Team Relay - Mountain Runner, Paraglider, kayak, mountain bike

This is a big time team relay in Lienz in Austria. It is build as the toughest adventure race and sponsored by Red Bull. Shane Kelly was our manager for the race, he had put together a good team with champions from all disciplines.

Our runner John Brown came in in second place behind Kenyan John Maluni of team Global-Lotto they had climbed to the summit of the Hochstein at 2085 metres.  With the Para-gliders then taking off and flying to the kayak changeover point 10kms away first to arrive was our flyer, Austrian paragliding legend Walter Holzmuller who had gained a lead of over one minute from team Global-Lotto. With a mix of slalom and downriver paddling over a 5 kms course our kayaker Olympic silver medallist Paul Ratcliffe of Great Britain was first away. This was no ordinary section, Paul had to swim the river before launching himself and kayak of a platform at least 8 metres high! He then paddled down stream doing some slalom sections along the way. He then had to run up a steep back before handing over to me. Paul looked knackered... he normally races for 3 minutes and this was nearer 25 and very hard. I took over in third place but soon caught the second place rider on the flat ride out of town, we climbed our first hill and a moved closer to the leader. We crossed the river on a narrow rickety bridge before having to shoulder the bike and climb for 10 minutes up through the wood. This was followed by a steep climb for over an hour. The gear selections were middle ring bottom gear with probably a third of it in the granny gear.... this was steep. The final bit of climbing was back with the bike on my shoulder before a fast descent back into town. It was not a technical descent just down a ski piste. On the descent I twisted my chain and had to split and re-join it. I finished in 10th place, it was very disappointing. If I go back I will know what to expect with such an epic climb and fast descent.

Watch out for the race on Trans World Sport and Eurosport.

It was great to meet the other team member - I wish them luck in the future....

my team's website www.teamglobal.tv

race website Dolomite Mann

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(written 12/09/03)