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EUROSPORT NZ Lose NIKE on the Slopes

Chris Archer / 14.12.2007

With only 3 minutes between them at the start in Green Mubazzarah this morning, the two leading teams had everything to play for on the opening adventure run up the steep rocky slopes up Jebel Hafeet. Richard Ussher and his team of Kiwis showed nearest rivals NIKE (USA) some dust by finishing first over the section by over 35 minutes.

Rising like an enormous pillar of rock from the sand-filled immensity and surrounded by an infinite plain splashed with the green of nearby palm groves, the golden mantle of the Jebel Hafeet range and its light coloured rocks was the stage for the first scene of today’s epic challenge. From the start at 06:00, the teams faced 24km of adventure running to 1095m, up and down the scree-strewn slopes with no paths to speak of.

EUROSPORT (NZ) made best use of their legs and route finding skills in their struggle for the race lead with NIKE (USA). At CP5, the Americans were already around 5 minutes off the current race leaders and at CP 10, EUROSPORT NZ (NZL) checked in three minutes ahead of ORIONHEALTH.COM (NZL), 5 minutes ahead of WILSA HELLY HANSEN (FRA) and 10 minutes ahead of LAFUMA SPORT 2000 (FRA).

During the long downhill run leading to the final CP on this section, EUROSPORT NZ managed to conserve a 1 minute lead on compatriots ORIONHEALTH.COM (NZL) and 2 minutes on WILSA HELLY HANSEN (FRA), both racing hard for a place on the podium. LAFUMA SPORT 2000 (FRA) came in 11 minutes after WILSA. But the most surprising information coming in off the course is that NIKE (USA) finished the section more than 35 minutes behind race leaders EUROSPORT NZ and could even be in danger of dropping from second to third in the provisional race ranking.

Poor SALOMON CRESTED BUTTE (USA) and LUNDHAGS ADVENTURE (SWE)… With only 50 metres to go to CP10, the realisation that they had unfortunately missed CP9 began to dawn upon them. After the shock had sunk in, both teams turned round, their faces marked by dejection, to go back the 3km to the CP. They could well lose over an hour due to this regrettable and disappointing orienteering error.

Times into end Section E – Adventure Running - 24km
1 EUROSPORT NZ in at 10h20:29
2 ORIONHEALTH.COM (NZL) at 10h21:25
3 WILSA HELLY HANSEN (FRA) at 10h22:20
4 LAFUMA SPORT 2000 (FRA) at 10h33:40
5 SALOMON SPAIN (ESP) at 10h56:18
6 NIKE (USA) at 10h56:40

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