The 2007 Adventure Race World Championship
The week that was
Gary Vallance / 02.06.2007
With all of the teams home, and many of them having enjoyed the chance for their first proper sleep in a week, they awake to face the last challenge of the event: a mountain of wet and filthy clothes, bikes, boats and assorted kit.As the dust settles, event organisers are still busy, with work to be done at the closing ceremony, and race party later this evening. The ever-approachable Race and Course Directors Phil Humphreys and Gary Tompsett have been inundated with competitors, and responded to queries on timings, routes, the location of their car keys, and even where they can buy a sporran for the after-race party.
The relaxed atmosphere bodes well, and after some decent rest the competitors have been enthusing about the size, scope, and geography. Even those who initially vowed to strangle Gary for the Outrageous Portage Stage were in praise of the sheer audacity of the route.
A winning formula
The event format, though initially confusing for some, has been well received, particularly by many of the teams further down the table. Early doubts about the complexities of short-courses and time penalties have been replaced by an appreciation of the inclusive nature of the race and route.
With expectations of such a broad spectrum of international entrants, the format was calculated to deliver a course challenging enough to be true to the event’s World Championship status, whilst providing everyone a genuinely competitive expedition length adventure race. The result? Over 60% of entering teams finished in a ranking position, with only the elite completing the full course, the first and last teams crossing the finishing line a mere 31 hours apart.
At the sharp end, five teams from the USA, France/Switzerland, NZ, Spain and Sweden managed the clearance, placing them automatically above any of the teams that had missed cut-offs and took short-course alternatives, with Team Nike reaching the finish first by a healthy margin.
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