The 4th Reunion d\'Aventures Event

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Route update

14.05.2007

Friday 11th May 2007
Presenting the course to the 81 participants divided into 27 teams, Gérard Fusil today officially launched the RÉUNION d’AVENTURES 2007. The fourth edition of this major sport-nature-adventure competition will run from Saturday until Friday, over a distance which varies according to the three categories into which the teams are classified: 263 km in “Extreme� (13 400 m uphill and 13 700 m downhill), 251 km in “Adventure� (12 000 m / 12 500 m) and 214 km in “Discovery� (9 500 m / 9 900 m). Thus competitors are getting ready to immerse themselves fully in the wild nature of this intense Island for almost a week.

Following a water prologue on Saturday, the starting gun will sound Sunday on the forest road of Bebour-Belouve, which the competitors will take to, running or on rollers, as far as the Plaine des Cafres. Then they will take mountain bikes to the Plaine des Sables, close to the Dolomieu crater which recently put itself on the map with the “eruption of the century�, but which since then, seems to have returned to a calmer state. There will follow a canyoning-aquarando course through the Ticap canyon and the river Langevin. Mountain bikes will again be used to Jacques Payet, the route containing a few difficult passages requiring carrying.

The teams will attack the southern flank of the Fournaise volcano on foot, before starting the “jewel� of the “Extreme� course: abseiling down the 250 metres of the Commerson crater, a fractioned descent terminating with a final 106-metre section free abseiling! This is an apt symbol of the RÉUNION d’AVENTURES 2007, which more than ever, requires climbing techniques, as underlined by the race director, Jean-Paul Sounier.

Another major moment will be climbing the Piton des Neiges (3 071 m), this time by all competitors, who will continue their progression alternating between canyoning, orienteering and climbing, summits, pitons and waterfalls, before arriving in the heart of the impressive cirque to which the town of Cilaos gave its name.
The organizers believe that the most efficient teams will complete the course within five days. Most competitors are expected in Cilaos next Friday.
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