Mandatory Equipment Episodes 1 and 2

Awhile back I posted the trailer to a new webseries called Mandatory Equipment that was set to give us an inside look at what it takes to train for an expedition length adventure race. That teaser gave us a sample of what was to come as Team Mandatory Equipment  prepares to race in the 600km Raid The North Extreme this summer. Since that time, the team has released two episodes, and a third is on the way.

I've posted both of these videos below, and they not only serve as a great introduction to the sport, they also give you a taste of the training and preparation that are involved with major event such as the RTNE. In the first video, the team asks themselves "What Have I Gotten Myself Into?", which is a common response when teams take on a race of this length and in the second video they really get down to the training and the daunting task of getting ready for the Raid. Fans of the sport will no doubt enjoy this "behind the scenes" look at the training regime. It'll either motivate you to want to do your own race, or confirm the reasons why you never have! Enjoy!

Primal Quest 2012 Update!

A few weeks back I posted about the possibilities of Primal Quest returning in 2012, much to the surprise and delight to racers and fans across the globe. Since then, I've had emails and Facebook notes from a lot of people asking for more information. Of course, I couldn't spill too many details at the time, and to be quite honest, they are still filling in, but here is a note that I wrote last night that was posted on the Primal Quest website earlier today:

To The Adventure Racing Community: 

For the past few weeks there have been a number of rumors circulating around the Internet regarding the possible return of Primal Quest in 2012. We can confirm that those rumors are true and that wheels have been set in motion to bring this legendary event back from its hiatus.

While we can’t share specific details at this time, we can tell you that the Primal Quest team is already in negotiations to hold the race somewhere in the western United States. We have high hopes that those negotiations will come to fruition, and that we will have exciting news to share in the very near future.

For now, stay tuned and start training. Because “the World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition” hasn’t gotten any easier!

What I can share with you at the moment is that progress is being made on bringing the race back in 2012, and that the entire PQ team is very optimistic about the chances of that happening. We hope to make an official announcement within a month's time that will share details on the location and possible dates as well. For now, all I can say is that we're aiming for a seven day race to be held somewhere in the Western United States.

As the note above says, stay tuned!

Adventure Racing Gets Some Mainstream Press!

This article is a few weeks old, but I thought it was worth sharing in case you hadn't already seen it. It seems that adventure racing received some love from the mainstream courtesy of this article in the Wall Street Journal. The article serves as both an introduction to the sport and a profile of racer Kristen Beckmeyer, who races on Team Mandatory Gear, and competed in her first event back in January of 2010. The same day that this article appeared, the WSJ also published a second story on preparing for your first adventure race as well.

One interesting note from the story is that the article cites a 2010 study by the Outdoor Foundation that lists adventure racing as the fastest growing activity amongst Americans. That report says that more than 1 million people participated in AR in 2009, which is great to hear considering that many races were still on the rebound from the bad economy in that period. I think it is safe to say that adventure racing is as healthy as it has ever been, and that it has a very bright future.

Receiving coverage from a source like the Wall Street Journal is a huge plus for adventure racing in general. We has a reporter from the paper with us at Primal Quest Montana and I can tell you that it significantly raised the profile of the event. Those of us who follow, compete, and already love the sport don't need a story like this one to remind us of how much fun AR can be, but it is always nice to help introduce it to a new audience, and perhaps keep the current growth cycle going.

Checkpoint Tracker Rankings (May 6 - 2011)

The Checkpoint Tracker adventure racing series is the premiere AR league in North America, with 57 different promoters offering nearly 170 events across the country. Those events are worth points on the CPT leaderboards, and will eventually determine who gets to race in the North American Championship to be held in Kentucky this October.

As of today, here are the most current standing on the leaderboard Team Checkpoint Zero/Tech4o have taken over first place after winning the Yuki-Bar event that took place in North Carolina on the 29th of April.

There is still a lot of racing to go until October however, and the top ten list is stacked with excellent teams, all of which are gunning for a spot in the championship this fall. Stay tuned for regular updates on the series, leading all the way up to the big showdown at the Land Between the Lakes later this year.

