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The Morning After

Rob Howard / 11.09.2005

There were few early risers at Assistance Point 5, but lots of late arrivals as teams who had been on the course all night continued to come in throughout the morning. It was a bright and sunny morning but the scattering of snow on surrounding summits was a reminder of the wet and stormy night just past.

The first to arrive at the Transition, after the rerouted bike section (which was not timed as part of the course) were Les Arcs Quechua at 03.19, with Nike ACG/Balance Bar following them 13 minutes later, a small margin after over 19 hours of racing. Only these two teams had time to take their first block of 4 hours sleep and be ready for the restart when the river opened at 08.00 in the morning. There had been some debate about whether the water level would be high enough to restart so early but Race Director Sylvain Thuault let the teams go.

He knows this water well as the transition area is the base for outdoor sports company ARCS Aventure, the sister company of Saga d’Aventures, the race organisers. The town of Bourg St. Maurice is home to many of the race staff so this course is set in the ‘homeland’ of the people who organise this race and organised the Raid Gauloises before it. (The race start in Annecy is also where sponsors Salomon have their HQ.)

So, Thuault could judge the water well, and knew the leading teams would make it down the 10kms of river, with shallows in just a few places requiring them ‘to get out and push’. Later teams will have more water and a faster and more interesting passage as there is a dam release higher up after 09.00. Once teams complete the paddle they put on their inline skates and use a dedicated cycleway which runs alongside the river back to the Assistance Point. This tarmaced trail which runs through woodland is ideal for skating as it’s quick, traffic free and safe.

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