---

Locals steal Stage One!

Jacqueline Windh / 25.02.2010

It’s midnight and I’m just in from Talampaya National Park - firing off a quick report before I get my 3 or perhaps nearly 4 hours of sleep tonight. So I’m typing fast - results are still unofficial but here’s what I’ve got.

It was an out-and-back route today - out around 13 km on mountainbike from the park entrance to the start of the canyon, then an 18 km run up and back down the canyon and back on to the bikes. Everyone was expecting heat and dehydration - but by the time we got into the park for the evening start it was overcast and a strong and chilly wind was blowing.

The first bike leg was straight into the wind - some teams punched hard into it, and some really suffered in the conditions. I had got early transport up to PC3, at the top of the canyon (which means I didn’t see any of the first biking), and so I got a really good look at the amazing rock formations while the light was still good. I started working my way down the canyon at 7pm, just when the race was starting down below, and intercepted the first teams about halfway through the section.

See All Stories On This Race