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The Final Rankings

Raid Reporters / 06.12.2004

After a dramatic race only 7 teams out of 25 starters managed to complete the full course of the first Raid World Championships, and they came from 7 different countries. Nike ACG/Balance Bar were crowned champions ahead of Nokia Adventure, while Saab Salomon, who were in the lead much of the way, finished 3rd, after being forced to camp out the last night in bad weather.

Ertips Salomon finished 4th. moving up 6 places in the final quarter of the race, while several of the teams they were competing with failed to find CP41 in the bad weather. Merrell/Zanfel secured their 7th place by going back to get this checkpoint, which Cross Sportswear also found it in the worst of the weather to move up the rankings. Correo Andino Neuquentur ensured the host nation had one team completing the course in an impressive 6th place, while their compatriots in AXN-Nike finished 10th.

There were a number of jury decisions to be made before the rankings were announced and one affected the Argentinean teams when it was found that three Argentinean racers, not taking part in the race and not coming from the competition area, followed various teams at several points of the course. The conclusion was “there was no evidence that these men have helped nor have links to any particular team.�

These are the final rankings are:

1) NIKE ACG-BALANCE BAR (USA) 09:48:13 – 5 days 3h 45min 3sec
2) NOKIA ADVENTURE (FIN) 13:00:40
3) SAAB SALOMON (GBR) 13:14:52
4) ERTIPS SALOMON France (FRA) 21:24:20
5) CROSS SPORTSWEAR (SWE) 21:35:11
6) CORREO ANDINO NEUQUENTUR (ARG) 13:29:25
7) MERRELL/ZANFEL ADVENTURE (NZL) 13:29:25

8) LES ARCS-QUECHUA (FRA) - Stopped at CP 40 - didn’t find CP41.
9) SPIE-THE NORTH FACE (FRA) - Stopped at CP40 – didn’t find CP41.
10) AXN-NIKE (ARG) - Stopped at CP40 – incomplete team at CP41
11) SALOMON BUFF (ESP) - Abandon at CP34 - thrown from horse
12) WILSA SPORT/HELLY HANSEN (FRA) - Stopped at CP 25 – medical reasons (hypoglycaemia)
13) MONTRAIL-REVO (USA) - Stopped at CP25 – medical reasons
14) SALOMON SUISSE (CHE) - Abandon at CP15 - low spirits
15) SALOMON USA (USA) - Abandon at CP23 - general fatigue
16) FJS (SWE) - Stopped at CP12 - out of time
17) EAFIT.COM (FRA) - Abandon at CP9 - general fatigue
18) SYBELLES ESF-EUROPE 2 (FRA) - Abandon after CP9
19) SALOMON CARINTHIAN ADVENTURE (AUT) - Stopped after CP9 - safety reasons
20) SAMURAI SPIRIT (JPN) - Stopped after CP9 - safety reasons
21) ADIDAS NATVENTURE (GER) - Stopped at CP9 - safety reasons
22) ADVENTURE TEAM TIROL (AUT) - Abandon at CP9
23) COSTA DATRADA (ESP) - Abandon at CP9
24) SPELEO LIMA (POL) - Stopped at CP9 - safety reasons
25) ARESA SALUD (ESP) - Stopped at CP5, out of time

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