Réunion d’Aventures
The Weather Has The Final Word
08.05.2004
Wilsa Sport/Helly Hansen may have won the Extreme Category, but for the final acts of the Reunion d’aventures 2004, it was the weather that won again!The first two teams finished yesterday, with Wilsa Sport/Helly Hansen an hour ahead of ‘Eider – Go Sport – VSD’, as they had been most of the race, but for the last day rough seas affected the remaining finishers.
The final kayak leg was cancelled when the sea, which had been calm all week while the rains fell in the mountains, became too rough due to a change in wind direction. Three teams on the sea kayak leg who had camped overnight on the beach terminated the race at St-Gilles-les-Bains. The remaining teams were diverted to an alternative route, walking along the beach from the start of the kayak leg then mountain biking to the finish.
Sovimef Marine Nationale crossed the finish line just before 1000 hrs to win the Adventure Category, having completed an undulating route along the back roads close to the coast. A lucky break on the second day of competition allowed them to escape from the chasing pack. Yves Rocher Endurance Shop held on to their 2nd place in this category, a few minutes ahead Eider Intersport Liège, who managed to retain 3rd place on the ride to the finish.
The Belgium team Pall Center did not quite make a ranked finish after a drama during the night, when one of their three remaining racers had to be evacuated from his tent, suffering from a broken rib sustained in a fall whilst canyoning.
The final teams on the course, Globe Runners, with the oldest competitor in the race, George Cauchois, and Fujifim with round the world yachtsman Eric Loizeau, who took on the elements and lost completed the race during the afternoon, to bring the event to an end …. and of course, the sun then came out!.
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