The Raid World Championships
Playing For the Highest Stakes
Rob Howard / 24.11.2004
![Trekking on last year\](https://sm-racereports.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/report_1483_1.jpg "Trekking on last year\")
They won the Raid Series final in New Caledonia last year, and carry a little more expectation as they are backed by the World Championship sponsors. Their own expectations are to compete at the highest level in the sport, but what does it take to get a top team prepared for a big race like the Raid World Championships?
To begin with they have a Team Manager, Tim Lloyd, who plays a crucial planning and logistics role, and SleepMonsters spoke to him about what was involved before the team left for Argentina.
That departure was last Sunday, a full week ahead of the race, by which time almost all of their gear was already in storage at the town where the race will begin. According to Lloyd early departure is essential, and it’s been hard won experience.
“We are taking a few days to get there,� he said, “via 3 flights. First we fly to Madrid, then Buenos Aires where we are a stopping over for a day. Then it’s on to Baraloche before collecting the van and driving to San Martin. The day in Buenos Aires is partly to make the journey and time changes easier, but also to be sure all our bags have arrived and, should we be delayed, to make our connecting flight to get to the start.�
“Last year at New Caledonia we arrived, but our bags didn’t. They turned up but some other teams were left with no kit at all and were borrowing bikes, skates, everything. You don’t want that happening at an important race�
The team and their gear did arrive safely at the start, but it was only after they were stuck in Madrid airport for 24 hours, along with Nokia Adventure and Cross Sportswear. Without the advance planning for delays they’d all have been arriving at the start disorganised and weary.
SleepMonsters
