Xtremo6000
The top prize: cash, free entry to the Worlds in Spain, and 4 paid airfares, is a big draw
Jacqueline Windh / 24.02.2010
The first team I caught up with was Brazil’s Oskalunga WRR1. Bárbara Bomfim and Diogo Malagon were working on their bikes behind the hotel, so I popped over for a chat. They, along with team-mates Frederico Gall and Rafael Melges, will be pushing hard for the number one spot. This team brings a lot of experience to the event - Bárbara and Frederico have been racing as Oskalunga for years, placing 4th in the World’s 2008 (Brazil) and taking 3rd at EcoMotion the following year as well.
I then had a chat with Uruguay’s team Trek/MG Kayak, another team with a lot of racing experience. Racing as a mixed team of three in the Elite category are Ruben Manduré, Aldana Cetra, and Estanislao Claisse. All three competed in the 2007 edition of Xtremo2007; Ruben has raced with both Aldana and Estanislao, but it is the first time that all three are racing together. “We’re really happy to be back here,â€? said Ruben. “It’s going to be a fast race, and there are some really good teams here. As for us, we’ll just see how the high altitudes affect us.â€?
But the Argentineans are definitely not going to let the foreigners off easy. This is the first time that Hernán Stopnikowski, Corina Butti, Ariel Ferreira, and Esteban Oliver have competed together, but together they have a wealth of experience in long-distance adventure races such as EcoMotion and Desafío de los Volcanes. As newly formed Team Merida Laboratorios Abraham, they also will be pushing hard to make the podium. “We are completely ready, anxious to start racing,â€? Esteban told me.
Hernán and Corina commented on the unusual format of the race - including very short “explosiveâ€? stages such as on Day 1, with its short distance and easy navigation, mixed with longer and tougher stages that bring together longer distances, high altitudes, and more technical aspects.
And indeed they are right - this will be a very interesting race, because of its variety. The team who wins really will be the team who can best manage all of the terrain, all of the disciplines, and all of the speeds.
SleepMonsters
