Red Bull X-Alps
The First 4 Athletes Arrive
Press Release / 29.06.2021
Patrick von Känel (SUI2) took second place in the Red Bull X-Alps adventure race today after a neck and neck sprint to the finish line with Austria’s Simon Oberrauner (AUT2). He swooped down from the Schmittenhöhe, spiraling above the glimmering waters of Zell am See to land on a floating raft shortly after 1.30PM.
It follows Chrigel Maurer’s (SUI1) flight to the landing float yesterday evening, confirming his seventh consecutive win in the hike and fly race around the Alps.
This morning, after waiting out a storm in northern Italy, Oberrauner and France’s Maxime Pinot (FRA1) were up front and launched together with von Känel a little further back. But in the battle in the sky it was the Swiss athlete who triumphed. On the last leg to the final Turnpoint of Schmittenhöhe, overlooking the lakeside resort of Zell am See, he landed, bunched up his wing and sprinted for the Signboard, with Oberrauner just 100m below him. Then he quickly re-launched and flew to the landing raft, where the clock stopped.
He said: “We were all so close together. Once Simon was in front, once Maxime, it was just a question who had more luck, and finally it was me.” He said the elation had yet to sink in. “It’s hard to explain the feeling right now.”
Oberrauner landed ten minutes later. He couldn’t contain his jubilation at making the podium. “I am in a very good mood! It’s unbelievable. It's more than I get ever imagined. There have been moments where I thought, oh my god, it was tough, but I never wanted to quit. I enjoyed it really. I’m here now and just happy about that.”
This year was the toughest edition yet, with athletes having to navigate a 1,238km course across five countries, battling not just each other but an even greater foe – thunderstorms, strong winds and scorching heat.
Earlier, Maurer spoke of his historic win: “Finally I landed here as a winner again for my 7th time,” he said. “It makes it really special to win like this so I’m really happy.”
He added that this year the competition was stronger than ever: “It was a new race for me and it was not clear I would win again. The other athletes are more fit in flying and hiking, there are better teams and we could see that for seven days it was really head to head and really fighting.”
Ulrich Grill the race’s founder and organizer said: “It’s been an historic race and it’s another historic win for Chrigel Maurer and we all salute his achievement. Chapeau! With von Känel and Oberrauner taking second and third we are seeing a new generation of athletes succeeding in this race and I congratulate not just them, but all the athletes who have taken part. There are still two and a half days left for the remaining 18 athletes trying to make goal before the race finishes on Friday.”
At 2.30PM, Maxime Pinot (FRA1) made a perfect landing on the float, but he couldn’t hide his disappointment. He was leading the race early on, fell back in the rankings, then made a heroic comeback and three days ago was flying wingtip to wingtip with Maurer around Mont Blanc. For much of the past 48 hours he’s been in second place. “Of course I am very disappointed. But I would like to congratulate Chrigel, Patrick and Simon. Fourth place is the wrong place, but it had to be somebody.”
Both Benoït Outters (FRA2) and Tobias Grossrubatscher (ITA2) have pulled Night Passes for tonight, looking to make some distance on foot.
The race goes on until Friday, July 2, 11:30AM. Follow the remaining athletes via Live Tracking on redbullxalps.com.
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