Checkpoint Tracker North American Rankings - Coed Elite Division
Rank	Team	Points
1st	Checkpoint Zero/Tech4o	243
2nd	Mountain Khakis/Rev3 Adventure	168
3rd	Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptic	156
4th	Florida Xtreme Adventure Racing Club	145
5th	Odyssey Adventure Racing-ImONPoint.org	144
6th	TeamSOG	125
7th	Green Paw Adventure Sports	122
8th	Team ROC Gear/4LPH4 1337	103
9th	Vignette	100
9th	WEDALI	100
View Complete Rankings by Division

Adventure Lisa Launches AR Podcast, Interviews Team Cyanosis On Eve Of Expedition Africa

Expedition Africa, a 500km long adventure race that takes place in the Western Cape of South Africa, is set to get underway this weekend, and in preparation AR guru Lisa de Speville has launched a new podcast during which she interviews two members of Team Cyanosis, who will be taking part in the event.

Lisa chats with team captain Clinton Mackintosh and navigator Nicholas Mulder about what challenges they expect out of the race, who their main competitions will be, and their strategic approach to an event of this length. The podcast is just another great addition to Lisa's already fantastic AR website, which covers the sport in South Africa and beyond.

To listen to the interview in its entirety, click here.

When she isn't covering adventure racing and other endurance sports, or training and competing in them herself, Lisa keeps herself busy with her other project,  FEAT, which is a night filled with adventure talks given by some great South African explorers and adventurers. During the event, those inspiring men and women have exactly seven minutes to share an experience from their expeditions with the audience in a way that is a lot like TED Talks on speed.

Gear Junkie Interviews U.S. Adventure Racing Champs

The Gear Junkie has always been a big fan of adventure racing. He's even competed in some of the biggest events around, including the Wenger Patagonia Expedition Race earlier this year. Today, he's got a great interview with Team WEDALI, the reigning U.S. Adventure Racing National Champions.

In the interview, WEDALI talks about the keys to their success, their primary strengths, and their pre-race strategies for competing. They also talk gear, what their favorite items are, and share some tips for better performance. The interview ends with the team sharing the news that the team is organizing its first race this summer, at the 10th Annual Adventure-O in Minneapolis, MN. on July 9th.

This interview is a good one for anyone interested in starting in adventure racing or is fairly new to the sport. There is so much to learn and it is nice to get a good perspective, and some useful tips from, from a successful team that has been competing for awhile.

I had a chance to meet the team at Primal Quest a few years back (GJ even uses one of my pictures in this article!) and I can tell you that they are a great group of racers. While they are very talented, and highly focused, they still have a lot of fun out on the course, which is something some teams have forgotten how to do. Team WEDALI works hard and have a great mindset for the sport, and I'm happy to see them racing so well.

Gold Rush Mother Lode Adventure Race Joins AR World Series

A couple of weeks back I told you about a great adventure race called the Gold Rush Mother Lode that is scheduled to take place in California from September 8-11. At the time, I mentioned how the race was expedition length, but not grueling long, and that it was a very affordable option for teams that didn't have the time or resources to take pat in one of the longer races happening in North America this year. It turns out that the organizers of the Mother Lode have given us yet one more reason to put this race on the radar, as they announced over the weekend that they are now a part of the Adventure Racing World Series.

What this means for racers is that there is now a second ARWS qualifying event taking place in North America this year, the other being the Raid the North Extreme event which will be held in British Columbia this July. Those who do manage to qualify will be able to compete agains the very best teams in the world at the XPD in Tasmania this October. Traditionally, Untamed New England would also be a qualifier as well, but they've elected to take their show on the road to Switzerland this year.

This is just more proof as to how great 2011 is for both teams and fans of adventure racing. There are so many great events taking place this year that its hard to keep track of them all, and the AR World Series just continues to grow and become more prominent. The inclusion of the Mother Lode into that series is great for the ARWS and for teams looking to go to Australia later this year.

Primal Quest To Return In 2012?!?!

Today has been an interesting day. While working away to catch-up on a variety of deadlines, I received a fantastic text from Don Mann, the race director behind the legendary Primal Quest adventure races, and my boss for the past two PQ's which took place in 2008 and 2009. The text simply read:

"Hello Kraig. Would you be interested in doing another PQ in 2012?"

Of course, my emphatic and immediate response was YES!

While the details are still very light, I can tell you that it looks like PQ will be back next year, with a seven day race, to be held somewhere in the Western United States. I know that's not much, but I promise to share more when I get more details myself.

