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17-12-2008: Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge Oz Diaries – Final Day

Mark Watson / 17.12.2008

On the final day of competition with six days of competition wrapped up ADCO/AROC (AUS) crossed the line in 12th position. Following the strong kayak on day 3 that put the oz crew into third position, the crew from down under met the desert. And it was in the Rub al Kali (Empty Quarter), a desert of towering sand dunes that ADCO/AROC (AUS) met their match. “We got smashed!� Team captain Tom Landon-Smith told sleepmonsters. “We approached the trekking leg like an eco-challenge and set a sustainable pace but NIKE, TEAM NZ and ‘Desert Storm’ (ADCO/AROC’S nickname for DESERT ISLANDS team) just sprinted. They simply ran from checkpoint to checkpoint through the sand… they’re bloody crazy! We were going as fast as we could but those guys are amazing! On some sand dunes we were on hands and knees because they were so steep and deep. We just weren’t ready for the pace.�

Exiting the desert during the early hours of day five, ADCO/AROC (AUS) had slipped more than 10 places in the standings. They were the walking dead but still had a smile on their faces. “We just had to laugh, it was so hot and long, the sand dunes just kept going… I’ve never been so happy to see the finish line. I’m never going to the beach again, I’ve had enough of the sand,� Emily Miazga said.

After a final nights rest however ADCO/AROC (AUS) were back in form. With a 12km road ride up the famous Jebel Hafeet mountain range, the Oz team pulled together and left many of their peers in their wake, setting their sights on the ‘top ten’. Enjoying being back in form the team then put in a blistering mountain 15km run which included a 200m abseil. “It was awesome up there. Today’s route is so nice and suits us better. We had a great run,� Chris Clausen (AUS) told sleepmonsters.

With only a 27km road ride between the Aussies and the finish line, ADCO/AROC (AUS) had fought their way back to 11th position, however French team SPORT 2000 VIBRAM LAFUMA (FRA) were only 25 seconds behind and DART-NUNN (USA) just over a minute behind. The final ride to the line was not going to be easy… and it wasn’t.

“The French team was super aggressive on the bikes continually trying to make a break on the group. At one stage there were even a few shoulders thrown around. We were content to sit it out at the start but we had no choice and so we battled it out the entire way to the line.� Tom Landon Smith said. Unfortunately for the Aussie team Emily Miazga had a fall but managed to get back on the group with only a few scratches and bruises. However the fall and fatigue from the mountain-run left the team lacking the few seconds required to climb into the top ten and team SPORT 2000 VIBRAM LAFUMA (FRA) were able to capitalise, forcing ADCO/AROC (AUS) back into 12th place overall

“It was a hard stage and not really the ideal way we would have liked to finish but we’ve had a great day and if you exclude the desert leg we have had a pretty good race actually� Matt Dalziel told sleepmonsters after the finish.

No doubt the Aussies will have a few cold non-alcaholic beverage’s at the after party tonight and celebrate their hard fought battle against some of the hardiest adventure-racing teams in the world through one of the harshest environments imaginable.

Who knows, maybe a little sand dune running through the southern summer will see the Rub Al Khali once again tackled by the antipodeans next year.

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