Raid Gallaecia Expedition Race
Reasons to Race Raid Gallaecia
Press Release / 18.03.2019
Choosing which expedition race to take part in is a big decision for any team. They will spend valuable holiday time and hard earned money, be away from their families, travel long distances and challenge themselves in a new environment.
The teams who have entered Raid Gallaecia so far come from 7 different nations. A few are there to win, others just want to finish the course, but there are some common reasons why they have chosen to travel to Northern Spain.
The location of the race has to have a special appeal to the team and the landscape of Gallaecia is a wonderful mix of coast and mountain, beautiful, varied and with a challenging terrain and climate. If you add a rich local culture it is a place which naturally attracts adventure racers. Here is what some of the teams had to say about Gallaecia.
“First of all, we have chosen to race in Gallaecia because the terrain and scenery appeal to us. Some of the team members have raced in the area before and know the opportunities it holds. We all look forward to exploring the area further in May.” - Laura Lambæk - Team Yeti (Denmark)
“We believe that the wilderness and harsh weather of Galicia offers a great opportunity to test whether we can survive as a team.” Meri Martell Lamolla - Haglofs Raid Team (Catalonia)
“I raced Raid Galleacia in 2015 and I was amazed by the landscape with its beautiful shoreline beaches and hills. So much so that I moved from Lapland to Portugal, with the same shoreline and same kind of views. I will race this season with guys from Poland. They asked me to join their team and I proposed this race for them. I hope we will also see a little of the history of the area.” Kati Vehmas - Gymcity AR (Poland)
Taking part in the Adventure Racing World Series is a draw for most teams, whether they are part of the travelling family of ARWS international teams or newcomers wanting to step up to the highest level.
“We will battle this year to increase our world ranking position, to take our flag as high as possible through this wonderful sport.” Ruben Manduré - Uruguay Natural US
“We have been told that it has been around 10 years since a Dutch team of four has finished at a World Series Expedition race and we are going to try. We have our minds set on finishing the full course.” Marijn Edelenbosch - Team Dutchables
“We cannot afford to lose the opportunity of taking part in a World Series Race on our doorstep. We've got the team (it's not easy to find a well balanced team) and the challenge is near our home. Considering that we are a humble team we will do our best for Gallaecia.” Joseba Calzada - Team Udaberri Sopels Betibilbo
Of course the reputation of the race organisation is also vital as teams have to be confident in the planning, logistics, maps and communication. These all have to work for the best race experience and all of the teams entering Raid Gallaecia said their trust in the race team was one of the main reasons to enter.
“For our team living in the cold, snowy part of Sweden a race in May is a bit early but we have been told only good things about the organizers of the race and the nature looks fantastic so we are so happy to get this chance to race in Galicia!” Maria Ehlin Kolk - Hamilton Adventure Team (Sweden)
“Raid Gallaecia attracted us because it is a very well organized race, with excellent maps and satellite tracking that allows fans of this sport to understand perfectly the route from start to finish.” - Ruben Manduré - Uruguay Natural US
“Last year (2018) we achieved a third place in the RG24h Somozas Xtreme. We were delighted with the event and the organization provided by Pablo López and all the Gallaecia Raid Team! So we know Raid Gallaecia 2019 will be a great race.” Joseba Calzada - Team Udaberri Sopels Betibilbo
All of the teams travelling to Raid Gallaecia have high expectations and Pablo Lopez and his organizing team are working hard to deliver a Gallaecian adventure they will never forget.
Entries are open at https://tracktherace.com/en/raid-gallaecia-2019 and you can find out all about the race at https://raidgallaecia.com, including the option to download the Racer Guide and see past results, maps, photos and videos.
Raid Gallaecia takes place from May 10-19th. The race is part of the AR World Series (www.arworldseries.com) and will follow ARWS regulations with an independent race referee in attendance. The winners will receive a free place in the AR World Championships in Sri Lanka in December.
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