Reunion d’Aventures
To the Top of the Island
David Ogden / 15.05.2005
Following a night of fast action all teams with the exception of the students from ENSAM had traversed the first Cirque and began arriving at the first canyon in time for breakfast. Twice winner Karine Baillet, now with the women's team Wilsa Sport Helly Hansen, made up for a bad start and arrived in 5th place. The Russian girls also gained ground to be placed in the middle of the field.
‘Les Fous de Bassin’ led through the night with early leaders ‘Marine National’ and three other teams in close proximity. The next section was canyoning, and here there was some controversy with the leaders nearly incurring a 1 hour penalty for not carrying their wet suits. The first canyon provided ample opportunities for swimming, and led directly into the Bras Rouge canyon, which was relatively dry.
Teams then returned to the town of Cilaos in the centre of the Cirque for the transition to trekking. The town is surrounded by high cliffs which look impossible to climb, but there are paths twisting up them and the major climb of the day was the ascent of ‘Piton de Neige’, 2000 metres above Cilaos.
The women of ‘Wilsa Helly Hansen’, now leading for the first time, left with a slender lead over the chasing ‘Marine National’ and ‘Centre de Calmes’. Further down the field sailor Eric Loiseax and his team from Brittany made a navigational error and climbed an additional ridge, dropping them out of contention.
The Russian women’s team were also loosing ground and needed to pick up the pace during the accent of Piton De Neige, the island’s highest point.See All Event Posts
