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The Racers Have Been Briefed

Jon Brooke / 26.05.2004

Following the fall of the former Yugoslavia the country went through several years of civil war before reaching its current state of peace divided into six new countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro and F.Y.R Macedonia. It’s easy to see though why it’s increasingly being seen as a tourist destination though because the scenery in the event area is awesome in the true sense of the word.

Fantastically steep and jagged mountains rise up from the sea, with lush river valleys twisting between them, while rugged and barren islands just off the coast sit in a crystal clear sea.

And as a reminder of the recent past the organizers have also included a section of the course, which will take the teams by bike through villages destroyed in the war with strict instructions (seriously) not to leave the tracks at some points due to uncleared landmines. Could this be a first in adventure racing?

Even from the event center in Omiš the views are amazing, as can be seen in the photo, which was taken just a few hundred yards from the town center, but after tomorrow the next time the teams see this view will be at the end of the race as they paddle down the river ... assuming that they get here that is.

Which of the teams will be first home is a question that is yet to be answered. Perhaps the pre-race favourites are eVent Endure led by Anna McCormack though at the briefing she was maintaining a low profile claiming that she hadn’t done much training lately. Could it be a ruse?

Who knows, but others were a bit more upbeat – Bruno Rey of top French team EADS was forthright in saying that they were here to win although he also said that he had to be humble and admit that anything could happen. Unfortunately aussie team AROC who were second at Primal Quest last year had to pull out due to injury though there are still other strong teams who could challenge for the lead.

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