TNF Back New Pyrenean Race

Rob / 13.05.2003

The first of 4 seasonal PyACha races (Pyrenean Adventure Challenge)takes place this coming weekend and it sounds like the Spring event is going to be spectacular. They’ve also announced The North Face as his headline sponsors, along with Andorran sports retailer Viladomat.

All the races will take place in Andorra and organiser Ian Montgomery has been giving some hints of what lays ahead for the teams entered. “We have finished the course planning and have ended up with a distance of 108km,” he said. “That includes 6500m ascent and 6500m descent over the weekend (which should give people a clue to where it ends). This will all take place in the Ordino valley - one of the most beautiful and unspoilt playgrounds in the Pyrenees.”

“The river is running high which bodes well for the canyoning and the hydrospeed - the snow seems to be melting at a terrific rate! Inflatable canoes have also been contemplated on the river section, so it could get interesting. The weather has been holding out for us and current forecasts point towards a lovely weekend and we have a full moon - very helpful for that night section.”

The teams of 3 will all have a mandatory rest halt during the 48 hours of the race, and a support crew, and local athletes and skiers new to AR are looking forward to the challenge … and to the partly. “For the after race celebrations, San Miguel has taken up the gauntlet of keeping the racers and their crews refreshed,” Montgomery added, “and we will be having a slap up barbeque to celebrate the first ever Andorran Adventure Race!”

It’s good to see Adventure Racing reaching new corners of the world and we’ll let you know how the race went with a full race report next week.