Red Bull X-Alps
The Longest Day
Press Release / 21.06.2019
The suffering kicks in as athletes find themselves hiking through the longest day of the year.
Today it's midsummer and the 30 athletes remaining in the world's toughest adventure race are looking to take advantage – by hiking through the night.
Three athletes have pulled a Night Pass, which allows them to ignore the mandatory rest period between 10.30pm and 5.00am. They are Thomas Christensen (DNK), Willi Cannell (USA2) and Tobias Grossrubatscher (ITA2). "At first it made me wonder why so many pulled a Night Pass for no obvious reason. But maybe today being the longest day of the year is why," said race director Christoph Weber.
There is another practical reason. Athletes are desperate to make Turnpoint 7, Titlis by the weekend so they can take advantage of the lifting of airspace restrictions. The complicated limits imposed by Meiringen airspace do not apply on Saturday and Sunday. They have so far limited athletes in their ability to fly far.
Grossrubatscher has his own motivation. He was forced to sit out today after breaking an airspace violation.
Ulrich Grill, race founder, said: "We have entered the 6th 24 hour cycle of the race and lots of suffering starts now!"
For most athletes, the focus of their attention is the highest Turnpoint in the race, situated at 3,000m on Titlis. Today, weather prevented flying, so athletes were forced to hike up on foot, a brutal three hour ascent.
Third placed Paul Guschlbauer (AUT1) was first to arrive this morning. He signed the board, made a quick transition to flying mode, and launched within minutes down the precipitous slopes of Titlis's south face towards the next Turnpoint of the Eiger. He was followed by the Italian Aaron Durogati (ITA1), who was looking strong. "I'm having a great race," he said. "It's going as expected and I am very happy."
The next athletes expected to tag Turnpoint 7 are Benoit Outters (FRA1) and Patrick von Känel (SUI2), who were expected to reach the top by mid- afternoon. Behind them the chaser back is not far away. The race within the mid-pack is proving as gripping as the race up front.
And that has its own story. Chrigel Maurer (SUI1) maintained his 50km lead over Maxime Pinot (FRA4) as he entered the French Alps. Once he tags Turnpoint 10, St Hilaire, he could find himself on a home run as a beneficial weather system moves in. "Once he passes St Hilaire he will find himself with good flying conditions and he could speed up," added race director Weber.
But Maxime Pinot (FRA2) is hanging in there in second place and once he enters home territory, he could be the one who has the advantage. The Red Bull X-Alps is far from over.
Dominika Kasieczko (POL) was this morning eliminated as the last placed athlete. The next athlete to be cut from the race will be in 48 hours.
Be sure to follow all the action on Live Tracking at www.redbullxalps.com
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ABOUT RED BULL X-ALPS
Red Bull X-Alps 2019 is the world's toughest adventure race, covering over 1,138km of alpine terrain. It started on June 16, marking the ninth edition of the race. 32 world-class athletes from 20 nations take part in this grueling journey from Salzburg to Monaco only by foot and paraglider – their every move tracked and played out to an audience of millions via the Live Tracking. The competition field consists of 16 veterans, 15 rookies and one defending champion who will be looking to add a sixth consecutive victory to his resume.
Along the way, the athletes will pass 13 Turnpoints in 6 different countries. Prior to the main event, the one-day Prologue race will see athletes jostle for a prime position. The top three finishers will earn themselves an additional Night Pass; allowing them to continue onwards once through the mandatory rest period.
This year's route brings the racers into both familiar and new terrain – but you can count on every single day showing us rocky ascents, dizzying flights and crucial, strategic decisions – a challenge for body and mind. With a more demanding route than ever before, Red Bull X-Alps 2019 will be full of drama, adventure, and high-alpine action. The winner will need to be smart, strong, a master of both planning and reactivity – and have a little bit of luck.
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