Last night, 12 teams received the disappointing news that they had been disqualified from Eco-Challenge Sabah 2000. Having missed the strictly enforced 12-noon cutoff time at PC 14, they would not be allowed to go on the jungle trek.
Other teams who had been continuing the race unranked (after being disqualified for various reasons) were also told that they could not continue into the jungle.
Instead, the teams who missed the cutoff were given the option of skipping the jungle trek and moving on to the Sampan canoeing leg or quitting the race outright and being removed from the course.
After pedaling furiously to try to make it in time, six teams had called for medical assistance during the day yesterday, suffering from heat exhaustion and bike wrecks. Teams who receive medical assistance out in the field also receive a mandatory disqualification.
Other teams were disqualified prior to yesterday's cutoff debacle, due to various rules infractions and medical problems. Disqualified teams are listed below as having received assistance, requested or accepted help from race staff in some way (for example, receiving a tow-in on the Perahu boat).
Fifty-six teams remain officially in the race. Holding on in last place, Team Royal Force is deep in the jungle.
NOTE: All teams listed below who required or requested medical assistance have been treated by race medical staff and are safely off the course. All are in stable condition.
Disqualified Teams as of 10:12 a.m. Friday, August 25:
