Lance isn't the only thing happening in the Alps this month. Here is stage 3 of the X-Adventure Raid Series:
STAGE 3 – A COLD, DAMP START BACK
This stunning location was much more misnomer than moniker as under a lowering sky, swollen with grey, threatening clouds and the mercury at 5°C, that the narrow conga-line of bikes snaked its way onto the first section of day (30km of MTB). For the first time, the customary “free for all” start gave way to a disciplined departure by teams, in numerical order, with 30 seconds between each one; the course being too narrow to accommodate more than one rider abreast. Definitely not abreast of affairs was Argentinean team SALOMON PATAGONIA (ARG) who, perhaps groggy from the jet lag, had still to pick up their maps and road book even minutes after the off…
STAGE 3 – SECTION A – SYBELLES-ESF (FRA) SETS THE PACE
After an effort that lasted exactly 2:08:38 this morning, SYBELLES-ESF (FRA), after combating the tortuous routes and arduous weather of this alpine massif, was the first to check in at the first assistance point, located at Pierre Giret. This squad of French ski-instructors outpaced the specialists of EAFIT.COM (FRA) and WILSA SPORT/HELLY HANSEN (FRA) by around 2’30. “The course was quite fast a first on the tarmac but suddenly became really tough", explained Julien GILLY, a member of WILSA SPORT/HELLY HANSEN (FRA). “The route went up a steep incline and that broke our rhythm a little. Fortunately, there was a downhill section so we could recover some time.”
Race favourites SALOMON SUISSE (CHE), ran into trouble almost immediately as they were held up by several punctures throughout the 30km, putting them in an uncommon 9th place in the provisional ranking. The Helene Jackson’s bloodied knee (SAAB SALOMON - GBR) was also indicative of the possible problems encountered by the Brits, as they came in 21st on this section. Hardly better positioned, LES ARCS-QUECHUA (FRA) showed up in only 17th place, with nearly 13 minutes between themselves and the leaders.
Four Teams: FAAP (BRA); RAID ITALIA (ITA); SAAB (SWE) and WESTERN AUSTRALIA (AUS) were unable to finish the section in time, missed the departure gate at assistance 1 (last start before 09h30) and were forced to skip the second section of the day.
Under deteriorating weather conditions, with in particular a dense and persistent fog at altitude, the organizers had to modify the route of this second section, a long 15.4km trek, though crampons remained a an essential and obligatory piece of kit.
STAGE 3 – SECTION B – SYBELLES-ESF (FRA) RESISTS CHALLENGE FROM SPIE/THE NORTH FACE (FRA)
The race continued over a slightly modified course for the first trek of the day, severe weather conditions forced the organisation to eliminate CPs 5, 6 and 7. This meant that the raiders could neither reach the zenith of the course, located close to the Fréduaz glacier (2,909m), nor ascend Mount Valaisan (2,832m). The teams were consequently redirected back into a narrow valley below the ridge.
The cold and violent wind did little to blunt the will and ambitions of SYBELLES-ESF (FRA) and the skiers from France are increasingly eager to leave their mark on this the most discerning weekend of the season. “We managed to complete the two sections perfectly, without making any orienteering errors and that’s what really counts," explained a team-member. "We know that on this stage, the slightest mistake will be very severely sanctioned so we have top remain focussed all the time.” “Nevertheless, we still had great time on the flying-fox at Lake Bella Combe," added Lionel BONNELL. "The trek was very tough with a very demanding first climb (NB: to the pass at Tachuy – 2,673m) and the going was rendered even more difficult by the presence of abundant snow." Originating from Toussuire, the team managed all the same to limit the damage by putting in the 3rd fastest time on the section, 6 minutes behind LES ARCS-QUECHUA (FRA). "We had a difficult ride this morning but, fortunately, Christophe had enough strength for all three of us and took turns in pulling both Bill and myself," confided Roland LEBEAU. "We then found our rhythm completely and hit the sweet spot on this trek. We managed a good time on the canoe leading to the flying-fox and, from there, began to pull away from our closest rivals." ERTIPS (FRA) put in the 2nd best time on the section ahead of SPIE/THE NORTH FACE (FRA), followed by SALOMON SUISSE (CHE), with François FALOCCI, a last minute inclusion in the team, taking his role to heart. "It is an honour to be invited by Alain for this stage and I owe it to myself to perform to expectations. They are very serious customers and I’m not getting any downtime," smiled the erstwhile captain of EIDER (FRA).
