The first-ever Hard Enduro Covasna set a new benchmark for extreme enduro racing in Romania. With a daring urban prologue in the heart of Covasna city and a brutally demanding forest route on day two, the event attracted top riders and delivered a true hard enduro experience. Fans gathered in droves to watch elite competitors fight their way through rocky climbs, deep ruts, and technical trails that pushed both body and machine to the limit.
Urban Prologue – Showdown in the Streets
The Day 1 Prologue brought enduro racing to the center of Covasna in a unique and electrifying format. Urban obstacles tested agility and balance in front of roaring spectators. Austrian rider Dieter Rudolf (X-Grip) stole the show with a clinical performance, securing first place. He was followed by Kornel Ott (GoRacing) and Jozsa Norbert Levente (Master Bike Cluj), both showing immense control and pace in the tight city layout.
Day 2 – The Real Test: Forest Enduro Marathon
Day two brought a serious challenge: a punishing 65 km forest course that saw the top three Pro riders on the pegs for nearly 4 hours. This was no casual ride — the time gaps and CP completions revealed just how grueling the terrain was.
Racing for GoRacing, Kornel brought power and finesse to both the prologue and forest stages. His ability to keep a calm head through fatigue made the difference.
“I really enjoyed the race, especially the track! This is what true hard enduro should feel like! The markings were flawless, the organizers did an amazing job — that’s why I want to congratulate them for what they gave us in the forest today!”
A talented and calculated rider, Norbert tackled the weekend with smart energy management and flawless execution. While the urban prologue was a bit of a challenge at first, his technical riding on Day 2 helped secure a solid 2nd place overall.
“Overall, I felt good. During the prologue I was a bit uncomfortable, since I haven’t ridden a SuperEnduro-style track since last year at Ditrocks — but I adapted quickly and finished third. Today, on the other hand, was a true Hard Enduro day, with around five very interesting and tough PRO loops. I didn’t make mistakes, didn’t crash — everything went well. The team from Covasna really put in the work and delivered a brilliant race!”
Dieter was the undisputed force of the weekend. Winning both the urban prologue and the main race, he demonstrated not just speed, but also sharp line choices and constant momentum. His experience showed in the steepest, most technical climbs where others hesitated — he accelerated.
“Hard Enduro Covasna was really amazing. Awesome City Prologue, on the main street in Covasna, Romaniacs style. I won the Prologue. Second day of racing had some super fresh tracks and the guys put some really hard CheckPoints in the race with perfect conditions and grip — everything being rideable. I was fighting with Norbi at the beginning and at Kitty Cat uphill — a really steep one with lots of switch-backs. Here I managed to find a good line and put a gap between us! After that I was always pushing and made the gap a little bigger. Really nice race, and for sure for the next year we’ll be more PRO riders at the start!”
Top Performers by Class – Covasna 2025
Beyond the PRO category, all other classes showcased fierce competition and personal triumphs. Here’s a breakdown of the Top 5 riders in each class, highlighting the podium finishers’ efforts.
The Expert class saw high pace and technical riding, with riders covering a tough 10 CP course.
- Raul Marian Marin – 2h 57m 24s
With surgical precision, Raul completed all 10 checkpoints and finished under 3 hours — an incredible feat that highlights his speed and experience. - Mihai Madalin Cheleca – 3h 03m 28s
Cheleca delivered a controlled, balanced ride, pushing hard where needed but avoiding costly mistakes. - David Ioan Ignat – 3h 06m 41s
A young talent on the rise, Ignat showed strong racecraft and consistency throughout. - Timo Bergmann – 3h 07m 27s
- Koppany Svela – 3h 14m 53s
Hobby Class
The Hobby class featured the most participants and an intense fight for the podium.
- Ioan Chiudea – 2h 04m 53s
Absolute domination from start to finish — Chiudea was in a league of his own. - Filip Macarie – 2h 10m 33s
Macarie kept up the pace, showing skill and efficiency in the forest sections. - Ciprian Ciocui – 2h 14m 13s
With a smooth riding style and great checkpoint transitions, Ciocui closed out the podium. - Dezso Bencze – 2h 19m 44s
- Botond Lőrincz – 2h 20m 04s
Veteran Class
The veterans impressed everyone with their stamina and calm control on rugged terrain.
- Robert Markus – 3h 48m 08s
A veteran in name but not in speed — Markus nailed every CP and was the only one to complete all 10. - Ioan Gherman – 4h 25m 08s
Solid pacing and minimal errors helped Gherman clinch second place. - Csaba Incze – 4h 56m 17s
Grit and determination got him through tough sections where many others stalled. - Eduard Radu Avramescu – 5h 35m 15s
- Dan Stelian Agapescu – 6h 09m 52s
Girls Class
In a race of endurance and courage, the women riders proved just how tough they are.
- Mihaela Isabela Ionita – 5h 13m 40s
Mihaela showed remarkable resilience, keeping a consistent rhythm across all checkpoints to secure a clear victory. - Madalina Serbanica – 5h 13m 59s
Just 19 seconds behind, Serbanica was equally impressive in pace and navigation. - Andrea Agost Barabas – 5h 14m 53s
With fewer CPs completed but admirable determination, Andrea rounded out the podium.
Hard Enduro Covasna 2025 has set a strong foundation for what promises to become a staple event on the Romanian and Eastern European hard enduro calendar.
