Red Bull X-Alps
Big Mountains Lure the Swiss
Press Release / 23.06.2021
Perhaps it was the thought of some home-cooked raclette, or the lure of familiar places and people. Whatever the reason, the Swiss athletes Patrick von Känel (SUI2) and Chrigel Maurer (SUI1) were the first to enter home-soil today, bidding farewell to the Austrian mountains.
The pair started the day together near the Arlberg pass and started hiking at 5AM to reach the top of the 2,686m Krachelspitze. It was tough going and the pair were soon trudging up through the snow and mist to reach the top.
Patrick von Känel: “For sure I’m looking forward to Switzerland. I grew up there, it’s where I learnt to fly and it’s like I’m going back home.”
Speaking as he hiked up a steep snowfield, Maurer said: “Now it gets hard – it’s very steep. There’s still a bit of pressure, how to fly, where to fly, when to fly, all day the same game. Good weather forecast, bad weather!”
However, the pair have something else to contend with as they enter their home country. Maurer’s supporter Thomas Theurillat said: “Now we come to Switzerland but as everyone knows, Switzerland is full of regulations and there are lots of airspaces and forbidden zones for landing and take-offs but we’re still fresh and motivated.”
Further back in the field, Maxime Pinot (FRA1) had managed to claw his way back to fifth place after making a costly mistake on the way to Turnpoint 3, Kitzbühel. After some good flights yesterday he was now among the chaser group, just 30km behind Maurer and von Känel. Other athletes in that cluster include Benoît Outters (FRA2), Aaron Durogati (ITA1) and the rookie Damien Lacaze (FRA5), all of whom look very threatening.
Another athlete to make a heroic comeback is the Red Bull X-Alps legend Toma Coconea (ROU) who has competed in every edition of the race since it began in 2003. He was lying at the back of the field after day 2 but today was in touching distance of the top 10.
Both female athletes Yael Margelisch (SUI4) and Laurie Genovese (FRA4) are putting in great performances and were lying in 17th and 19th place respectively by mid-afternoon as they approached Turnpoint 5, Lermoos in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena.
Ulrich Grill, race organizer said: “This is turning out to be a thrilling race. In previous years we might have seen Maurer extend his lead. Certainly the idea of anyone catching up with him was unheard of in previous editions. But now he has not only been caught up by von Känel the chaser pack lie not far behind – and any one of them has the strength and endurance to triumph in this race. An epic battle lies ahead.”
Two athletes are now out of the race. Andrei Mashak (RUS) faced mandatory elimination this morning
as the team in last place. The next elimination takes place on Friday morning. The Japanese athlete Ken Oguma (JPN2) is also out, after breaking his leg in a landing accident.
No Night Passes have been pulled for tonight.
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