Raid in France
Preparing for Raid in France
Helen Smith / 12.09.2014
Race HQ is at the cultural centre in Vals Pres-le-puy where each team has to check in and have all their equipment and certifications checked meticulously and signed off.
Teams also had to show they could ascend and traverse across a loose rope against a concrete wall and abseil back down, which was proving to be tricky for even experienced climbers with all the equipment involved. RAID in France is one of the more technical races and teams have had to ensure they have been signed off as competent prior to arriving on a number of disciplines such as kayaking, swimming, navigational skills and rope work.
There are 29 teams in total, mostly French teams but also a Swiss, Swedish, German & Belgian team. There is one UK team (Lakes Multi-Sport) and also a South African/living in the UK team (Cross Contour) while Sabrina Verjee also from the UK is racing with French team AGDE RAID Aventure - Cyrpeo
There is a lot of buzz and conversations happening about how long each leg is going to be, what food to put in bike boxes or barrels etc...it is expected they will be in the mountains at the start so more warm clothes will be needed then with potentially the canyoning early on in the course as well. People are saying to pack lots of food as Pascal’s races are all about getting back to nature so expect to be away from any civilisation...but of course it's all speculation as no one really knows what the organisers have in store! Not yet.
The briefing begins at 6pm tonight and at 7.15 the opening ceremony and the introduction to the teams in the quaint and hilly village of Le Puy-en-Velay.
On Saturday the prologue kicks off at 4pm and then teams will be camping overnight with the official race start at 5.30am Sunday.
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