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The Turas Taking Shape

18.03.2008

Entries have been strong for Ireland’s new World Series Expedition race, the course is now finalized and the countdown to the start day on June 14th, is officially on!

Southwest Ireland has had quite strong storms blowing over its lakes and hills recently, but apart from a few fallen trees and minor flooding, the race route for the Turas is unaffected and will have completely recovered by summertime.

Course proving continues and testers have returned bandy-legged and weary from their latest outing, but with toothy grins after one of the most challenging treks they had ever done. It nearly came to blows when the one of them chose what appeared to be the faster route … and they were both swallowed by a monstrous bog hole. Take heed adventure racers, appearances are often deceiving, especially in rural Ireland where even the most solid looking ground isn’t what it seems!

Some of Ireland’s top mountain bikers have also been out on the course. Racers will be heading into completely unknown biking territory … well it was exclusive to a lone, local mountain biker. He will probably regret having revealed his secret playground in years to come and danger to teams will be a strained neck from looking sideways at the breath-taking scenery.

Hype is also building among locals who are trying to come to terms with a zip wire going across the most famous valley in Ireland. It will be up to the teams to prove to them that it IS indeed the fastest way to get from one side of the valley to the other, which they will surely do.

As money makes the world go round, and to encourage more cut-throat racing, there will be an added incentive to cross the line first on Stage 1 - a cash-in-hand bonus prize for the quickest starters.

Entries are still open but the early entries show it will be a very tough competition with some of the very best teams from France, UK, Sweden, Canada and New Zealand entered. At present the following international teams have entered.

Aberdeen Asset Management (GB)
La Fuma Sport 2000 (France)
Buff Coolmax (Spain)
Halti (Norway)
Zissou (USA)
Irish AR Green (Ireland)
Peak Adventure (Australia)
Cotswold (UK)
Lundhags Adventure (Sweden)
Cam Racers (UK)
Issy Adventure Garay (France)
Dart (USA)
Powered by Velvet (New Zealand)
Running Free (Canada)
Army (Ireland)
Irish AR Gold (Ireland)
Helly Hansen (UK)
Gaelgor (Ireland)