This is, of course, great news for adventure racers, who not only have another fantastic race to look forward to, they'll also get to compete in one of the truly legendary events in the history of the sport. A word to the wise however, you had better start training now, as everything you've heard about the difficulty of the PQ courses is true, and I'm sure that Don Mann will be coming back strong next year.

I can't wait!

Gear Box: Solite 150 Headlamp

Back in January, when the Winter Outdoor Retailer show was taking place, there was a lot of buzz about a new headlamp from a company called Light & Motion. The headlamp is called the Solite 150, and all of the early previews and reviews raved about what a great product it was, but all I could think was "For $150, it better be a damn good headlamp!" Recently, I got my hands on a unit so I could see first hand if it was worth the hype – and the money!

The first thing I noticed when I took the Solite out of the box was that it certainly lives up to its name. It is indeed very light, weighing in at just 150 grams or about 5.3 ounces. The second thing I noticed when I turned on the light was just how bright it is. At the highest of the three settings, the Solite cranks out 150 lumens, which is very bright in the dark. At that setting, the included rechargeable battery pack is only rated for three hours, so you may want to crank it down to the medium or low settings which offer 75 and 33 lumens respectively. Both were more than adequate for casual around camp and night trail hiking.

Where the highest setting does come in handy however is when riding your bike. Those 150 lumens make it easier to see further down the road, which is useful when traveling at higher speeds, and it ensure that other vehicles will see you as well. The Solite comes with a great, easy to use quick mount for your handlebars, keeping the light locked in place when out for a ride. It is a nice touch that the Solite comes with both a headband and handlebar holder, making it all the more useful For your $150, you're going to want to use it as often as you can.

The Solite does have one issue, and that is its rechargeable batteries.  While they are rated for 40 hours of life on their lowest setting, and my tests seem to bear that out, on an extended trip you'll want some way to charge them, and there is no way to use standard batteries. The light charges via USB, which means you'll have to get creative on how you want to charge while in the backcountry. You could take your laptop with you of course, but that's generally more weight than you'll want to carry, and laptops have their own battery issues. Fortunately for me, I have a Solio Classic solar charger, which collects and stores energy from the sun just for recharging these kinds of devices. It worked well with the Solite, although it did take awhile to charge it up fully. I realize that not everyone has that kind of gear at their disposal, and for them I'd recommend a headlamp from another manufacturer that uses standard batteries. Chances are, you'll find one for less money as well.

On the other hand, if you really demand performance out of your gear, and you're always looking to shave weight off your pack, the Solite is a great choice, even for $150. I also have a feeling that this headlamp will prove very popular with the adventure racing crowd. It is durable, bright, and versatile. Something that the AR crowd is always looking for in their gear.

So? Is it worth the $150 price tag? For the casual hiker/backpacker, I'd say no, there are cheaper alternatives that get the job done for them. But for those that need a little something more than "getting the job done," this is a great piece of kit that will definitely prove itself useful in a wide variety of situations.

Unfortunately for me, I have a penchant for leaving my headlamp in some distant country while I travel. Leaving my Solite behind would hurt. A lot!


MSRP: $150

Expedition Idaho Adventure Race

If you're still figuring out which adventure races you want to put on your team's schedule for this season, you really should be considering the Expedition Idaho event which is scheduled to take place from August 14-20 in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. The 600km (372 mile) race will pit coed teams of four against one another in the usual AR disciplines of trekking, mountain biking, and paddling. Sprinkle in some navigation, climbing, and a few other surprises, and you have all the ingredients necessary for a fantastic event.

There are currently 25 teams lined up to compete in ExpId, with some of the top teams in the sports planning on being there. The race will offer points on the Checkpoint Tracker series and is also a qualifier for the USARA National Championship as well. Additionally, any teams that are racing in RTNX, Gold Rush in California, Patagonia Expedition Race, Apex or “One Long Day” at Adventure Sports Week will get a $400 discount on their registration.

The organizers of the race are busy getting everything ready for the start in August, including putting together a great list of sponsors and preparing for a surprise finish, at Silver Mountain Resort,  that should be amongst the best ever at any adventure race. Every team that signs up will also be fully outfitted with a set of outdoor apparel courtesy of Gramicci, as well as a host of other great swag.

