Racing where there are no roads
The fastest, fittest, sharpest adventure racing teams from around the world came together amid the high mountain ranges of South Africa for the sport's biggest contest. The winning team was the first to successfully rappel, paddle, trek, and portage through some of the most unforgiving territory on earth. Don't miss Outside Online's chat about
the Raid: Can Americans ever win?
Event coverage
Live from Lesotho
Ertips has won it again, strolling across the finish line, looking not bad after more than nine days amid the cliffs, canyons, and basalt mountains of the tough territory of Lesotho, South Africa. Outside Online correspondent James Bowyer covered the action and filed daily reports of the eighth annual Raid Gauloises.
Team standings
Feb. 3: Ertips wins the Raid with little trouble
Feb. 2: Misery loves company
Feb. 1: Lead teams struggle into mountain-biking leg
Jan. 31: Racers fight blisters, scabies, and dehydration
Jan. 30: Halfway mark sees attrition rise
Jan. 29: Raiders in good spirits as 24-hour hike begins
Jan. 28: Raiders feeling effects of rain
Jan. 27: Storm threatens horseback-riding Raiders
Jan. 26: Battle is on for race lead
Jan. 25: Raiders start with grueling climb
Jan. 24: Calm before the storm
Profile
The Republic of Raid
A potent combination of agony and ecstasy has made the Raid Gauloises the Holy Grail of endurance racing. After eight years, Raid founder and organizer Gerard Fusil looks to the future of his ode to self-punishment.
Introduction
Battling through the "kingdom in the sky"
South Africa's Lesotho region is host to what may prove to be the toughest Raid Gauloises in the event's eight-year history. Frequent thunderstorms, raging whitewater, and jagged peaks will test the world's best adventure racing teams as they travel across this unforgiving land.
Profile
At 53, Angelika Castaneda tackles her third Raid
Tough as nails--and Navy SEALs--Angelika Castaneda has spent her life pushing beyond her limits. She's kicked butt in 100-mile and 50-mile races, the Ironman, and any other extreme event she has entered. Her key is finding a mantra. This year: "I am doing it in faith."
Feature
Race course toughest in event's history
From the soaring Champaign Castle Peaks surrounding the starting point to the whitewater of the steep-banked Mkamazi River near the finish line, this year's Raid Gauloises is said by many to be the toughest yet.
Looking back
Outside Online's 1995 coverage
Last year after a seven-day haul through the Patagonian wilderness, the French Team Coflexip narrowly beat Team Intersport, also of France, which arrived at the finish line five hours later.
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