Food and the hot drinks were more than welcome at assistance point 2, located at the Petit Saint Bernard pass; an historical location, famous for its tricky climatic conditions and a chill wind (3°C today at 12:00) that blows unremittingly. In the XIX century, this pass was the only border-crossing between France and Italy. A hospice was built at this altitude (2,153m) by monks who gathered the courageous refugees coming from the other side of Mont Blanc, most of whom unfortunately died, falling victim to the cold and exhaustion.
STAGE 3 – SECTION C – WILSA SPORT/HELLY HANSEN (FRA) GO FOR BROKE!
With weary legs, made all the more so by the punishing cold at altitude, the efforts of the raiders in overcoming the 1,821m of elevation gain on the way to the pass at Petit Saint Bernard were justly rewarded by a sinuous, MTB downhill dash along an ancient Roman road.
19.5km long, this delightful descent took the competitors from an altitude of 2,153m to the meagre 780m of the white-water base run by Arc Aventures, located at Bourg Saint Maurice. The trio of WILSA-HELLY HANSEN (FRA) demonstrated their boldness in this enjoyable enterprise by accomplishing the fastest time on the section. The team from Northern France clocked 27’58 to cover the 19.5km, giving them an average speed of close to 42kmph and providing some much needed encouragement for the team-members of Karine Baillet, disappointed by their performance on the first trek of the day: "One of the team was overdressed on the initial trek and overheated which slowed us down. It’s a shame, because we were doing so well and getting closing to the race front. But when we stopped for the flying-fox we lost our momentum and it took some time pick up the pace again. That explains our 15th time on the trek."
SYBELLES-ESF (FRA) maintained its hegemony after this MTB section by putting in the 2nd best time of the section, just ahead of SALOMON SUISSE (CHE).
STAGE 3 – SECTION D - RACE PACE FLATTENS IN THE PLAIN
After braving the chilly challenge of peaks and ridges, the 55 teams still racing returned to the warmth of summer in the valley, plunging with their canoes into the River Isère.
That doesn’t mean the 8km by canoe was all plain sailing. Yesterday, at the pre-race briefing, the organizers had taken the time to recommend that the least experienced competitors exercise extreme caution. Although the River Isere starts off with class 3 rapids, they quickly become class 4 further on and remain so all the way to the town of Aime, which makes navigation problematic for canoes and white-water swimmers alike. The less proficient teams were thus advised to stop halfway along the section. In doing so they would only pick up a 15-minute penalty on top of their time.
A precaution that went, of course, unheeded by the white-water specialists of ERTIPS-SALOMON FRANCE (FRA), who tamed the waves of the Isere as only experts know how. After just 30’55 on the rushing floods, the men in yellow managed the best time on this section, putting some well earned minutes between themselves and their principal adversaries: they came in 1’42 ahead of LES ARCS–QUECHUA (FRA), 1’49 of NORDIC-AVENTURE (FRA), 1’59 of INTERSPORT (FRA) but, more importantly, 3’35 ahead of SPIE-THE NORTH FACE (FRA) and WILSA SPORT/HELLY HANSEN (FRA) and 6’30 on current race leaders SYBELLES-ESF (FRA).
