Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge
FINISH – EUROSPORT NZ (NZL) Canter Home for Brilliant Win
14.12.2007
The first to cross the finishing line as outright winners of this first ever edition were New Zealanders from EUROSPORT NZ, led by erstwhile NIKE member, Richard USSHER. "Abu Dhabi is a beautiful country, full of contrasts. It was a wonderful experience," he declared as his team-mates milled around, the subject of clicking cameras and eager accolades. The team had decided to go flat out on this last day to push home the lead they had gained so early on during the opening sea-kayaking section. “Last night we sat down together to discuss the situation and decided we didn’t come here to finish second. If we had a chance we should take it… and this was our chance. We decided to go as hard as possible right from the very start of the run up the mountain. We know that suffering is part of adventure racing and we accepted that. It’s been a hard road to get here but well worth it,� he concluded.
Second place NIKE (USA) putting in their customary stellar performance raced well throughout but were unable to narrow the gap on the eventual winners, slowed by injury problems over the final sections. Sari ANDERSON did all she could to battle the pain of two twisted and swollen ankles but couldn’t quite maintain her renowned form and drive. “The boys had to do a lot of towing because I had problems with both my ankles…� she lamented.
WILSA HELLY HANSEN (FRA), put in a burst of speed on the magnificent rope works and though they covered the last two sections, biking and running through the centre of this emerald city, at a frenzied tempo it just wasn’t enough for Karine BAILLET and her team to snatch second place from NIKE (USA). “This is a good third place for us," assured the captain. "Top athletes always want more but we really did our best and, despite the setbacks, we didn’t put a foot wrong. We did everything we could to narrow the gap but it wasn’t to be," she concluded philosophically.
FINAL OVERALL RANKING
1 EUROSPORT SPORT NZ (NZL) 40:55:12
2 NIKE (USA) 41:15:32
3 WILSA HELLYHANSEN (FRA) 41:26:25
4 ORIONHEALTH.COM (NZL) 41:46:00
5 LAFUMA-SPORT 2000 (FRA) 42:13:47
6 ADCO BUFF COOLMAX (ESP) 43:17:10
7 ERTIPS (FRA) 44:59:53
8 SALOMON/CRESTED BUTTE (USA) 45:12:43
9 ADIDAS NATVENTURE (GER) 46:44:48
10 AFOC - FINLAND (FIN) 47:26:32 11
11 FJS SWE 48:48:37
12 TEAM HALTI SWE 48:54:46
13 SPELEO SALOMON POL 49:24:26
14 SALOMON SPAIN ESP 55:05:41
15 DAUPHINE LIBERE-CIE DES ALPES FRA 56:30:31 16 AIGLE-SPORT FRA
57:00:44
17 ADCO-SELVA BRA 58:57:14
18 COASTZONE.DK DAN 58:57:29
19 ENDURANCE FRA 61:51:11
20 TEAM DOWN UNDER AUS 65:53:07
21 DUNKERQUE INEO SUEZ FRA 86:40:29
22 NOMAD ROMANIA ROM 88:49:03
23 TDIC - RIGHT TO PLAY UAE 116:11:1
LUNDHAGS ADVENTURE SWE 50:41:58 - one team member suffered a fall in
section E and was not able to continue.
ATT360-ÖTZTAL AUT 85:17:13 - withdrawn between CP B3 and B3+
ABU DHABI NOMADS SER 112:35:0 - only 3 members from sect C
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