Best of all, the race will take place in the unspoiled wilderness of Idaho, on a course and in a setting, that has never been used for an expedition race before. It should be amongst the more spectacular settings to ever play host to an event like this, and that is saying a lot. Expect a great time, a great race, and a great finish.

For more information on Expedition Idaho, connect to the race's Facebook Page.

Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge Returns To Adventure Racing Schedule!

If you follow the various adventure racing posts that I write, you've probably heard me say that 2011 is shaping up to be the best year for the sport in some time. The calendar is full of great events all over the planet, and teams have a plethora of great options to choose from. They can now add one more to that list.

Last week it was announced that the Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge is returning after a three year hiatus. As the name implies, the event will take place in the wilds of Australia's Tasmania, and will be hosted by F1 racer Mark Webber. This will be a five day, stage-race covering more than 350km (217 miles) that will run from December 7-11 of this year, and pit teams of two in three different classifications. Disciplines will included running, mountain biking, navigation, and paddling of course.

The race has lined up an impressive group of sponsors, not the least of which is Swisse itself. The company has committed itself to backing the race for three years, which means the Tasmania Challenge is here to stay for awhile. They're joined by Tourism Tasmania, LG, Red Bull, and others in getting behind this event.

Curiously, the Tasmania Challenge will overlap with the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, which has held down the anchor spot on the adventure racing calendar the past few years. While the two races offer different experiences, you can't help but wonder if some of the more prominent Aussie and Kiwi teams/athletes might stay closer to home to compete in this race rather than head to the Emirates to race. Hopefully there is enough room for both races to co-exist, but it is great to see so many options available.

Raid The North Extreme Joins AR World Series!

One of the major adventure races taking place in North America this year is, without a doubt, the Raid The North Extreme, which is scheduled to take place in the West Kootenays of Canada's British Columbia from July 23rd - 31st. Over the weekend, organizers of the race also announced that they are re-joining the AR World Series, making the RTNX the only qualifying event in North America this year. That means that teams competing in the 500+km (310+ mile) race will now be vying for an all expense paid entry to the AR World Championship to be held in Tasmania in November of this year.

This announcement marks the return of Raid The North Extreme to the AR World Series fold. The race was originally part of the series when it formed back in 2000 and it even served as the championship event in 2004. After that, the RTNX dropped out of the ARWS, but by returning both events are made that much better.

As of this writing, the RTNX is just two teams shy of its cap of 50, which means if you aren't already signed up to race, you will probably want to get your application in today. The news of the race now being a qualifier for the AR World Championship is sure to seal the deal for any teams that have been on the fence about competing. A chance to head to Tasmania in November sounds like a fantastic reward on top of the already great prizes for winning the event.

Kudos to the RTNX staff for joining the ARWS. This is yet another feather in their cap for an event that was already looking like it was going to be one of the best races of the year.

New Web Series "Mandatory Equipment" Will Show Us How To Prepare For An Adventure Race!

Have you ever wondered what kind of training and preparation is necessary for an expedition length adventure race? Than you're in luck, as a new web series is starting soon that will give us a behind the scenes look at Team Mandatory Equipment getting ready for the Raid the North Extreme race that will take place this July. The weekly series is set to begin in April, and will follow the team  which consists of 3 women and 1 man, as they get ready to endure the 600km (373 mile), 6 day non-stop race.

I'm excited to see where this series goes. I think it'll give fans of adventure racing further insights into team dynamics and preparation, while possibly introducing new fans to the sport. Adventurer racers are an enthusiastic, athletic, and dedicated bunch, and I'm sure that will come through in the episodes when they begin to air.

Check out the trailer for the show below and visit the Mandatory Equipment Facebook page for more info and updates. Can't wait!



Mandatory Equipment: A web series - Trailer from 1iOpen Productions on Vimeo.

Gear Box: Osprey Hornet 32 Pack

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Osprey Packs. In fact, I own several of them in a variety of sizes, and they each serve a specific purpose, and they do so very well. Which is why I was excited to have the offer to test out one of their new Hornet 32 packs, a lightweight, minimalist daypack that still carries all the quality you expect from Osprey.

The first thing you'll notice when you pick up the Hornet is just how light it actually is. The bag is designed for trail runners, adventure racers, and peak baggers, and it serves their needs very well. It is so lightweight in fact, that you barely notice that it's on your back, but even when filled with gear, it still carries the load very well. There are a variety of adjustment straps to help you get just the right fit, and secure your burden, which is appreciated when you want to set a faster pace on the trail.

