XPD
There\'s a lot of area here . . .
Rosi / 09.08.2004
The XPD will take teams 700km through outback country over 10 days. There are no support crews with each team having to carry their own equipment with access only to small pre-placed support crates at various checkpoints throughout the course.
Teams have spent today completing competency and gear checks and will have their last good nights sleep tonight - with the course to be revealed Tuesday morning. Maps have already been handed out - all eleven of them, scaled 1:100,000!!!
\"It\'s a bit scary\" was the comment from Jay Wilson of team Millie \"just the shear quantity of area we will be covering - its a huge area! Some sections are very flat too\". The maps show that in some areas you may travel 10km with only 10m change in elevation.
Team AROC\'s Alina Macmaster was similarly aprehensive \"there\'s some really flat sections with practically no contours - makes you think \' how the hell am I gonna navigate through that?\'\" Her other worry might be how am I gonna ride - anywhere - after having her bike stolen on the weekend, along with other race essential gear like lighting, shoes, tools etc. A very unfortunate incident which will make the always challenging race preparations that bit more difficult.
SleepMonsters
