Le Grand Raid
Wilsa wins the first edition of the Grand Raid
Anne-Marie Dunhill / 27.06.2010
The first edition of the Grand Raid Nord Pas de Calais finished today in the town of Wasquehal. On the fourth and last section racers did a total of 56,5km with five sections consisting of trail,kayak,mtb,orienteering and rollerblading.
Teams reported that the trail through the city of Orchies to Marchiennes was difficult as the route was a flat,straight line;according to one French team, they survived only by using their willpower. The 8km kayak section along a canal was completed under a clear blue sky as temperatures rose. The three leading teams paddled together again today,gliding into the mountain biking transition together and scrambling up the steep embankment to the transition area.
At one point the mountain biking stage took the cobblestone route of the famous Paris-Roubaix, their wheels making a distinctive click click click sound, before heading through fields of wheat. A horse-riding endurance event was taking place along the same route in the other direction and mountain bikers were surprised to meet the four legged creatures head-on.
A short orienteering section in a public windmill park was the last section of the stage. The park was full of picnickers who watched bemused as sweaty teams of four scoured the grounds in search of the elusive check points. Every once in awhile they seemed to take a liking to a team and would indicate the direction with a nod of the head. Relaxing in the grass with a beer after the section,one French team told about their adventures along the coast on an earlier stage near Sangatte. A immigrant camping in a remote field before attempting the crossing to England indicated to them the right route to take, which delighted their orienteer who is known for his skills.
SleepMonsters