As the name implies, the Hornet 32 is a mid-size pack with plenty of room to carry everything you'll need for a long day on the trail. The Hornet features a spacious main compartment, as well as three outer mesh pockets, one on the back and two on the front. Those mesh pockets are perfect for storing items you want to get to quickly, such as water shoes or a rain jacket. There are also two more pockets on the hipbelt, and a removable top pocket with two separate compartments as well. In short, you have plenty of places to organize and store your gear.

Despite its lightweight, the Hornet still impresses with quality. The pack is made fro triple-ripstop nylons that wear well and feel solid, as do the shoulder straps and belts. Often times a pack this light feels like it could rip easily or show wear and tear after just a few hikes, but the Hornet 32 weathered the storm well, and looks new, even after using it a few times.

As you would expect, the bag is hydration ready and can carry up to a 3 liter water bladder. It also comes with a vented back panel with a removable, replaceable pad, which helps you to stay ventilated on your back while on the trail. But, don't expect the same level of ventilation you find on Osprey's other, heavier, packs that have a true frame in place to help facilitate air flow. Clearly this was one of the compromises you make in order to reduce weight and adhere to the minimalist philosophy.

Still, the Hornet is a joy to use. It fits well, carries a load nicely, and has plenty of room for all your gear, plus water and lunch, on a day hike. Sprint adventure racers will appreciate the lightweight but high quality and fast packers will enjoy the variety of places to stuff their gear as well. It should be noted that this bag comes in 24 and 46 liter capacities as well, so be sure to get the one that most fits your needs.

(MSRP: $139)

Checkout other Osprey Packs at TravelCountry.com

The Rhino Relay Looks Fun!

The Rhino Relay, a new adventure race scheduled to take place in September in Utah, looks like it trying to do something new with the format that could appeal to a different crowd than the typical adventure racer.  The Rhino will indeed be a true relay, with up to six team members taking on various stages of the event where there skills best suit them. So, for example, you can have your best mountain bike rider cover that stage, then hand of the "baton" if you will to your trail runner, and so on. Stages will also include swimming, orienteering, and rappelling as well.

The event will be held on September 24th in Yuba State Park, located not far from Nephi, UT. Since it is still six months off, you still have time to find some partners to join you in the event. Check out the video below for more.

Looks like it could be a lot of fun!

Thule Adventure Team Win Huairasinch Adventure Race

The Thule Adventure Team have claimed victory at the Huairasinchi Adventure Race which took place in Ecuador this past weekend, crossing the finish line two hours ahead of their closest competitors . The team fended off competition from second and third place teams, Equipo Ecuador and Team Skandia Adventures respectively,

While not as well known as some of the higher profile races, the Huairasinchi AR is earning itself a reputation as one of the toughest races around. It is billed as the "highest adventure race on Earth" and competitors climbed as up to 4300 meters (14,107 feet) while out on the course. Their route took them from the Amazon Jungle to the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, at they challenged themselves on foot, mountain bike, and kayak.

A race report is available on the team's website, which can be found here. It sounds like it was quite a challenging event, with only 33 of the 51 teams who started the race actually making it to the finish. Congratulations to the winning team which consisted of Captain Martin Flinta, Per Vestling, Jacky Boisset, and Myriam Guillot. Good luck on the rest of the 2011 season.

Thanks to Fredrik Ivansson for the tip!

Introducing Explore. Compete. Live.

Fans of adventure racing and other endurance sports now have a new online resource to add to their bookmarks. The newly launched Explore. Compete. Live. is here to report on the latest AR news from around the globe, while mixing in plenty of training tips and gear reviews as well. The site is also building what promises to be a comprehensive adventure racing calendar and is already offering up great race reports from events in a number of different countries.

Content on the site is already rich and varied, with articles on the Adventure Racing World Series coming to Ecuador and a report from the Adventure Travel Show in Chicago, amongst plenty of others. There are also pages on the site dedicated to upcoming events, with the option to add your own race to the calendar too.

The site is brought to us by some of the talented folks behind Adventure World Magazine, which has recently received a facelift itself, so expect great things. I'm sure Explore. Compete. Live. will prove to be an excellent place to stay informed on the latest news in the adventure racing and endurance sports world, as it is already off to a great start.

