extremely demanding off-road days through the Southern Carpathian wilderness.
With over 350 riders from 33 nations, our New Zealand Enduro champion Chris Birch placed second overall in the 2011 edition of Red Bull Romaniacs, and has been pushing the limits with his training for his first 2014 Romaniacs race on July 16.
"For this year's Red Bull Romaniacs event I am focusing on getting plenty of bike-time in the lead up to the race. I booked riding schools in Canada and spent all of June there," comments Birch. "Part of the trip to Canada was pushing through an 800km one day challenge, it was pretty nuts!"
This years Red Bull Romaniacs is set to have the most diversified Extreme Enduro track ever. The toughest sections of the race includes "10A;" a very short, intense up and down rocky section, named after the graduation rating of climbing routes. "Doomed" has become even crueler, after adding a heavy uphill ride before a long and challenging downhill section. The "Never Ending Story" is a totally new and exposed trail, which ascends up a steep and wild ridge with a mix of steps, off-cambers, rocks and log jumping - all inclusive. Trial-techniques will be of an advantage, as this is one of the sections that will sort the sheep from the goats.
"I find the waterfall and river sections the most difficult aspect of the course. The rock in Romania is very different to what we have in New Zealand to train on," says Birch.
The most "fun" sections of the 2014 race include the "Tsuika line;" an amusing trail that ends at a woodworkers wagon, where some riders may receive a few local Romanian schnapps for their efforts. The "Black Mamba" is one of the most popular and well known sections, involving a 3km ride up a hard-rock river. The wall-ride and hill climb finish showcases a 180 degree wall ride, crossing a river and then continuing up the Gusterita hill.
"The thing I like most about Red Bull Romaniacs is the adventure. It's the escapade aspect of an Enduro competition that got me interested initially and what continues to inspire me. Every year is different at this race, with new terrain and challenges," he continues. "I do my best in the forest sections as that is what is most similar to what we have in the North Island of New Zealand. That's what I grew up riding around and what I am most comfortable with."
Chris Birch is off to Romania to compete in the Red Bull Romaniacs race. Photo / Supplied
Birch took out the New Zealand Enduro Championship again this year, after competing in six rounds across Whangamata, Wellington, Riverhead, Christchurch, Oparau and Waimiha.
"I am really happy to have won the New Zealand Enduro championship again," comments Birch. "It was a tough series this year, with some really challenging wet and muddy races that has helped with my training progression and strength building for Romaniacs. I have also been getting some advice from the New Zealand Army on ways to improve my off-bike training."
In 2013, Birch designed and built an Enduro X course in Auckland, working on his motocross skills for the larger log jumps evolving in Enduro. Chris went on to compete in the Enduro X competition at the 2013 X Games.
"Having the Enduro X experience at X Games last year and having the Enduro X track always accessable locally to train on is a big plus. I have been riding out there as much as possible, working on technique and endurance," says Birch. "During the X Games project I learnt a lot about bike set up and changed some aspects of my riding technique and style."