Bimbache Extrem
Scandinavian Teams Top in the Prologue
Rob Howard / 21.03.2006
It took a while to get everything organised for the start of the prologue in the Olympic Stadium. All the female racers were led off to climb up into a roof top gantry from which 17 ropes hung down to the seating below, where the rest of the competitors were waiting for them. (The Polish team never arrived so it was 17 not 18 starters.)Only 3 racers at a time were checked by the ropes staff up on the gantry so the first group were left standing ‘on the edge’ for almost half an hour, waiting to go. As the line of those waiting to abseil grew longer there were calls and jibes from below, and some returned from above. One of the team held the rope at the bottom and at the sound of a hooter the race was on.
It was surprising how varied the descent speeds were, from lightning fast to a ‘terrified slow’. Camila Chilvarquer of Faap-Nokia Brasil didn’t move at all for a long time as she has some sort of problem, so they started the prologue right at the back.
Outside the stadium most of the course was in a nearby park and the Scandinavian teams quickly took command on the running and inline skating stage, with Team Finland, Lundhags and Halti vying for the lead. Micheal Nordstrom of Halti was the only racer using poles on his inlines, which helped as he was towing Malin Lundvik much of the way. She is carrying an injury and was in obvious discomfort running. “The poles helped as Malin could not go flat out,� Nordstrom said, “and anyway I have been skiing all winter!�See All Event Posts
