Extreme Adventure Hidalgo 2007
Stage 2 sees Nike, Sole and Buff-Coolmax in a spectacular three-way tie!
Paul Romero / Team Sole / 05.10.2007
The mountains outside Mexico City were the backdrop for a 24 hour rumble featuring the three major players at the Extreme Adventure Hidalgo. It’s not that common in adventure racing that three teams can match each other blow for blow when doing such a dynamic event with several transitions and steep, rugged terrain with hard navigation. This was not follow-the-leader, it was the best that adventure racing has to offer.Speaking with Karen Lundgren from the finish line by phone, Sole’s team Captain reported “ …this day was amazing, there was thousands of spectators to welcome us to each village. The sun was out, and we just raced out brains out for nearly 20 hours. We threw everything we had at Nike and the French/Spanish team but they just kept coming back, then they would attack and we would have to respond.� Karen continued the Intense bikes were crucial in the race. “We rode for miles of cobblestone and very technical climbing. We had no mechanicals or bad luck, until just 100meters from the finish when I had a puncture on my rear wheel.�
Team NIKE led by the dynamic duo of Mike Kloser and Mike Tobin were working all day with taking turns towing their gal through the tough stages. As always, they find a way to be in the front of the race.
The teams all popped out together on the closing kilometers of the stage, and just could not find the sense in making a sprint to the finish. All these racers are long-time friends, and at 3am on a dark road in the middle of now where with a few miles to go….it was just a pro thing to do…ride in together. The few seconds to gain are not worth it at that moment.
Karen finished by saying “ we have the day off, and we’ll do our recovery routine, work on the bikes and try to get ahead on sleep. Marcel was amazing with strength and speed, helping Chad when he got behind the nutritional curve a few times. The team work was very very good.�
Saturday will be the dreaded 6 hour sprint stage for the end of the race. Team SOLE has a 30 minute deficit to Team NIKE, and is 10 minutes behind Buff Cool-Max (a team featuring Fran Lopez of Spain, regarded as one of the strongest men on the circuit.) It will take a massive effort and some good luck for things to mix up on the leader board. But it’s adventure racing, and you just never know.
Go fast, take chances. www.teamsole.comSee All Event Posts
