A ‘Raid in France’ Joins the World Series
Rob Howard / 13.03.2007
For the first time a French expedition race has joined at ARWorld Series. The Raid in France will take place between the 15th and 22nd of September in the Pyrenean mountains and is reserving 20 places for international teams wanting to take part in the first edition.The race will follow the traditional expedition format with mixed teams of 4 taking part over 4 to7 days on a 450km course which will include a wide range of disciplines. The organisers plan to include a variety of watersports (canoeing, rafting & hydrospeed), make use of the caving opportunities in the high Pyrenees and incorporate glacier travel in the rope skills disciplines. Navigation will play a key role in the race and GPS systems will be banned.
The race will be supported, the first ARWorld Series race in Europe to take this option, one which adds to the cost and organisational tasks of competing teams, but ensures their race is in the hands of their own support and adds to the number of participants in the event. (Each team can have 2 support crew.)
The organisers are promising the support crew will do more this time than just ‘heat the pasta’. “For the first time, the assistants will play a major role in strategy, the organisation and the team management of the participants. For the first time, a real physical and mental challenge will be offered to them, and they will be an integral part of the team. The route will remain secret until the start of the race and the itinerary preparation will be done in real time during the race.â€
The 8 organisers have been part of the successful Intersport team and have many years of experience competing around the world, including over 40 ‘Raids’ in Brazil, Corsica, 10 different Raid Gauloises, and 2 previous ARWC finals. They are led by Event Director Bruno Vinuales, a 43 year old former soldier, who has raced 6 Raid Gaulosies himself and is a successful hotelier. Bruno was observing at the World Championships in Sweden last year and has now taken the step to bring a French influence into the ARWorld Series.
