Bimbache Extrem Heads for Madrid

Rob Howard / 17.01.2008

After 3 years of racing in the hills and olive groves of Andalucia this year’s Bimbache Extrem will change it’s location to ‘a province near Madrid’. The name of the province and the start and finish cities won’t be announced until March 1st but race organiser Antonio de la Rosa has said the race will take place between 100 and 200km from the capital city.

Now in it’s 6th year and a well-established member of the ARWorld Series the race always attracts a strong international entry and this year is offering a $30,000 prize pool, as well as a free place in the World Championships in Brazil to the winners.

Up to 35 teams will arrive at Madrid-Barajas airport in May 11th and taken to their hotels or apartments in the host city. The unsupported race provides 3 nights of accommodation (two before the race and one after), a camping zone for retired or injured races during the race and also for a mandatory 4 hour stop during the 3 to 5 day race.

There is also a free CD of photos and a video DVD, and for teams entering before February 1st the entry fee is 2,000 Euros. After this it will rise to 2,4000 Euro.

The race will once again feature inline skating and canyoning alongside the regular AR disciplines, and they kayaking is inland and ‘calm waters’ are promised. Teams considering entering are reminded that although the average daytime temperature is expected to be 10-20C, it can drop as low as zero at night and in the mountains. (Some visiting teams have been surprised by the cold conditions in previous years.)

General information and race entry details are on the website (in Spanish and English) at www.meridianoraid.com.