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Press Release 4 : Saturday, June 25th

Press Release / 26.06.2011

Todays format on the Grand Raid Nord Pas de Calais was an original one. For the fourth stage the organizers accepted the participation of « Sunday adventure racers » from the Northern region to battle for victory amongst the best teams in the world who have been racing since Wednesday when they took off from Calais. It is as if one of the last stages of the Tour de France was opened to amateurs.

47 teams rose to the challenge : racing in teams of two, which represents an advantage over teams in the Elite category who are racing in teams of four, including one woman.

The confrontation took place near Lille in the Saint-Amand les Eaux region with much less favorable weather conditions than the rest of France is currently enjoying. The disciplines involved included orienteering, mountain biking, bike and run and kayaking over no less then 82.5 kilometres.

Fresh and highly motivated, several teams in the Challenger category were able to take the lead in the race during the first 13 kilometres of trail. One of these teams was even able to maintain the over-all lead for about twenty kilometres, until the end of the kayak section. But the endurance, the organization and the sheer force of the global elites re-emerged and the sporting hierarchy has been maintained.

This format is an interesting one which was met with great enthusiasm by a large number of participants. It clearly encourages, for example, young racers to persevere and progress on the path of adventure racing.

Sunday is the final stage of the Grand Raid which will finish in Lille.

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