Bimbache Raid Platja d\'Aro 2013
Lead Teams Suffer on a Tough Course
Press Team Bimbache Raid Plata d'Aro / 12.09.2013
The second day of the race has taken teams from the coast to elevations of 2200m in Vallter2000 ski resort, without the time to take any rest.
On top of the demands of the course the night of Tuesday to Wednesday it was raining all the time and at dawn the fog made life even more difficult. In the daytime temperatures improved, but at more than 2000m elevation they have remained below 10 ° C.
The weather, distance (190km), and difference in altitude, on top of the delayed start which meant more time in darkness, meant the second section of Platja d'Aro Extrem Bimbache was very hard for many teams.
Unfortunately, in this section we have seen the abandonment of Team Meridian Raid (ESP), from an accumulation of fatigue, Team Cyanosis of South Africa, due to tendinitis suffered by Clinton Macintoch, and of the leaders, Buff Adventure Addicts (ESP), who missed one of the CPs. That 3 of the top teams had to pull out so early is a measure of the difficulty of the race.
After this first section of biking teams have began a trekking stage that would take them to the Núria Valley, passing through some of the most iconic peaks in the area. The first to begin this stage, after the disqualification of Buff, were Grifone Platja d'Aro (ESP) and Absolu Raid Rodez (FR), with the Spanish team having pulled ahead shortly after CP13.
On arrival at Nuria the Catalan team were 1hour 15min ahead of the French team and here they could rest at the 4 hour mandatory stop and take a hot meal, but only after a fun SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) challenge on the lake. Currently, three teams have already arrived here and they will continue to onwards to ride to the only kayaking section of the race.
These are the teams that have come to Núria so far: 1.Grifone-Bimbache 2. Absolut raid Rodez (FR) 3. Safety Aquitaine (FR) 4. Antioquia Trangoworld 5. Team Salomon Trail Tour (DK) 6. Averne outdoor (FR) with Team Powerbar expected next.
[Ed; Team Cyanosis sent this update after their withdrawal from the race
Team Cyanosis has had to withdraw from the Raid Bimbache due to injury.
The team is obviously disappointed but Clinton Macintosh has developed a knee ligament injury where continuing would not be in his best interests. The extremely demanding nature of this race course has taken its toll. The team has completed 140km of the first 160 km bike leg, having already accumulated about 5500m of climb by since the start of the race, meaning that there is only about 14000m of climb left to complete.
Team Cyanosis had a good start to the race, finding themselves in the top 5 early on. At one stage during the first night, the team managed to climb as high as 2nd for a short while, but then started dropping back rapidly as problems started to surface. The team is currently drowning their sorrows in their coffee and hot chocolate in a restaurant in the village of Mollo, before being transported to a nearby transition by the race organizers.
Race Director Antonio de la Rosa has to be commended for pulling a rabbit out of the hat at the last moment and saving this race. The course has been challenging but fair and definitely one to remember for the competing teams. Hopefully all goes well for the organizing team for the rest of the race.]
Our other featured team, Beacon AR (UK) are still racing and bringing up the rear of the field.
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