Southern Traverse

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GoLite Timberland Takes The Lead

Nicole Fairweather / 16.11.2004

Kathmandu has led since the start but has been under extreme pressure from several teams. GoLite Timberland made their break at checkpoint 15 on the Paparoa Range last night just before 10.00pm. They arrived at the checkpoint after Kathmandu, but wasted no time in leaving and getting their jump on the leaders.

At the end of the Paparoas stage, which took 19 hours to complete, GoLite Timberland was about 45 minutes ahead. They slept for two hours before setting off on their mountain bikes. Kathmandu took a nap leaving just over an hour after GoLite Timberland at 7.30am.

Sierra International began biking at 8.30am and Teams Lundhags Adventure, Outward Bound and Bridgedale Socks have all now completed the Paparoas mountain section.

Rising rivers in the region have forced another course change in a race which has been at the mercy of the West Coast elements since it started. Teams were scheduled to cross the Clarke River but after an inspection early this morning race director Geoff Hunt made the call to shift the course.

The race is now joining the main highway at Ikamatua and heading back to the original course on the Waipuna – Clarke Road en route to transition six at Gloria Vale.

Hunt was disappointed to have to make the course change but says in the interests of safety there was no option. He added it was unfortunate that the improving weather had not cleared four or five hours earlier, to give the river time to drop.

Twenty three teams of the twenty six starters are still competing, although three are unranked after failing to complete some checkpoints.

Teams House of Travel, Waitaki and Microsoft 1/E are all rejoining the race today on the mountain biking stage from transition five. The remainder of the teams are now all at various stages in the Paparoa Mountains.See All Event Posts