Abu Dhabi's Jebel Hafeet proves tough adventure

Sunday, 12 December 2010 09:09

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A long day on the mountain in Abu Dhabi

11th December 2010 – Al Ain – Since 6:30am Abu Dhabi time, Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge teams have battled with the sheer slopes and rugged terrain of the Jebel Hafeet.

About 30 minutes before sunrise, the teams took the start from the bivouac in the Jebel Valley for a long, sweltering day of activities up, across and around the precarious slopes of the Jebel Hafeet peak. After an initial 5.5 km adventure run to pick up their bikes they rode 13,7 km along the tightly twisting road to the car park at the summit. As expected, the leaders maintained their brisk pace, established over the first 2 days of relatively short format sections where any lost time can be disastrous. THULE ADVENTURE TEAM (NZL), WENGER (SUI) and THULE ADVENTURE EUROPE (FRA) were the only three teams to finish this gruelling ascension in under an hour.

The second day‘s racing was completed with a trek along a ridge to a rope section, made all the more difficult in the blistering heat. Two breath-taking rappels of 50m each, one from an overhanging cliff, and a via cordata canyon climb, amplified the truly breathtaking qualities of this jagged peak. The scratched limbs and torn equipment of the athletes bore ample witness to the difficulty of the task.

Following closely behind leaders THULE ADVENTURE TEAM (NZL) and THULE ADVENTURE EUROPE (FRA), Suisse team WENGER, TEAM NET COMPETENCE (SWE), SALOMON SANTIVERI (ESP), ADIDAS TERREX (GB), GUATS (CAN) and VIBRAM LAFUMA 1 (FRA) are all in contention for top five spots. "It was really important to manage this day well given the enormous challenges to come tomorrow," opined Anthony RABEAU as he and the other athletes climbed aboard the buses for the transfer to Um as Zummul. Tomorrow  at 4am the teams will begin their struggle with the sands on a 94 km MTB section.

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