X-adventure Raid World Cup 2006
Saab Salomon Aim High
Rob Howard / 12.07.2006
It differs from the other stages on the three-race circuit primarily because of the severe elevation gain of 7,300m. For many teams, adding the prospect of “scaling Mount Everest� in the course of a weekend to what is sure to be an already testing ordeal, is more than enough to induce serious misgivings. Not so for Team Saab Salomon, who are all accomplished mountain runners.
Tim Lloyd, Team Manager of Team Saab Salomon, said: “We have raced in the French Alps on numerous occasions, and the terrain seems to suit us well. Despite the added challenge of high altitude, we like to race in the mountains, and these are about as big as they get in Europe. It will certainly be a big contrast to the 250km of flat sand in Australia!�
Following the French x-adventure Raid World Cup next weekend forty qualifying teams will go forward to the Raid World Championships in the wild Saguenay region of Quebec, Canada, in September. The ten places reserved for Zone II, Western Europe, (Benelux countries, France, Ireland, United Kingdom and Switzerland), will be the subject of a fierce struggle between some of Europe’s, not to mention the World’s, top flight squads.
Team Saab Salomon, who’s main focus for the 2006 season has been a win at the Raid World Championships, are confident that they will be one of the teams to qualify in their group. They lead their qualification zone going into the French stage, following a third place in Australia and seventh place in the USA and they are not going to relinquish their top spot without a fight.
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