More Expedition Idaho Adventure Race Details

Adventure racing fans have a lot to look forward to in 2011 as the calendar of big international races is as full as it has been in several years. One of the top events for the year is scheduled to take place beginning on August 14th, when Expedition Idaho 2011 gets underway at the Silver Mountain Resort in that state. Organizers of the event have begun to leak some details of what teams can expect with a lot of exciting things on the horizon.

For starters, they've announced a cooperative program with the Raid the North Extreme race, which takes place in the in the West Kootenays of British Columbia, Canada this July. Teams who races in both events will receive a $400 discount on the Expedition Idaho race.

It seems that the sponsors are lining up for Expedition Idaho as well. Gear manufacturer Gramicci is on board and will be outfitting each of the teams with a full set of clothing from their new lifestyle-performance line of clothing. Black Diamond has also signed on and will also serve as the technical advisors for the ropes course. More sponsorships are also in the works, and the ExpId 2011 swag bag is already shaping up to be an excellent one.

Perhaps most importantly, online registration for the 600+km, seven day event will open soon. Organizers are looking to have it online in March, allowing teams to quickly and easily sign up for the race and join in on all the fun in Coeur d' Alene this August.

To find out more about this great event checkout the race's home page, which can be found here, or join the ExpId 2011 Facebook page by clicking here.

Patagonia Expedition Race: Brits Claim Third Straight Title

The Wenger Patagonia Expedition Race came to an end last night with the defending champs of Team adidasTERREX/Prunesco claiming their third straight title and securing their place amongst the elite adventure racing teams on the planet. They were followed across the finish line by Team GearJunkie.com and Vaucluse Adventure Evasions in second and third place respectively.

The Patagonia Expedition Race has proven to be quite a challenging start to the big international adventure racing calendar over the past few years, but the 2011 edition may just have been the hardest yet. The race began over a week ago in the Torres del Paine region of Chile with sunny skies and fantastic weather. That weather degenerated quickly however, and the notoriously nasty storms of Patagonia arrived on the scene to play havoc with the teams. When the race started, there were 14 four-person, coed teams in the running, at the end there were just six left. Worse yet, the heavy rains forced the cancellation of a trekking leg that became far too dangerous, and three teams had to be airlifted from the course due to dangerously high rivers.

The three remaining teams that are out on the course, Croatia's Ad Natura - Karibu, East Wind of Japan, and the international team of erdido en el Turbal are all expected to reach the finish line later today. At this point, it is a matter of pride that they finish what has become one of the most challenging races in recent memory, and I'm sure the post-race party to be held in Punta Arenas will be a wild one.

Congrats to adidasTERREX/Prunesco on another fine showing and to all the teams for competing so hard under such challenging conditions. It seems that the 2011 adventure racing season is off to a fine start already.

Patagonia Expedition Race: Weather Delays, Alters Race

As I mentioned last week, one of the toughest adventure races around is currently underway in Chile, where the Wenger Patagonia Expedition Race is near its conclusion. With the top teams currently on their bikes, and racing towards the finish line, it seems that this year's event lived up to its billing and has been challenging the athletes at every turn.

This year's course was more focused on the northern regions of Patagonia, with the start taking place in the shadow of the Torres del Paine mountains, not far from the Southern Continental Ice Field. As I've mentioned on more than one occasion however, it isn't just the terrain that teams must deal with in this race, as the legendary Patagonia weather can bring its own form of punishment. That has proven to be the case once again this year, as the weather got so bad at one point that the race had to be suspended, something that rarely happens in adventure racing. Heavy rains in the area also forced the cancellation of a trekking leg as well.

As of this writing, the defending champions of AdidasTERREX/Prunesco (UK) continue to lead the race, with Team GearJunkie.com in second place and racing hard. On the leaderboard it says the teams are just a half-hour apart, although it seems that GearJunkie failed to sign into one of the checkpoints and as a result they've been assessed a 10 hour penalty which will surely break their hearts in the end. Team Vaucluse Adventure Evasions of France is the third place team, and the only other one out of the PC13 at this point.

The final leg, which the teams are currently on, is a 188km (116.8 mile) mountain bike ride. That should keep them occupied for the better part of the day, but expect the first teams to cross the finish line later today. At this point, it's hard to imagine anyone catching the leaders, but this is adventure racing after all, and anything can happen.