---

Sun, High Winds and Hail Showers

Press release / 22.06.2011

The second edition of the Grand Raid Nord Pas de Calais started today in the town of Calais, France and will finish Sunday in the city of Lille. Throughout the week, the Grand Raid, organized by the world renowned adventure racer Karine Baillet, will be a celebration of outdoor sports that will gather in the Northern Region of the country some of the best teams on the international adventure racing circuit as well as beginners who will be able to test their mettle in specific disciplines.

The first day of racing, in Calais, was dedicated on one hand to young people involved in the national student challenge, and secondly to the first stage of the Elite adventure race. Thus these youngsters were able to rub shoulders with some of the best racers in the world coming from New Zealand, Spain, Ukraine, Sweden and many parts of France.

The future champions and the elite racers competed in several identical disciplines such as sea kayaking, orienteering, mountain biking and trail running but above all else the children were in awe of their role models, delighted to able to mingle so freely with them.

The teams on the Elite adventure race have now embarked on a fierce competition over five days and 450 km. As for the students, their race ended this evening with the victory of youths from the region : a team of students from St. Joseph Touquet. They didn’t budge an inch in their battle for first place against teenaged competitors who came from as far away as the region of the Drôme.

See All Stories On This Race