Mostly Female Team Takes 4th
Rubicon Also First US Team
Bahia Lopez, Bariloche, Argentina — Dec. 6, 1999

	Team Rubicon Pooped

Team Rubicon's Cathy Sassin at the finish.
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Team Atlas Snowshoe/Rubicon, the first USA team to reach the finish of this year's Eco-Challenge, is comprised of Captain Rebecca Rusch, 31; Cathy Sassin, 37; Robyn Benincasa, 33; and, the compulsory male, Ian Adamson 35

Team Rubicon has been since day one a major force in this race, often traveling sections of the course with winners Team Greenpeace. Andrea Murray of Greenpeace says having the company of three other women on the course was actually a highlight of her race.

"This sport is not a male-female thing..."— Mark Burnett, Eco founder

Some might consider the combination of three women and one man a weakness, but the team's success is no surprise to organizer Mark Burnett.

"This sport is not a male-female thing," he says. Mountains, valleys and rivers don't know if you are a man or a woman"

And coming straight from the legend himself, John Howard, who says "these women are exceptional athletes, no different from any of the top men in the sport of adventure racing!"

The team, now cozy lounging at the finish line, said the most painful part of the race was now that it had ended. "After the third day your body is totally numb but now you can feel everything...super sensitive."

Mental survival in this race plays almost a bigger part than physical survival. The team agreed that this aspect was easier than normal due to the frequent changing of disciplines. The race course becomes friendlier when you know there is something new coming up and one part of your body does not take a complete thrashing.

The girls are an inspiration for women everywhere (not to mention guys) but their secret to success says it all...a diet full of sugar, salt, fat and caffeine.

After five days, only 38 teams remain in the race, many of these spread so far back that they will be racing to make the cut off date of December 12th. For these guys, there are still many challenges ahead.

— Chris Vile, MountainZone.com Correspondent