Muddy Mountain Bikes Aim For Coast

You Are Here:

Home >> Muddy Mountain Bikes Aim For Coast

Today's Question
How do you make primitive snowshoes? answer

What should you do if you get lost driving in a snow storm? answer

Today's Question
What is the greenest ski and snowboard on the market? answer

Can I really damage a coral reef with sunscreen while snorkeling? answer

What kind of dog will make me look manlier? answer
Is there a sport that safely combines my twin passions for guns and kayaks? answer
How come most of the world's cultures enjoy eating goat, but Americans don't? answer

Online Favorites

Special Issues

Photo Galleries

Elf Authentic Adventure
April 14-29, 2000
Muddy Mountain Bikes Aim For Coast
One week later, race is at half-way point

By Ari Cheren

Team No. 14, Caloi Lontra Radical Competition, rides back from CP21 toward 20 after abandoning the race Friday afternoon.

Fazenda Varzea, Brazil, HQ4/CP27 (April 21, 2000)—Six teams dropped out of competition Friday, as the 2000 Elf Authentic Adventure entered its second week of competition, approximately 425 kilometers from the start line. While Pharmanex-Spie continued their methodical advance for the ocean and a coastal run to the finish, much of the field shifted to survival mode, hoping to make it to this transition headquarters - and get off their feet.

For six teams, those chances were dashed today when, for various reasons, they abandoned hope of finishing the race in any fashion, becoming spectators on what will surely be remembered as the most tiring vacation of their lives.

EMA Brazil (11), whose position was no lower than sixth until CP17, abandoned their journey today at CP19 after missing CP18 altogether during the trekking section.

The American team Loch Harris Cold Water (15) also ended their adventure Friday after getting hopelessly lost between CP17 and 18 and missing the cut-off at HQ3. Zip.net (02) dropped out today as well, their listed reason being "too tired."

Team 36, Accor-Reussir Ensemble, had been racing at the back of the field for most of the race and had a "progressive withdrawal." Team 14, Caloi Lontra Radical Competition had been mid-pack until CP18, and abandoned at CP21. The final withdrawal was team seven, Terra da Luz, who apparently left their female teammate at CP18, then missed CP19.

Today's racing took place entirely on mountain bikes, as teams were required to transition off the trek by 10:00 a.m. this morning - which all but two teams (15 and seven) were able to do. Once on the bikes, however, the work was far from over for racer's feet as the competitors were forced to portage their bikes through the mud over an enormous 175-kilometer bike course.

"It was brutal," said Pharmanex-Spie's Cathy Sassin as she sat at CP27, nearly nine hours ahead of the field. "I applaud any team that can finish that mountain bike course. My brakes are shot, my gears are shot and the whole bike was caked in mud and grit. There is no clear water anywhere, with all the rains. I've literally been drinking dirt the past two days."

Sassin and her crew were resting at HQ4 before heading out into the dark, moonlit night on their kayaks, timing the trip down the river with the tides and a dark zone at the next checkpoint.

FujiFilm passed Team Paul Vatine for second position, but are way behind the leaders. "That could change with these dark zones though," warned Sassin, as the final few days of the Elf Adventure offer the hope of some competition to the experienced, and so far dominant, Pharmanex-Spie squad.