The World Adventure Racing Championships (XPD Australia)
Silva Get Silver – But Only Just
Rob Howard / 07.11.2011
Team Silva were the second team to arrive at the Burnie stadium to finish the 2011 World Championships, riding around the cycle track waving the Swedish national flag ... but they had to move off the finish line pretty quickly as Seagate were just 4 minutes behind them!The Swedish team, who have been third in three previous World Championships were strong contenders early on in the race, had a bad patch due to illness in the middle, then came back strongly at the end. They passed the last TA about 20 minutes before Seagate finished serving their penalty, and knew they would be chased down by the determined kiwis. They just held on and were delighted with their result – on a night Swedish adventure racing will not forget. (Team AXA Sport may finish in the top 5 as well.)
Silva barely had time to spray their champagne before Seagate came hurtling around the track, giving it their all right to the bitter end ... and sadly it was something of a bitter end for the team who lead for almost the whole race.
Their finish was a bit more chaotic with Nathan Fa’avae shouting, “Ask your questions quick, we need a shower!� Chris Forne had borrowed a bike from a spectator at the last TA and waved this above his head, but after this the team did not hang around in the finishers lounge, leaving Silva to celebrate and enjoy their moment in the spotlight.
[News from out on the course is that the two top Australian teams, Blackheart and City Bike Depot Adventure Junkies arrived at the end of the final paddle having missed the last CP on the stage. They have a 35km round trip trek in the night to go back and get it!]
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