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11-Sep-2010 10:54:42 |
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LOTS OF NEW THINGS IN THE 2008 XPD Portugal |
| 14-Oct-2008 16:09:14 |
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Fifty teams from 20 countries are already registered!
It is a little more than a month until yet another edition of the Estoril
Portugal XPD Race kicks off and they have almost reached the limit of
registrations. They have 50 teams coming from 20 countries who have
already confirmed they will be present in the longest adventure race
ever to be held in Portugal, which will run from the 30th of November
to the 4th of December.
Following on from the success of the 2007 edition, in 2008 the Estoril Portugal XPD
Race should surprise the participants even more. In order to ensure this the
organisation have been out on the terrain, defining and testing a course that is
packed with new things, it is also longer and harder than last years race. In total it
will cover more than 700 km across many distinct landscapes, including the
Arrábida Natural Park, the Sado Estuary, the Fossil Cliff in Costa de Caparica, the
Montejunto mountains and the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. Progression will always
be without any motorised means, and strategy and careful effort management will
be fundamental in order to achieve a good result.
At about a month and a half from the start of this stage of the Adventure Racing
World Series (ARWS), a stage that will once again give not only the winning team,
but the first three teams, the chance to take part in the World Championships of
Adventure Racing, which will be held in Portugal in 2009, the organisers couldn't be
more optimistic.
“Registrations only close on the 15th of November and at
the minute we have 50 teams registered. The limit is 60 teams, and we are
sure it will sell out”, says Alexandre Guedes da Silva, XPD coordinator.
What is certain is that the winners from 2007, the Spanish team TEVA, are coming,
and Alexandre is sure they are “coming to win”. This member of the organisation
can also give us a sneak preview of some of the details of what the teams can
expect on the course. “They will cross very varied types of terrain, from
beaches and sand dunes to hills and Mediterranean forests. They will meet
all sorts of animals, from dolphins to bulls and will have to coordinate
their activities during the race. Especially as the race is planned so as to
compensate the team which makes the best choices”, explains Guedes da
Silva, who assures us that “rest, night navigation, equipment choices and
good nutrition and hydration will be essential for the team to last until the
end”.
For the five days of the race the teams can never use motorised means to
make progress, and must always use environmentally-friendly means like running
and walking, but also mountain biking, canoeing, inline skating, Trikkes, swimming,
surf/body boards and also caving to overcome the challenges of the course.
Another new thing in the race this year, which will be 100 hours long, 19 hours
longer than last years race, is the creation of spectator zones, from where it will be
possible to accompany the race and see the teams going by. The race will be
broadcast live on the race website throughout the competition. |
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