X-adventure Raid World Cup 2005
A Hotly Contested Start
Rob Howard / 23.07.2005
It was a dawn start for the racers, who prepared for the first cycling leg in darkness, their headtorches flashing as they moved around the fleet of vehicles in the ski centre car park. Last bike checks and adjustments were made as the skyline brightened and then teams clustered behind the narrow start arch waiting for the 6am start.Saab Salomon were front centre, expecting to turn right off the start line to follow an instruction not to use the road, but when everyone else turned left up the ski-centre exit road they paused, then followed, and found themselves at the back of the Peleton. By the time teams reached the first transition they were about 9 minutes down on the leaders Salomon Suisse, but during the run the positions changed and by the time teams passed the refuge at Coms de Jan at 2220m, half way through the adventure running stage, the British team were in the lead.
In hot conditions, but with some high cloud masking the worst effects of the sun the teams appeared, crossing high pastures covered with sparse conifer trees. They were following a well marked trail and Saab Salomon, with their 3 male team members running, were closely followed by Aiguille Sybelles ESF, Atout Majeur Eider, Ertips Salomon, and Nordic Aventure. Then came a gap of a few minutes before another group including Les Arcs Quechua and Lundhags of Sweden. Of the North American teams Newcastle Ltd/Crested Butte were though well ahead of Montrail Revo.
At the time of writing the teams have not finished the adventure running stage and are behind the expected schedule. All the assistance crews are waiting at the town of Canillo below a rock face up which the via ferrata route climbs. It’s an imposing climb to the top and will be strenuous. Teams arriving and hoping for a traverse will be disappointed!
Post Script: Aigles Sybelles came in to finish stage 2 a step ahead of Saab Salomon, with Ertips a few minutes behind. Pete James of Saab Salomon was feeling the effects of the heat, but the team have 3 support crew so one could attend to each racer. Captain Jim Davies said, \"Pete is sitting out the long bike ride, so once he\'s up the via ferrata he can rest up.\"See All Event Posts
