Raid Gauloises
The Parallax Effect
Chris/Raid Gauloises / 29.04.2002
A superb performance and extraordinarily well managed first leg, from the colourful and boisterous start in Bac Ha to the first assistance point in Thac Mo, leaves Team Parallax in third place as they leave CP14. Leading throughout the gruelling initial trek (on which 3 teams were disqualified after losing a team member) they only stopped to rest after the MTB section when they were they passed by French teams VSD-Eider and Ertips.
On their arrival at CP14, Assistance Point 1, we spoke to the team about the race so far starting with the trek. “The rain storm was quite cool but our feet are sore and definitely very tender. We just put a lot of miles under our feet right off the bat, so the paddling was a welcome rest and the next MTB section will be good“.
As they arrived at the short trekking section between CP11 and CP12, Tony took a tactical decision and the team stopped for a short sleep. “We stopped for one hour on the hike between the MTB and the canoeing section at about 08h30 to 09h30. It was there we heard VSD and Ertips pass us. We had planned it that way but it was a necessity for us. These races are like a yo-yo and you have to sleep“.
Temperatures began to soar the moment they left Bac Ha and have remained high despite the overnight thunderstorm on Saturday, “Gary’s been feeling the heat but it’s getting to all of us a little bit�. But this is the price they must pay given the breadth of their ambitions: “We wanted to be up front and we feel being near the top is where we belong, at least that’s our goal�.
With a thousand kilometres to cover and only one day in, this is sure to be one of the most forbidding races in their busy calendar: “We’ll know in about four days. I still can\'t even think how hard it is. And it’s much longer than I expected. It’s even difficult to comprehend – much longer than any race that anyone has ever done before�.
Many top teams, especially those who eye the rare spots at the zenith of the podium rarely have time to concentrate on anything other than the next step or discipline confronting them. Not so Parallax who also appreciate the race surroundings: “It\'s beautiful and everyone is really nice. Unfortunately last night’s canoeing section was all in the dark and I\'m sure we missed something quite wonderful while we were sleeping and paddling, sleeping and paddling.
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