The Raid World Championship 2005
A Long Night in Chamonix
Rob Howard / 12.09.2005
The weather has denied teams many views of the spectacular terrain through which they have been racing, but most teams are still on the long, long trek around the Mont Blanc Massif and will see the mountain tonight ... and in the morning.
The trek on the ‘bad weather course’ has been taking much longer than expected, and at 21.00 on Monday night only 6 teams had left the transition in Chamonix to start the following cycling stage. The last of these were Saab Salomon, who had sought medical attention for Helen Jackson’s knee injury and been told it was most likely a torn cartilage. “Helen rarely complains of problems,� said team manager Tim Lloyd, “but was distressed when she came in, and we are not sure if she can continue. At the moment our race strategy changes from one transition to the next, we really can’t make any plans, but the team will sleep at the next transition for sure. I’m amazed were are still in 6th place as we’ve crawling along for 2 days now!�
Ahead of them the top 5 teams had already set off and Michael Tobin of Nike ACG/Balance Bar had recovered from his sickness as they set off with Aigles Seybelles ESF, chasing Mont Blanc International, Salomon Suisse and Les ARCS Quechua, who were still in the lead.
Team Finland and Wilsa Sport Helly Hansen were asleep in transition, having arrived in 7th and 8th places, and all the remaining teams were out on the trek, on their way into Chamonix. The route has a cruel twist at the end, when instead of allowing teams to walk down into town from a checkpoint at nearby La Tour, their mandatory route took a path crossing the valley and then climbed steeply up the valley side before descending to the assistance point. Even Christophe Faure, who has been in front for most of the race, leading Les Arcs Quechua, complained about it.
SleepMonsters
