Wenzhou Outdoor Challenge
Sufferfest on Day 3 at Wenzhou
Rob Howard (& Team Peak Performance) / 14.04.2014
In the heat and urban humidity of Southern China Day 3 of the Wenzhou Outdoor Quest has turned in what one team described as a ‘sufferfest’.
Several teams failed to start stage 3 due to ill health, cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea – the result from unfamiliar food and the stress of intense competition. Skandia, FJS and Latvian Adventure Team –adidas were all non-starters.
This is a common problem at the fast races in China and the top teams are well aware of the need for careful precautions to stay healthy.
When I attended the Wulong Quest the hotel said they had brought in a chef who was expert in providing European food ... but he wasn’t! That year Martin Flinta (Thule Adventure) had to pull out due to illness and cut a very dejected figure, but he is a great supporter of the races in China – he’s just learned to be extra careful. “To avoid stomach problems I always eat heated food. I wipe my plate and cutlery with Xinix Aquacare (a water purifier) and I always drink from my own bottle.” He said.
After 2 days plagued by costly mistakes Day 3 was Thule Adventure’s day, with a win by 5 minutes from Team NZ Adventure, who won the first two stages. Thule were 19 minutes up on 3rd placed Team Red Bull and have closed the gap in overall time behind the two Kiwi teams.
Also suffering from illness is the newly formed Team Peak Performance, but they were able to continue today. It was their captain Mikael Lindnord who described the race as a ‘sufferfest’, and this is his take on the day.
It’s really a world class competition going on in Wenzhou at the moment. When the third stage kicked off, it was with an enormous atmosphere. “It almost feels like it’s the Olympics or Tour de France. Even out in the middle of nowhere, locals are standing on the side of the road to cheer us on,” said Mikael Lindnord.
The teams started the third stage with a running leg to a town of ruins, where the maps were handed out. The run was extremely hilly and tough. “We really had to suffer today,” says Mikael.
The run was supposed to be followed by a paddling leg, but the organization decided to cut it because of large waves. Instead, the team headed out on a long cycling leg. And here the problems started to begin. The team got three punctures during the leg, which slowed them down a lot.
They have also been suffering from bad vomiting during the stage, something that already started last night. It’s been tough to get through the race with bad stomach cramps, but they were fighting hard all the way. “Everyone’s working together as a team and are doing a great job,” says Mikael.
It is hard to get official results, but Mikael thinks the team finished around 12th place. (Ed. It was 14th.) They now get a few hours of rest before the fourth and last stage of the race. The last stage will start with a spectacular rope section from a bridge, and then teams will set off in the kayaks. The whole race ends with a biking leg and the team’s tactics is to just go “all in”.
“The last leg is a little bit shorter “only” around four hours. So it’s like an ÅEC race (Åre Extreme Challenge) left before we can finish,” says Simon Niemi with a laugh.
Day 4 is the final day and takes place in Taishun County over a 52 km course, starting with a rappel off of the suspension bridge at Baihe Resort.
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