Teodor Kabakchiev dominated the 2025 Castagn’Hard French extreme enduro in cold and harsh winter conditions – Mario Roman secures a double for Sherco with Hugo Crozet completing the podium.

While the Hard Enduro World Championship remains mired in uncertainty, with the FIM desperately searching for a promoter and iconic events such as Erzbergrodeo and Romaniacs teaming up to offer an alternative "world champion" title, national championships and independent races of course continue, keeping the spirit of the discipline alive.

The Castagn’Hard 2025 in Privas is one which ran its the second edition last weekend in the frozen hills, half way between Lyon and Montpellier in southern France.

Cold, winter weather made this a demanding event for the 325 riders who faced a course marked by snow, and in terrain that became increasingly slippery as the competition progressed.

The action began on Friday with a timed special stage completed twice to determine the starting order for the nighttime urban prologue.

This Supertest, in the center of Privas, not only served as a spectacle but also established the starting grids for Saturday. Teodor Kabakchiev was the fastest, while Mario Roman suffered a crash and finished in third but in some pain.

Sherco duo on home soil

On Saturday, the competitors faced a 2.5km-lap course with progressively more difficult sections. The harsh winter conditions made endurance and adaptability key to surviving a race lasting more than five hours on the bike.

Five hours on the course

From the start Kabakchiev set a blistering pace and took the victory in the Open category after a confident showing. “I had a good race,” declared the satisfied Bulgarian rider. “I won the Prologue, the Supertest, and the main race. The latter was tougher than expected: more than five hours on the bike with very demanding sections. The level of the French riders continues to rise. I’m very satisfied with this victory.”

Behind him, his Sherco teammate, Mario Roman, improved as his body “warmed up” to take second place, overtaking Frenchman Hugo Crozet on Beta who spearheaded a strong national entry list.

“Overall, it was a good weekend in France with the team. Since Alèstrêm, I’ve only done a few training sessions, so we decided to participate in Castagn’Hard for the first time,” said the Spaniard.

“It was a great race, I liked the sections and I love the muddy snow and tough conditions. The only negative was a heavy fall during the prologue: landing on my lower back, I compressed a nerve and struggled to finish the prologue and the first lap of the main race. Fortunately, after warming up by pushing the bike, the pain disappeared and I was able to enjoy the rest of the race,” he added about his Friday mishap.

Castagn’Hard 2025 Results:

Complete results: https://chronoconsult.fr/result/2025_castagnhard/

Photo Credit: Sherco

Video Credit: VTT Enduro