Raid in France
Lead Three Teams Swap Places at Raid in France
Press Release / 07.06.2017
On the third full day of action at Raid in France the race leaders, 400 Team Naturex, stopped for a 3 hour sleep and allowed two other teams to pass them. It was a brave move but could pay dividends in the final quarter of the race - sleep strategy is a vital part of expedition adventure racing. Further back most teams were in the Ardeche Gorge today.
The following is a summary of the situation on Wednesday evening from the race organisation.
Today we could enjoy all the particularities of Ardèche. Between teams located on the South of the route, who sailed the river to Sauze village and those at the first teams which are now in Tanargue massif, teams were on the whole department. Some teams stepped into the prehistoric cave of Saint-Marcel, the deepest of Ardèche, by the natural entry specially opened for Raid in France. Others scaled the Dent de Rez, the highest point of Southern Ardèche from which we can enjoy a beautiful view on the Cévennes, Mont Lozère, Alps, Baronnies, Mont Ventoux and Dentelles de Montmirail. Finally, other teams sailed on Ardèche river between Vogüe and Pradons, going along the picturesque villages of Balazuc and Chauzon.
Lozère Sport Nature, 400 Team Naturex and Gravelines Tri – DSN74 Scott Hoka, the top-trio of this Raid in France, continue their progression and the distance between them is still short, far away from their followers. The winners’ podium of this 9th edition of Raid in France seems known, excepted if a surprise happened during the last kilometers. However, we cannot guess the ranking because each one has adopted its own strategy. The team 400 Team Naturex stopped this afternoon to have a 3 hours sleep at Joannas castle at AT9/CP21. In total, they have already sleep 8 hours out of the 11 mandatory. Whereas Lozère Sport Nature and Gravelines Tri – DSN74 Scott Hoka went ahead and made the choice to sleep during the night to avoid orienteering mistakes. To sum up, Lozère Sport Nature has five hours to take before the end of the race and Gravelines Tri – DSN74 Scott Hoka has four hours. In this context, the final ranking in which the finish line on Devesset lake will be crossed tomorrow is uncertain. The winner is forecast at 8:00 pm.
In the early evening, all the teams abseiled Autridge rock, famous site of the gorges. Tomorrow, the majority of them will start the MTB bike session in the volcanic landscapes of the regional natural park of the Monts d’Ardèche. Among sweet chestnuts, pastures and ridges they will pass through the Tanargue, nicknamed thunder mountain with its altitude of 1511 meters, scale the Abraham rock, take a selfie in front of the statue in honor of Jean Gilly, before continuing along the ridges from which there is a beautiful view on Southern Cévennes.
SleepMonsters
