Argentinian team 2050 Proof HYA wins 7th Desafio de los Volcanes
Jacqueline Windh / 31.03.2007
Team 2050 Proof HYA (ARG) wins 7th Desafio de los Volcanes, and Chileans Columbia Canon Montrail and Jeep Salomon take second and third, showing strength of local teams.
The competition started on Monday March 26th at 2:00 pm – the race already delayed by one day because of strong winds that caused the Argentinian Navy to close Lake Lacar to paddling. Thirty five teams lined up to start. Today, five days into competition, the first three teams have arrived at the finish, in Pucón, Chile. More than half of the teams have dropped by the wayside, with only thirteen teams remaining on the course.
Teams Terramar Uruguay (URU), headed by Ruben Mandure, and Selva NSK Kailash (BRA) are battling for fourth place. They passed through PC13 yesterday evening, Uruguay leading Brazil by just over an hour, so could be expected to make it into the finish at PC 15 this afternoon or evening.
This is the 7th edition of the Desafio de los Volcanes. Most of the teams entered are mixed, but there is a separate ranking system for the all-male teams who have entered the competition.
This year’s 500 km route started in the Argentinian mountain town of San MartÃn de los Andes. Lake Lacar, closed to paddling because of the strong winds which generated 2 m waves on the planned start-day of the race, was calm for the actual start on Monday. teams paddled to PC1, where they did a difficult 25 km loop-trek up to Lake Queñi and back (to PC1/PC2) and from there paddled back to San MartÃn.
On Days 2 and 3 of the competition, racers pedaled across the international border into Chile. Further sections included lots more biking and trekking, as well as a bit more kayaking and ropes sections. Teams were required to take a total of 15 hours of rest stops in PCs along the route.
For current ranking info, check out the leaderboard at www.volcanesenvivo.com/2007/ranking.php
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