Red Bull X-Alps 2011 saw a spectacular end to the world's toughest adventure race with a supreme showing from winner Chrigel Maurer and a close duel between two athletes sparring for second place. Here is a photo review of the final days...
According to the rules of Red Bull X-Alps, the race finishes 48 hours after the winner arrives in Monaco. Christian Maurer clinched victory at 16:22 on Thursday, and at that time, his nearest followers were over 150 km away!
Howevey the time Maurer celebrated his victory in Monaco Harbour, Toma Coconea (ROM) and Paul Guschlbauer (AUT4) were neck-and neck for second place, around 65 km out from Monte Carlo. They had both flown spectacular flights at heights of up to 3500 m through the southern Alps putting them within range of goal.
As dawn broke, Coconea set off. He ran fast through the twisting valleys that lead to Monaco, sometimes averaging 10 km/h and living up to his nickname, ‘The Raging Romanian.’ Meanwhile, Guschlbauer bided his time. He knew good flying conditions were forecast, and he elected to hike to the same launch place above Isola that Maurer had used two days previously.
Suddenly, the final day had become a ‘Tortoise and Hare’ race. Coconea initially covered big distance, getting within 20 km of goal by 09.30.
Eventually, Coconea completed 80 km of road running - the equivalent of two marathons – to emerge at the top of Peille take-off just over two hours before the race closed. Crowds of Romanian supporters cheered him as he inflated his glider and launched into a gap in the clouds down to the float at Monaco to secure second place.
Guschlbauer’s race ended 10km from Monaco. Even though his tactic had failed, yet the Red Bull X-Alps newcomer had secured third position. Behind them, Red Bull X-Alsp veteran Martin Müller flew well to clinch 4th place, while newcomer Jon Chambers maintained his fifth position.
The Red Bull X-Alps closed with a prize-giving ceremony and party at Stars and Bars in Monaco, on Sunday July 31 and will be back in 2013.
TOP TEN RESULTS
1 Christian Maurer SUI1 GOAL
2 Toma Coconea ROM GOAL
3 Paul Guschlbauer AUT4 9km FROM GOAL
4 Martin Müller SUI3 77km
5 Jon Chambers GBR2 113km
6 Michael Gebert GER 172km
7 Ferdinand Van Schelven NED 173km
8 Clement Latour FRA3 174km
9 Jouni Makkonen FIN 176km
10 Honza Rejmanek USA 181km
Photos: Felix Wölk, Olivier Laugero, Jörg Mitter, Vitek Ludvik, Markus Berger
© Red Bull Content Pool
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