Dramatic developments this evening are going to make for a nail-biting finish of the Traverse tomorrow. All reports and estimates were for the race leaders, Team Propeller-heads, to cross the finish line at Tekapo with a healthy lead around 11pm Thursday night.
But several factors have turned what was a very predictable last 24 hours into a race that could surprise us all. Officials closed the last kayaking section of the course (CP24) at 8pm due to the fierce winds at the head of the lake. They also
expressed concern over a series of partially obscured wires on the river leading into the lake; therefore, all teams will be held at the final transition for a re-start at first light on Friday.
Officials have said teams would hold their time differentials for the re-start — a 34-km kayak to the finish line.
But this is where things start to get interesting.
| The 66-km biking leg was reported to be hellish... |
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Suprisingly, by 2am no teams had arrived at this final transition area, well outside support crews' estimates of their arrival times. Communications are extremely difficult in this remote area and rumors abound as to what has happened to Propeller-heads over the last 12 hours.
For all teams it has been a massive day in the hills and everyone is shattered, possibly at the limits of their endurance. The 66-km biking leg was reported to be hellish, with many sections unrideable, forcing teams to push and carry their bikes for long distances. In this leg, Propeller-heads appeared to be slowing dramatically with reports that Kathy Lynch's knees were shot, and that the team had suffered mechanical problems with bikes.
Team Nokia also appeared to be having problems with seriously swollen feet, slowing the team considerably. Its support crew was doubtful Nokia would make it through the night.
Reports have also come through that 3rd place racers The Science Team are in bad shape and the efforts of the last four days are taking their toll.
Meanwhile, teams Cromwell and inthepacific.com are gaining heavily on the leaders. With a deficit of 10 hours after missing the rafting cut-off last night, today the teams have been travelling together and pushing each other hard. After a major sleep last night, these teams are fresh and have the potential to close the gap on the leaders.
Tomorrow morning promises to see an epic end to this race. It is possible that any one of the top five, including Cromwell and
inthepacific.com, could appear from the darkness.
It's going to be a long night!
– Chris Vile, MountainZone.com Correspondent
