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Shake up at the top.

Jon Brooke / 16.07.2006

My last report noting the success of Wilja Sport Helly Hansen obviously jinxed their chances. On the sixth section, a 50 km MTB ride with 1,300 meters of climb, they made a navigation error and lost around 20 minutes, dropping them from first into fourth place behind Ertips, SAAB Salomon and Les Arcs Quechua 2.

Like Wilja Sport, Ertips the new leader, is another team that always races strongly, but which has also yet to win an X-Adventure. In the past they have been thwarted by accidents and errors, and probably I am speaking too soon again, but maybe their luck will hold this time. In fact, maybe making any prediction is a bit dangerous in this particular X-Adventure. Quite often in these races the eventual winner has already established a commanding lead by now, but going into the last stage of the day (another big run) only 30 minutes separated the first five teams, the last of those being Salomon Spain (formerly the well known Buff team).

One team that looked promising before the start, but which has now blown its chances is the Swedish team Lundhags. Part way up the first massive climb of the MTB section, team leader Bjorn Rydvall had to stop, exhausted, and the team turned back. At the assistance point he needed IV re-hydration and will not race again this weekend. Even if his team continues they will take the slowest time plus one hour for the incomplete section, putting them out of contention.

Those of you paying close attention may have noticed that the name Les Arcs Quetchua has reappeared near the top of the leader board. The reason is that this is actually their alledged “B team�, though it is led by multi-X-Adventure winning Christophe Faure.

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