America mobilizes to safeguard home stage supremacy

Official Press Release / 03.06.2004

Of the 49 teams so far signed-up for this second stage of the 2004 X-adventure Raid Series, no fewer than 22 originate from among America\'s finest. Rallying behind NIKE ACG-BALANCE BAR (USA), a major driving force on North-American territory, are a number of teams new to the circuit but all eager to take on the seasoned, powerhouse teams in the race to qualify for the first Raid World Championship in November. Though any likely to fulfil this objective will need to run a near perfect race in Oregon next week.

If the positive elevation gain of 3,490m appears far from insurmountable and the maximum elevation (2,750m) nothing like being a major obstacle, the total course distance could well be the factor to sort the teams out. From the starting line at Mount Bachelor to the finish at Bend, the athletes will have to cover no less than 229km, making this race one of the longest of the season. MTB (120km) and cross-orienteering (53km) will be the major disciplines in this stage, held in the heart of the Cascade Mountains and Deschutes National Forest. The majestic Ponderosa pines harbour the most active volcanoes in North America and some terribly technical narrow trails complicated enough to disconcert the most accomplished of mountain-bikers. This enticing agenda has lured all the currently pre-eminent teams.

MONTRAIL-REVO (USA), victorious on the last Raid Gauloises, can be relied upon to put up a merciless fight with its American counterparts while BALANCE BAR (USA) will count on the experience of its captain, Bob Schultz, to finish in the best possible position on its first encounter with the X-adventure Raid Series. With 15 wins already on the American Balance Bar Circuit, this squad is bound to impress. GOLITE-TIMBERLAND (USA) with specialists in kayaking, MTB and cross-country skiing could find in Oregon, especially the still snow-covered slopes of Mount Bachelor, an ideal stage for its skills. Bear in mind, they finished 5th in the last Primal Quest.

Another solid crew waiting in the wings and more than capable of upsetting the apple cart is the Kiwi team of MERREL/ZANFEL ADVENTURE (NZL). If they don\'t suffer too much from the affects of the long voyage from Oceania, this quartet could make a serious impact. They are led by a veritable adventure racing legend: Robyn BENINCASA, a fabled fury with a glittering past rooted in professional gymnastics, long distance triathlon and diving. She finally attained her 1995 dream of becoming a brilliant \"raider\" in 1998, the year her team won the Raid Gauloises, then again in 2000, when she took top honours on the Eco Challenge.

Oceania will also be represented in the United States by another team with a promising future, WESTERN AUSTRALIA (AUS). This intrepid group of students from the University of Perth consists of a bunch of talented tri-athletes intent on trying their hands at adventure-racing. After this baptism of fire in Oregon, the team will continue in the same vein by competing in the two following stages, in France-Italy and Australia. With a calendar of these proportions, they have more than a strong chance of gleaning one of the coveted Oceania zone spots on the Raid World Championship. Though the Japanese of SAMURAI SPIRIT (JAP), after their extremely respectable showing on the Moroccan stage, remain in a commanding position in this zone.

And what about Europe in all that? It will be counting on its excellent thoroughbred teams, such as NOKIA ADVENTUIRE (FIN), SALOMON-BUFF (ESP), SAAB SALOMON (GB), accompanied for once by fellow compatriots EVENT ENDURE (GB), SALOMON SUISSE (SUI), LES ARCS-QUECHUA (FRA) and WILSA (FRA), led by the returning and incorrigible Karine BAILLET and Christophe BOUCHUT, five times French orienteering champion and runner up in the discipline\'s 2000 world championship. A truly star-spangled field for this star-spangled stage...

REVO - Official supplier at the US stage of the X-adventure Raid Series.

THIS STAGE IS ORGANIZED UNDER SPECIAL USE PERMIT WITH THE DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST

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