The Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge Is Underway!

The fourth edition off the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge got underway today, with 50 coed teams setting off on a six day, stage based adventure race that will see them running, biking, paddling, and navigating their way through a course that was undergoing tweaks and adjustments right up to the start of the race.

As of this writing, the first stage is still underway, with the lead teams currently on the final run of the day. The Prologue was won by the Kiwi team of Thule Adventure, which consists of defending champs Richard and Elina Ussher, Marcel Hagener, and AR legend Nathan Fa'avae. That same team currently leads the race out on the course, with Thule Adventure Team/Europe running in second place. Team Netcompetence Training Portals/Explore holding down the third spot.

Over the course of the next few days, the teams will be racing stages of various lengths and disciplines. For example, tomorrow they'll take on a 20km (12.4 mile) mountain bike stage before moving into a mountaineering/orienteering section that will incorporate a ropes course as well. The stages that follow wiill be longer and offer more mountain biking, orienteering, paddling, and of course trekking.

For the past few years the ADAC has held down the final spot on the year's adventure racing calendar. It seems the race is off to a great start again this year, and will close out 2010 in grand fashion.