Before day 4 teams had the chance to sleep and recover at the campsite below Monte Cinto, but it was still the usual 5am wake up to pack up and move to the next destination – this time on the East coast of the island.

 

Yet again the character of this stage was quite different, taking place along the more developed coast near the city of Bastia, the northern capital of the island.  On this side of the island there is large coastal plain fringed with extensive beaches and the day began with the longest paddle of the race, 22km up the coastline of the Lido de Marana – all of it beachfront with extensive campsites and tourist facilities.

 

Once again it was a flat calm sea on a sunny day and the Czech team Czar Berghaus once again proved the fastest paddlers, finishing 6 minutes ahead of Vibram Lafuma, and 7 minutes ahead of Raid Quechua.  (They are trying hard to win back 3rd place from the Spanish team Catraid.)

 

From the finish of the paddle the teams packed up again and moved a short distance along the road to Casamozza  and from there rode up into the hills around the village of Borgu.  This is perched on a hilltop, the cream stone walls of the substantial houses cascading down from the church and bell tower at the top of the village. The situation gives an impressive panorama out over the coastal plain of Bastia, and of the large Biguglia Lagoon, which the morning’s paddle had finished alongside.

The race finish was set up below the church, causing a lot of excitement in the village, with all the cars, equipment and athletes in team kit and bibs, the finish arch and the ‘red coats’ of the organising crew there is no missing the arrival of the race!  

 

The afternoon stage was one of the most complex of the race, and was set up as a stage, within a stage, within a stage.  First the teams set off on bikes from Casamozza to ride up into the hills towards Borgo using along dirt trails. It was a steep and steady climb to the first checkpoint, and after that it got steeper, forcing all the teams to walk for a while. After a circuit above Borgo they arrived at CP7 to leave their bikes for a trail run up onto the Cima di Stella, and at the high point of the run were given an orienteering map with 21 CP’s on it.

 

At the bike drop Raid Quechua arrived well ahead of race leaders Vibram Lafuma, but with the time clock stopped at transitions and teams allowed to start when they wish it didn’t necessarily mean they had a lead on the day.  (As it turned out they had started the afternoon stage some 40 minutes before the leaders.)  

 

Shortly after the bike drop the trail onto the ridge leading up to the summit of Cime de Stella (1024m) was very difficult to find and most of the teams missed it and had to bushwhack through the maquis, some taking a more direct line than others.  It was only a short section, but they must have been wondering if there was more of the same to come in the orienteering on the other side of the mountain ...  (There was a bit, but not too much!)