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The 4th Night

Rob Howard / 13.09.2005

As the 4th night of the race fell the leading teams were completing another trekking stage, crossing broad grassy alps and forest in the Portes du Soleil area on the French/Swiss border. Cloud had built up in the afternoon and they ran through occasional patches of fog, but for the most part conditions were good and the cloud kept the afternoon sun off them.

As the leaders crossed the Col Des Bassachoux at 1178m, mid-way through the run, Les Arcs Quechua and Nike ACG/Balance Bar were still side by side, followed just 9 minutes later by Salomon Suisse. Mont Blanc International have fallen back a bit today, with Danelle Ballangee suffering as the relentless climbing takes it’s toll on even the strongest teams.

Isabella Moretti of Salomon Suisse is also suffering and even the strong Nicolas Mermoud of Mont Blanc International said, "I’m getting tired of this. It’s hard and long. We have already covered so much and yet there is an enormous amount yet to do". And that is the opinion of one of leading teams! Most still have much further to go. By morning the leaders will most likely have taken their final sleep and be on Lake Geneva in kayaks, after which the finish at Gstaad in Switzerland can be reached before another nightfall.

At the back of the race Sport 2000 Lafuma and Costa Daurada withdrew today, and it’s likely there will be more teams out of the race in the morning as there is a 7.00am cut off at the start of the canoe stage tomorrow morning. This is when it opens after the dark zone and any teams not there ready to go will be out of the race. Six or 7 teams at the back of the field will be racing tonight, on a difficult trek, to make that cut-off.

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