X-adventure Raid Series
A Stormy Alpine Raid
Media Release/Rob / 12.07.2004
This Alpine stage of the Raid Series, set around Mont Blanc, is traditionally one of the toughest of the year, and the course included nearly 8000m of ascent and some very technical riding and paddling in it’s 12 stages. The race was also plagued by bad weather, with cloud and cold temperatures making the challenge even harder and every qualification point hard earned.
There was a lot of pressure on many teams too, as this third stage was the last opportunity for those who had not ensured their qualification for the Raid World Championship, but were still hoping to avoid the long and expensive journey to the final stage of the 2004 season in Australia in September. The teams who didn’t race in Oregon last month, or did badly in the United States, were particularly motivated - especially any from zone IV (France, Switzerland, Benelux). With only 7 spots available for Argentina, next November, this is by far the most keenly contested group.
French Teams Race for Argentina
If Salomon Suisse, Les Arcs-Quechua and Ertips Salomon France could race in relative security, the same could not be said of French teams Intersport, Aveyron Terrre D’aventures, Explorer Sport 2000 and Scott-Vaucluse Aventures, all clustered around the seventh place but under threat from teams having chosen to race only one of the first two stages. Sybelles-Esf, Eafit.Com and Wilsa Sport/Helly Hansen were all back in this race to threaten their position … and they all put in strong performances with top 10 finishes.
Specialists in alpine skiing, the quartet of Sybelles-Esf made an impressive start to this stage, which was tailor-made to their strengths. \"On courses involving a lot of MTB or with several water based sections, we don’t have a chance but on this stage, it was another story,\" one of the team predicted. The first trek on the opening day, although shortened because of severe weather conditions, proved them right as they took the lead at the top of the Tachuy pass (2,673m) and won a section that needed crampons to cover a route snow-bound at altitude.
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