Sandra Gomez - Pushing The Limits In Hard Enduro

Always pushing her limits, Sandra Gomez took on Red Bull Romaniacs, round four of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, finishing 25th in Silver to secure the Women’s Hard Enduro Performance Award supported by 24MX.

The Zona Paddock rider is no stranger to Hard Enduro and Red Bull Romaniacs. She first took on the world’s toughest Hard Enduro Rally way back in 2015. Since then, she’s risen to the very top, completing the demanding Gold class twice. For 2024, she set herself a new challenge in Silver. Unsure of what to expect, the experienced Spaniard gave it her all from the off.

Ending Offroad Day 1 in 36th place, she worked hard to move up the leaderboard. Placing as high as 23rd on Offroad Day 2 and 24th on Offroad Day 3, she eventually finished round four of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship 25th overall in the Silver class.

FIM HEWC: How did you prepare for the 2024 Red Bull Romaniacs, round four of the FIM HEWC? 
Sandra Gomez: “We’ve been gearing up for Red Bull Romaniacs throughout the year. For me, the start of the season was rough, I wasn’t feeling at my best. But just before Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, I began to feel strong enough to compete. I adjusted my training and made some changes, which really paid off. From Red Bull Erzbergrodeo onward, my focus was entirely on Red Bull Romaniacs, and I honestly felt great on the bike. After two years of pain, I was finally able to train long days again and get comfortable on the bike. My main goal was to prepare as much as possible, especially since I knew Red Bull Romaniacs would be a long and gruelling race. I was uncertain about the difficulty of my class, but I was well aware that the race's length would be a serious challenge. Given that it was my first race in a long time, I was a bit apprehensive, not fearful, but unsure of how I’d perform.”

What was your biggest challenge during the race? 
“The biggest challenge was the unknown. I had no real expectations because I was unfamiliar with the Silver class. Friends gave me some idea of what to expect, but navigation was particularly difficult for me during the race. The real test was whether I could handle four long days on the bike, and that uncertainty was the biggest hurdle.”

Offroad Day 1 is regarded as one of the toughest ever in Red Bull Romaniacs’ history. How was it for you? 
“Offroad Day 1 was mentally the hardest. I didn’t know what to expect from this class. I anticipated something really tough, but not quite on the level of Gold. I had to adjust my mindset. In the Gold class, you’re always aware of the challenges ahead, so you conserve energy for the rest of the race. But in Silver class, you can’t hold back. You have to go full throttle because the pace is incredibly fast. In Gold, you also ride quickly, but in the really tough sections, you slow down considerably. In Silver, it’s full gas everywhere. My biggest challenge on Offroad Day 1 was learning how to compete in this class. I had to adapt everything I knew.”

With round four of the FIM HEWC now complete, what are your plans for after the race? 
“I’m eager to take some time off because the last few months have been intense, with constant work with doctors and physical therapy. We’ve been working hard since the beginning of the year, and now that it’s mid-season, it’s time for a break!”

What other races are on your schedule for the remainder of the year?
“I want to participate in other Hard Enduro races, like 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro. It’s a race I really love. I still need to finish the FIM E-Xplorer World Cup. I’m currently in third place. I was first last year, but I’m still in the running for the win because it’s so close. I’m also planning to focus on Rally again and might return to Dakar Rally.”

Finally, is there anything you’d like to say to other women riders? 
“I’d like to add something: I think Red Bull Romaniacs is one of the best races for riders to start with. My first ever Hard Enduro race was at Red Bull Romaniacs in 2015 when I started in the Bronze class. To all the girls out there, don’t be intimidated by this race. Five days on your bike is an amazing experience. Chase your dreams, even if they seem big, because you never know where they’ll take you. I never imagined I’d finish the Gold class twice, and now when I look at my two Gold medals and one Silver, it feels surreal. So, keep believing in your dreams, work hard, and one day, you’ll reap the rewards!” 

The 2024 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship continues with round five at Red Bull TKO, United States, on August 22-25.