Southern Traverse
Race is on for Lead at Southern Traverse
Victoria Warman/Southern Traverse / 11.11.2003
Team Cycle Surgery Scott USA which led the field into the kayaking and trekking section from Transition Six made a tactical error this afternoon allowing Team Icebreaker Bridgedale to get in front. The section is the longest and toughest of the event and is complicated by the fact that strategic check points are being used. This means teams can pass through the five checkpoints (30-35) in any order they want.
"We now have a real race on here," Race Director Geoff Hunt said. "The route choices teams are taking require a lot of tactics and will in the end determine who leads the others out of this stage."
Also well up among the leaders is Team Green Decoys who are trekking in a clockwise direction while most of the others have opted to take the anti-clockwise route.
There are 12 teams competing on the main circuit while others who made it to Transition Six during the day, but after the cut off at 9.00am, are on the shortened adventure course. There will be another cut off at 9.00pm tonight at Transition Six and teams not there by the deadline will go on to the experience course, which does not include any of the Lammerlaws/Lamermoors.
Among the unlucky teams were the Russians, Team Bask, who made it to Transition 6 at 9.39 am too late to continue on the main course.
Four teams are now racing unranked with just three members, including the favoured Team Omnigraphics team whose captain Rachel Barton had to withdraw last night due to illness. This team is currently well up with the lead teams but has no official status.
Four teams have now officially withdrawn.
Team CivicCorp who returned to Transition Five because of an ill team member has resumed the race, with all four members, but is competing on the short course.
The weather throughout the day has been wet, cold and misty but competitors are said to be in good spirits.
Team Outdoor World member Sarah Kennedy summed it up "when you think you can't go any further, you change disciplines and get a new lease of energy."
The first teams are likely to be at Transition Seven after kayaking back to Lake Mahinerangi later this evening. The winners are expected at St Clair Beach tomorrow with all the teams finishing by Saturday.
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