Red Bull X-Alps
The Leaders Go Their Own Way
Press Release / 27.06.2021
For Maxime Pinot (FRA1), the day began shortly before 5:00AM at the base of a long approach to the Simplon pass connecting Switzerland to Italy. It also began fast – even his supporters could not believe the pace he was setting as he ran and speed-hiked up 1,000m of vertical to the col. “If the body tells me you can push, I push,” he said.
After racing wingtip to wingtip alongside Chrigel Maurer (SUI1) yesterday – leading for much of the way – he was feeling motivated to go hard today, especially now that the main challenge of Mont Blanc lay behind.
Fifteen kilometers to the north, Maurer decided on a completely different route to the next Turnpoint, a virtual cylinder above the mountain of Piz Palü 140km to the east. He was going for a more northerly line, retracing part of the outward journey. It was faster, but longer too.
Late morning, he was passing athletes coming the other way, including Théo de Blic (FRA3), close to the Furka pass and by lunchtime had opened up a 50km lead. But the way back into Italy was complicated and challenging and it remained to be seen whether his gamble would pay off.
Both athletes have pulled a Night Pass for tonight, Maurer clearly determined to get away; Pinot equally determined to rein him back in.
Meanwhile in third place Benoît Outters (FRA2) was not giving up without a fight. “He is hard to break,” his supporter Martin Beaujouan, said. By lunchtime the fireman and paramedic had hiked an incredible 350km during this race and was still going strong. “He is very motivated,” Beaujouan added. Around midday he managed to fly over Pinot into second place.
This is not the only split in the race. Hard on the trio’s heels are Simon Oberrauner (AUT2) and Patrick von Känel (SUI2) who stayed south after Mont Blanc to take a direct line across northern Italy. Early afternoon, it was looking like it could pay off for Oberrauner as he closed the gap to 10km behind Pinot and Outters.
In other race developments, the French athlete Damien Lacaze (FRA5) was handed a mandatory 12 hour penalty for violating airspace which he must serve after his next rest period.
Cody Mittanck (USA2) also withdrew from the race this morning after suffering intense pain in his legs. With mandatory eliminations and withdrawals, there are now just 23 athletes left in the race as it moves into the second half.
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