Marrakech, Morocco— Wednesday, Oct. 15, 1998 10:20 pm (Morocco time)

	Team Vail on the podium

Winning Team Vail Talks
Steady Stream of Teams Crossing the Finish

Hear winning Team Vail at the finish

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Hear Founder Mark Burnett's comments
on Vail's strategy

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A great finish line spectacle last night as Team New Zealand and Team Porelle of the UK came in together at 10:58pm to tie for 5th place.

The two teams had been playing cat and mouse over the last 24hours until just hours from the finish line they made a pact to finish the race as equals.

"Especially after his bad run on the horse leg where he was severely kicked and then later fallen on by his horse. Add a touch of altitude sickness, diarrhea and a severely tweaked neck and yep..I'd say it would count as bad luck!..."

The teams entered the finish area in single file, led by Team New Zealand member Bob Foster who suffered a flat tyre several kilometers from the line.

Bob's a sport
Bob commented that during the race his team "could not have had worse luck" especially after his bad run on the horse leg where he was severely kicked and then later fallen on by his horse. Add a touch of altitude sickness, diarrhea and a severely tweaked neck and yep..I'd say it would count as bad luck!

Both Teams appeared physically wasted and very glad to reach the finish together. The New Zealand team said they have not slept at all in the previous two days. Despite this Mark Foster commented that it was an amazing event and great to experience it with some of his best mates.

Also reaching Marrakech today were:
7th place: Team Outback Canada at 5:08am
8th place: Epinephrine Adventure Racing at 9:00am
9th place: Team Mexico at 9:04am
10th place: Team Stray Dogs at 10:39am
11th place: Team Argentina at 12:13pm

Team Epinephrine Adventure Racing (USA) is a great story.

Each year the Discovery Channel Eco-Challenge organizers receive literally thousands of applications for teams wanting to compete in the event. For the first time this year they introduced a policy of letting just one of these many hopeful teams into the race by lottery. So here we have a completely unknown team doing exceptionally well against some of the world's most experienced adventure racing teams.

At this point there is a steady stream of teams lined up to approach the finish...so we are in for another long haul at our favorite Berber tent.

See ya.

— Chris Vile, Mountain Zone Correspondent

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