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Countdown to the Raid Series 2005

Chris Archer - Raid Series / 21.04.2005

The final countdown has started for another epic, season-long struggle between the very best that the world of adventure racing has to offer, as familiar and not so familiar teams take up the challenge of reaching the starting line of the The Raid World Championship. But to get there teams must race over four taxing courses on a global qualifying circuit, against increasingly stiff opposition, starting in a weeks time in Australia.

Four different locations will be used in qualifying; Western Australia, Sweden, the USA and Andorra, each with distinctive, natural formations designed into the course. This will no doubt favour the local teams eager to make a showing on home turf, and there are some important strategic considerations for teams for which racing all the stages is not an option.

In the season opener teams will have to conquer the vast open spaces of Australia’s largest state, Western Australia. This year, they will “come to their marks� in Denmark, located in the south of the state, for what is expected to be a fairly swift stage, comprising multiple, short sections, where technical flexibility will be an asset. Mountain bikers will be in their element, especially as MTB is the anticipated dominant discipline, as they snake their way through the heart of dense forests with towering “tingle� trees. With 12,500 km of coastline skirting the Indian Ocean, there is no doubt that the location will favour teams with strong bikers and paddlers.

But a spectacularly race-hardened local opposition awaits any team making the trip. Powerhouse legends Seagate (NZ), led by Nathan Fa’avae, AROC/Mountain Design (Aus) and Team Western Australia will be looking to maximise their points tally. It’s rare for teams competing for places from this zone to appear in more than one qualifying event, so this race will be critcal in deciding who qualifies from Australsia. Lining up against a host of teams from around the country will be some of America’s top squads. Golite/Timberland, race in the Raid Series outside the USA for the first time, and will join Montrail (US/Aus), who are always in contention no matter what the course or conditions, in a two-pronged attack on the overall ranking lead.

Several top Europeans, including Saab Salomon (GB), will swell the ranks and there are 10 French teams including Les Arcs Quechua, racing for the first time without the retired Helen Rochas, Ertips, Wilsa Sport/Helly Hansen ad Atout Majeur-Eider. The Scandinavians are out in force too with household names such as Nokia Adventure (Fin), on a roll after a phenomenal 2nd place in The Raid World Champs last year, leading the charge. Tscherning (Den), Lundhags Adventure (Swe) and Multitude Saab-Salomon (Nor) will be racing as well.

The strategic importance of this first stage will only truly become apparent as the season progresses, but it could well prove conclusive for some qualifying zones, and for all the teams a good start to the season is important for moral as well as points.

To see the full team list, profiles of some of the team captains and more visit www.theraid.org.

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