STAGE 3 – SECTION E – SKIERS SHOW SKILL ON SKATES
No one was surprised to see this section dominated by those athletes raised on cross-country skiing and, in particular, SALOMON SUISSE (CHE), NOKIA ADVENTURE (FIN), competing in this race without their charismatic captain Petri FORSMAN, and ADIDAS SWITZERLAND (CHE), led exceptionally this weekend by Luc BEGUIN. With such a narrow spread on this 8km section, life at the front of the provisional overall ranking remained as tight as ever, in particular among the French teams all needing valuable points from this stage in the quest to qualify for the Raid World Championship as one of the top 7 teams in their zone.
At the conclusion of this 5th section, SYBELLES-ESF (FRA) continues to head the field in the overall ranking, 3’38 ahead of ERTIPS-SALOMON FRANCE (FRA), 3’49 on SPIE-THE NORTH FACE (FRA), 5’05 in front of LES ARCS-QUECHUA (FRA) and 6’17 on SALOMON SUISSE (CHE). The first eight teams are now within 21 minutes of each other. If the white-water swimming section doesn’t look like upsetting this hierarchy, it’s a fair bet that the last two sections of the day, both with considerable doses of elevation gain, 1,010m on MTB and 1,126m on the trek, could shatter this closely knit leading formation.
STAGE 3 – SECTION F – ERTIPS SALOMON FRANCE (FRA) LIKE DUCKS TO WATER...
As equally at ease on dry land as in the more liquid elements, ERTIPS SALOMON FRANCE (FRA) continued to force the pace, whereas SYBELLES-ESF (FRA) had a rude awakening on the water.
ERTIPS SALOMON FRANCE (FRA) covered the 8km in less than 1 hour (56’35), 16 seconds in front of SALOMON SUISSE (CHE) and 2’00 ahead of SPIE-THE NORTH FACE (FRA). SYBELLES-ESF (FRA), already showing signs of stress on the preceding canoeing section, again lost 10 minutes on the leaders and let slip first place in the overall ranking.
STAGE 3 – SECTION G – ERTIPS SALOMON FRANCE (FRA) TIPS THE BALANCE
There was no sign of a smile on the weary face of Sandra LIMOUZIN (EAFIT.COM) when she arrived at assistance point 7. She even admitted to not uttering a word during the bulk of this 15km section, no doubt because of an irregular form and the cramps threatening to seize her aching legs. Moments later, after downloading her electronic timing device, she gets the word and realises that her team has just outperformed every other on this section. Powering over the 1,000m of positive elevation gain in a time of 1:03:54. That’s nearly three minutes up on the SALOMON SUISSE (CHE) and 3’35 on ERTIPS SALOMON FRANCE (FRA). The latter, without making much noise, have continued their remarkable ascension through the ranks. They now have a lead of 2’24 in the provisional race ranking over the Swiss and a little less than 7’00 on LES ARCS-QUECHUA (FRA).
As the sun began to duck behind the snow capped ridges of the massif and the marmots launched their final cries, the first teams set out again at a frantic pace to cover the ultimate section of the day, a final 18km trek with 1,100m of positive elevation gain leading to the camp-site. In addition to the stopwatch, the majority of teams will most certainly have to fight fatigue as well as the failing light.
STAGE 3 – SECTION H – SWISS SWITCH PLACES AT THE FRONT
As one might have expected, the final trek on this first day brought change to the provisional race ranking. SALOMON SUISSE (CHE) took the lead again ahead of ERTIPS SALOMON FRANCE (FRA).
Why change a winning team? Unless of course the modified team continues to win… Which is precisely what took place at the finish of the final trek today disputed in partial darkness, as SALOMON SUISSE (CHE), despite temporarily “losing” Luc Beguin to another team, succeeded in rising to the top of the provisional ranking. At the Chapieux refuge, where the campsite is located, the Swiss had already caught up with ERTIPS SALOMON FRANCE (FRA), making up more than 7 minutes on the French over the 18km mountainside course that completed this first day’s competition. Even though provisional 3rd place remains in the hands of LES ARCS-QUECHUA (FRA), a gap of some consequence has been created with the team from Haute Savoie now nearly 20 minutes behind the leaders. The other remarkable performance, at the conclusion of this first day, was supplied by EAFIT.COM (FRA), who went from 6th to 4th place of the provisional race ranking.
