por parapentenet
Monaco is notorious as a haunt for the rich, famous and glamorous. Over the last two days, it been receiving an invasion of a different type of guest as a record number of athletes look set to complete the Red Bull X-Alps. Sleep-deprived, exhausted but elated, they have been arriving in clusters to Peille, before flying down into the Mediterranean sea to end the world toughest adventure race.
Gaspard Petiot (FRA4) lands on the float in Monaco. /Sebastian Marko
On average only 12% of athletes manage to complete the full race course from Salzburg to Monaco. The 2013 edition was a record year, seeing 10 teams arrive. But in a sign of the professionalism and strength of this year entry list, up to 20 athletes are expected to reach the magical finish line by the time the race ends at midday on Friday. The increase in performance is largely down to better preparation, training and equipment.
The latest to arrive today were the flying Dutchman Ferdinand van Schelven (NED) who looked exhausted after arriving in 7th place. very happy, he said. He had been walking since 19:00 the evening before and been up for nearly 30 hours to make the official finish line of Peille. So tired was he that he fell asleep during the overnight march.
Also to make goal today was Gavin McClurg (USA2), a National Geographic adventurer of the year. Boat captain, expedition leader, climber and former ski-racer, McClurg spent a decade sailing around the world before turning to paragliding. For the last two years his dream has been to take part in the Red Bull X-Alps and he celebrated in some style after making it home in 8th place.
The race was amazing on every level, overwhelming at times but I feel great, it's just fantastic to be here, he said.
Meanwhile, at the back, the race is on to avoid elimination between Dawn Westrum (USA3) and Gerald Gold (AUT2). The last-ranked athlete is automatically eliminated at 06:00 on Thursday and Gold team were determined it would not be them. e will fight to the end, said supporter Othmar Heinisch. Westrum, who has captured the hearts of fans and supporters alike with her dogged determination wasn giving up without a fight either: y legs are feeling tired now but I still ahead of Gold, she reported on her blog early morning. It all comes down to the flying. By late afternoon she was doing a pretty good job of that as she approached the Matterhorn Turnpoint. But with a Led Lenser Night Pass in his back pocket, which allows him to hike through the night, Gold holds the advantage.
With less than 48 hours until the end of the 2015 Red Bull X-Alps, the pressure is still on for the last athletes to make Monaco.
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Ferdinand van Schelven (NED). /Kelvin Trautman
Gavin McClurg (USA2). /Vitek Ludvik
Dawn Westrum (USA3). /Vitek Ludvik
ABOUT THE RED BULL X-ALPS
The 2015 Red Bull X-Alps is the seventh edition of the world's toughest adventure race in which athletes must hike or fly 1,038km across the Alps from Salzburg to Monaco in the fastest time possible. The race started on July 5, 2015. It's an epic undertaking that can involve hiking up to 100km of mountain terrain in a day or flying at altitudes in excess of 4,000m. The race demands not only a very high level of endurance fitness but expert paragliding experience. The 2013 edition was the fastest on record with 10 athletes reaching Monaco. It was won by Christian Maurer (SUI) in 6d 23hr 40m.
New in 2015 is the one-day Powertraveller Prologue on July 2 which was won by Paul Guschlbauer in 2h 21m. Stanislav Mayer (CZE) was 2nd in 2h 22m and Gavin McClurg (USA2) came 3rd in 2h 24m. Athletes started and finished in Fuschl am See, passing the Turnpoints of the Zwölferhorn and Schafberg peaks. The first three athletes each gained an additional Led Lenser Nightpass and a five-minute headstart on the main race start.
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