Red Bull X-Alps
French Send A Strong Message To Race Champion Maurer In The Prologue
Press Release / 13.06.2019
The Austrian mountain resort of Wagrain-Kleinarl today played host to the first stage of the epic trans-alpine adventure race, the Red Bull X-Alps.
The one-day prologue is a teaser to the main Salzburg to Monaco race, the world’s toughest adventure race, which starts Sunday June 16th.
Due to strong wind conditions, the race course was shortened from a 23km hike and fly race around three Turnpoints to a run to the summit of the Grießsenkareck, an altitude gain of 1,153m.
Amid hundreds of cheering spectators and fans, 32 athletes set off up the mountain in temperatures of 18ºC, while fans around the world followed the action via this year’s all new Live Tracking, which offers a first person view and VR.
Three athletes arrived at the summit together in a time of 55m 31s: Benoit Outters (FRA1), Chrigel Maurer (SUI1) and Maxime Pinot (FRA4).
Local hero, Paul Guschlbauer (AUT1) missed the podium and came in 4th, arriving at the top in a time of 56m 43s.
The race clock stopped at the top as conditions did not permit safe competition flying, but athletes were still able to fly back down to Wagrain-Kleinarl at their own pace.
Five-time champion Chrigel Maurer (SUI1) who missed the 2017 Prologue due to illness, said: “It was a hard race and good to see I could follow the strongest athletes. I’m very happy. It was also good to see so many spectators,” he added.
“We were pushing as much as possible,” said Maxime Pinot (FRA4), one of this year’s hotly tipped athletes. With two French athletes making the Prologue podium, it sends a clear signal that this year the French mean business. Pinot, who sports a tricolour harness, added: “It will be nice to have a French win after all the Swiss guys, but we’ll see. A big part of the route is in France – I’m looking forward to that.”
“I’m very happy,” added Benoit Outters (FRA1) who was second overall in 2017. “It was a difficult hike with Maxime and Chrigel. I had to push a lot.”
Earlier, race director Christoph Weber explained the decision to cut the race short. He said: “It looked like a beautiful day, but the problem was a strong föhn or southerly wind which was gusting up to 60kmh. For this reason we took the decision to shorten the race course.”
“It was a good decision,” said Patrick von Känel (SUI2) after landing in Wagrain-Kleinarl. “The wind was quite strong up there.”
The day of drama began in the typically scenic Austrian mountain town of Wagrain-Kleinarl amid its grassy alpine meadows, snow-capped peaks and a church that’s the final resting place of the priest who wrote Silent Night. But there was nothing either silent or calm about some of the world’s top adventure athletes battling across the town, mountains and sky to take the Prologue title.
All three podium finishers each win a strategically important bonus Night Pass. This will allow them to hike through the night for a second time during the race to gain an advantage over other competitors. It also gives them a head start over other competitors on Day 2.
For now, athletes can enjoy two days rest before the main race begins on Sunday in Salzburg. Wagrain-Kleinarl is the second Turnpoint so athletes could pass back through the resort as early as Sunday afternoon, if flying conditions are good. But anything can happen in this race – in 2017 the first day saw thunderstorms and strong winds forcing athletes to spend the first day on foot.
Tune in to Facebook from 11.00am on Sunday to go behind-the-scenes with race reporter Tarquin Cooper before the race start in Salzburg.
Then follow all the action on Live Tracking www.redbullxalps.com
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