This 3rd stage of the season could almost be summarized as a Franco-Swiss duel since ADIDAS SWITZERLAND (CHE), led by Luc BEGUIN, seized 5th place, 43’ behind their compatriots SALOMON SUISSE (CHE). Next comes WILSA SPORT-HELLY HANSEN (FRA) followed by SPIE-THE NORTH FACE (FRA), at more than I hour behind the leaders.
“Hostilities” will continue tomorrow morning as of 04:30, with a first 5km MTB section with virtually no slope (240m of positive elevation gain); ideal as warm up session before facing the gigantic, 22.3km trek with 1,500m of positive elevation gain. The athletes will climb to the pass at Seigne (2,516m) and will cross the Arguerey glacier (summit 2,900m) and the area’s high altitude lakes.
STAGE 3 – SECTION I – SPIE-THE NORTH FACE GET THE WORM
The team-members of Beatrice PIOLAT devoured the 240m of positive elevation gain of this section in less than 20 minutes, ahead of LES ARCS-QUECHUA (FRA). Despite being a relatively short, the team from Savoie in the Fremch Alps managed to chop approximately 3’20 off the lead held by SALOMON SUISSE (CHE) from the previous day and 3 minutes off ERTIPS SOLOMON FRANCE (FRA).
STAGE 3 – SECTION K – SPIE-THE NORTH FACE TAKE ANOTHER MTB SECTION
Obviously on form, the French team SPIE-THE NORTH FACE (FRA) took their second MTB section of the day.
The teams still in the running, left the pass at Petit Saint Bernard with the mercury at 3°c and under a persistent rain, first had to confront a 3km climb to the pass at Fourclaz (2,486m) then rush down the other side on an 11km joyride to Thuile in Italy. SPIE-THE NORTH FACE (FRA) once again put in the best scratch time at 41’33, ahead of EAFIT.COM (FRA) and LES ARCS-QUECHUA (FRA). The current leaders once again managed to stretch their lead over closest rivals SALOMON SUISSE (CHE) by a further 4 minutes. The final confrontation in this race between these two trekking monsters will take place over 18km and a massive 1,300 meters of positive elevation gain.
STAGE 3 – SECTION L – SALOMON-SUISSE (CHE) FIGHT BACK BUT LES ARCS-QUECHUA (FRA) RESIST TO WIN
In spite of putting in the best scratch time on the final trek of the weekend, the Swiss team SALOMON SUISSE (CHE) were unable to deprive LES ARCS-QUECHUA (FRA) of a well-earned victory.
In the end, less than nine minutes separated the two teams that between them have won all three stages of the season so far. The final 18km and 1,500m of positive elevation gain were completed in 2:10:00 by the Swiss, two seconds in front of the Spaniards of SALOMON-BUFF (ESP) and two minutes ahead of LES ARCS-QUECHUA (FRA) who have finally won their first stage of the season. Hats off to SYBELLES-ESF (FRA), who raced brilliantly through this entire last day with only three team-members and managed a stunning 4th fastest time on the last trek. This will certainly enable them to move up in their geographical zone rankings and could make the trip to Australia worthy of consideration, especially if they wish to consolidate this position and earn to a slot for Argentina and the Raid World Championship in November.
Final partial race ranking
1. LES ARCS-QUECHUA (FRA) 17:46:02
2. SALOMON SUISSE (CHE) 17:55:29
3. ERTIPS SALOMON FRANCE (FRA) 18:08:31
4. EAFIT.COM (FRA) 18:23:32
5. SAAB SALOMON (GBR) 18:45:11
6. SYBELLES ESF (FRA) 18:46:43
7. SPIE THE NORTH FACE (FRA) 18:53:19
8. WILSA SPORT / HELLY HANSEN (FRA) 19:00:28
9. ADIDAS SWITZERLAND (CHE) 19:07:16
10. SALOMON - BUFF (ESP) 19:15:56
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