Raid in France - Alps to Sea 2009
Quechua Lead into the Verdon Gorge
Rob Howard / 03.06.2009
Anne-Marie Dunhill phoned in this report as the race moves into it’s 4th day. Additional information came from the Raid in France website. Race leaders Quechua were the first to complete the long mountain biking stage (Section I) and move into the spectacular canyoning stage in the Verdon Gorge. The team were moving well although one member appeared to be bleeding from a fall but unhindered. The stage was nearly 124km of continuous steep up and down over very rough and rocky country and took Quechua 44 hours to complete. They said they’d had only 3 hours sleep yet would not stop at the transition to the canyon, where they met their assistants for only the second time in the race. They wanted to push on to make the most of the daylight and maintain their lead over Cateye Outdoor Experiences.
It is no surprise to see Quechua in the lead. The team of Rudy Gouy (Cap), Yves Bilodeau, Sandrine Monier & Laurent Fabre are one of the most experienced and successful in the world and they know that due to the ‘Alps to Sea’ theme of this year’s course it is literally downhill most of the way to the finish! They will know that two of the last 3 stages are in kayaks and this plays to their strengths, but will know the coming horse riding section could be something of a lottery. Nor will they underestimate Outdoor Experience, who are a tactically astute team.
The second placed team chose to stop and sleep for a couple of hours after the long mountain bike ride and to get medical attention for sore feet. Third placed team Planete Tonique Acti 4 were not far behind.
Behind this leading group the race is now very spread out and later teams are struggling to complete the course. A few have already been forced to take shortened routes. The visiting British and Belgian teams were sent CP’s 10 and 8 direct to CP13 on the mountain biking stage, while Aventure Endurance were directed forward to CP14.
These changes mean the support crews are being redirected and finding it difficult to plan ahead. They were told not to deliver the kayaks for a later stage as originally planned and that they could access the teams after the mountain bike ride – though it was a 2km 500m climb to reach them! There is also the prospect of teams arriving in the hours of darkness for the canyoning and it is unclear if they will continue in the dark.
Given how savage the course is they would no doubt they would appreciate an enforced stop , and the chance to see the Verdon Gorge, reputed to be the most beautiful in Europe, in daylight.
Team positions, some video and latest news can be seen on the Raid in France website. Go to the next page to see the latest You Tube video footage of the earlier mountain biking stage.
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