The Adventure Bike categories opened their Red Bull Romaniacs Offroad campaign with a long and demanding day through the Carpathians, combining damp morning tracks, dusty afternoon conditions and a spectacular finish inside the abandoned Petrila mine.
The biggest battle came in Adventure Ultimate, where Mario Roman, Pol Tarrés and Dieter Rudolf finished the 149-kilometre stage separated by less than one minute. With three Offroad Days still to come, the fight at the front is already wide open.
Adventure Ultimate Steps Up the Difficulty
Compared with the previous edition, Offroad Day 1 was significantly harder for the Adventure Ultimate riders. The route featured more technical sections, deep ruts and rough terrain that demanded far more physical effort from competitors riding large, heavy multi-cylinder motorcycles.
The morning brought damp and slippery conditions, while the sunnier parts of the course quickly dried out and became dusty. That combination forced riders to constantly adapt their pace and line choice, especially on terrain where the weight of an Adventure bike can quickly turn a small mistake into a major problem.
Roman, Tarrés and Rudolf Separated by Less Than a Minute
After 149 kilometres, almost nothing separated the leading trio. Mario Roman, riding for CFMOTO, completed the day fastest, with Pol Tarrés close behind on his Yamaha and Dieter Rudolf taking third. The final gap between all three riders was under one minute, setting up a major battle heading into Offroad Day 2.
The Petrila Mine Adds One Final Challenge
The abandoned mine-site finish provided a difficult conclusion to an already long day. The larger motorcycles were especially hard to manoeuvre through the narrow and technical sections of the derelict industrial complex.
After hours of riding through rough terrain, competitors still had to guide their machines through tight spaces and demanding obstacles before reaching the finish. For the Adventure Ultimate riders, it was a final reminder that Red Bull Romaniacs offers very few easy kilometres.
Sam Sunderland Controls Adventure Core
Adventure Core riders covered 151 kilometres through classic Carpathian scenery. The course included several shorter but difficult sections, combined with a long day in the saddle. Sam Sunderland, winner of the Adventure Lite class in 2025, set the fastest time aboard his Triumph.
Jose Antonio Lombardia finished second, while Rene Columna completed the podium. Sunderland’s Triumph teammate, Ivan Cervantes, ended the day in fourth position.
Adrian Răduță Leads Adventure Lite
Adventure Lite received the most gradual introduction to the Offroad Days. The 149-kilometre route featured faster tracks through impressive scenery, but rocky roads required competitors to remain focused for long hours.
The most difficult section followed the edge of a lake before the riders continued towards the old mine building for the finish. Romania’s Adrian Răduță took the class victory ahead of China’s Guishu He, with Liviu Mircea Bereteu completing the podium.
A Tight Adventure Battle Is Taking Shape
Offroad Day 1 showed how quickly the Adventure Bike categories are developing. The Ultimate class delivered a three-way fight separated by less than a minute, while experienced riders such as Sam Sunderland immediately set the pace in Core.
With longer and more difficult stages still ahead, the opening results offer only the first indication of how the classifications may develop. In Adventure Ultimate especially, Mario Roman, Pol Tarrés and Dieter Rudolf have already made it clear that every second will matter.
