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Short, Sweet and to the Point

Anne-Marie Dunhill / 04.12.2009

The third edition of the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge was launched by the MC’s countdown this morning on the Corniche Beach. Teams left the hotel before dawn to prepare their bikes and sea kayaks and by 07:30 the atmosphere on the private beach where they were waiting was tense.

Last minute checks were done, teams stretched and a few rushed around looking for misplaced items such as a pair of sunglasses. Police had blocked off the Corniche Road for the race and at 07:45 the racers filed out with their mountain bikes to the race start.

The atmosphere was festive as large groups of spectators clustered around the bikes and journalists interviewed and clicked away like mad. The hovering T.V. helicopter added to the feeling of an important happening. At precisely 08:00 the race began and the athletes were off for an incredibly fast triathlon section that included biking, running, swimming and sea kayaking for a total of 26.6 kilometers. A large gap formed early in the first section as the bikers fought to impose themselves and some quickly burned out.

One fast transition later and there were off running like mad hatters to reach the swimming section. During the run a Swedish team, Sweco Karlstad Adventure, had an unfortunate accident. Whilst running one of their racers was looking down to adjust a strap and he ran straight into a light-post. Kristen Larsson, following right behind, ran smack into him and was knocked out cold for a few seconds. When she came to they continued running, dragging Kristen, but when she arrived at the swimming transition she just collapsed. As her heart rate was abnormally high for an extended period of time the race doctor withdrew the four from the race and for a while it was unsure if they would continue.

Whilst the Swedes were receiving medical attention the other 37 teams were fast into the water for a 900 meter swim that quickly sorted the wheat from the chaff. This is where racers coming from a triathlon background really stood out as the choppy sea waters showed no mercy.

After each team member had punched in to the CP at the end of this section they quickly transited to the sea kayaks. Stronger swimmers were seen waiting impatiently on the shore for their less strong swimmers and three teams lost at least one of their SI cards in the water (ADCO,Speleo Salomon and TriAdventure), costing them a five minute penalty for each one lost; in a race as fast as this one five minutes hurts.

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