Le Grand Raid Nord Pas de Calais
Grand Raid Nord Pas de Calais : Friday, June 24th
Press Release / 24.06.2011
The Northern region as the setting of an adventure race ? The paradox is provocative and one could wonder how the racers might react, accustomed as they are to vast open spaces ; mountainous, wild and often deserted. In fact, they greatly appreciate this change in the usual scenery, surprised by the huge cliffs of Cap Blanc Nez, the coastline and its stong tides, the beautiful rivers such as Canche that they navigated on for 23km.
What has surprised them the most are the black slage heaps that have sometimes turned green over time. These symbols of the last century industrialists, sinister in the past, have turned into beautiful parks. Competitors on the Grand Raid climb up and slide down the new reliefs of the flat country without having, of course, the time to think about the miners who constructed them during a life sacrificed underground.
Each day the racers also discover some of the rich history of the North with its historical monuments : the Fort-Nieulay built in the 14th century and refurbished by Vauban, the military cemeteries which are so serene and majestic that one forgets their tragic origins, the mining trestles which always look threatening.
They have yet to discover the chips vendors but that will be for after the race!
SleepMonsters
