Independent Networks Adrenalin Rush
Team Talk
Rob / 25.05.2003
Some of the teams packing their gear boxes and preparing their bikes in the sunshine on Sunday were going through a well practiced routine, but for others it was a new experience, as everything in the race will be. Teams like The North Face and Subaru USA have experience of Eco-Challenge, Southern Traverse and other multi-day races, while others are moving up to expedition racing for the first time, or even in their first race all together.For Budget Pilgrims it’s a great leap into the unknown. John and David Spencer have completed one-day ACE Races before, but the jump from 6 hour to 6 day races is a big one. Their team mates Heidi Madden and Mark Turner don’t even have that experience behind them, they have never done any racing before at all. “Johns wife thinks we are in completely over our heads,� said Heidi, “but we’re here, excited and keen to give it a go!� In a tent nearby BCBC were getting ready and they too were among the race novices. “We’ve done a couple of weekend races,� said Ronan Boyle, “but this is our first multi-day event.� Smiling, he added; “We’re expecting pain and blisters.�
Team One are among those with a lot of experience of shorter races, moving into new territory. “I’m looking at the map but it’s hard to judge the pace we can go at� said Anthony Emmet, “this sort of distance is new to us.� They are also one of several international teams, with two New Zealanders, Nathan Patterson and Duncan Grant racing. CAN-IT-UK (Summerleaze) are even more international and though they have lots of experience they’ve never met or raced before. “We are a team put together chatting over the internet and through recommendations from friends�, said Dave Hopper. “Marco is an Italian, Sheri and Jim are from Canada and I’m from U.K.�
The international teams have more multi-day experience, especially those from the UK and Canada. Vmax (USA) and The Big Fish (Canada) have competed in long races before now while ‘Strike Anywhere’ are a new US team but are aiming to do well. “We may be a new team but we’re aiming to be competitive. Top 5 would be good for us but it may be a bit wet for us, we’re not used to these damp conditions.�
The teams from Europe could be strong as well. Polish teams have always done well at Adrenalin Rush and both teams here could do well, they are renowned for their toughness. “We are a new team but made up of experienced racers who’ve known each other from some time,� said Michal Kielbasinski. “Stefan was in the team which finished 3rd 2 years ago (and he’s done a couple of Eco-Challenges as well), and Klara has raced here before too, so some of us know Adrenalin Rush. We hope to finish in good condition, but things can change on the course. Maybe our aspirations will increase, or maybe we’ll just aim to get round the course any way we can … and not in good condition!� The French team OK Renault Adventure Sport are a bit of an unknown, but they have Christophe Bignot in the team, who was on last year’s winning Raid Gauloises team.See All Event Posts
