Racers speaking
“In general it’s been very good. We were racing together for the first time and the alchemy was better days after days. I think will be at our best level for the next Raid in France… Currently, Raidlight are better than us and their win is well deserved. Big well done to the organization and to the volunteers for their reactivity and management of the race. They are the ones the more touch by the weather conditions. Raid in France proved once again that it’s the best race in France”, Lionel Jacoud, Maxirace.org 2 (20).
“The first part of the race was very good, even if we were disappointed to stop. But what to do against a bad wheather ! We’ve been through big times: Borne’s canyon .. by night and a third night under the rain quite dantean”, Andrej Mesner, Leteci Nomadi Vatapu (22).
“It’s a shame we runed slow early on in the first part of the race. In several areas we lost time stupidly, mistakes in orienteering, a slow transition… All those little mistake made us pass in the wonderful landscapes at night. For example in Causses where we had to go through a big storm…”, Nicolas Seguin, 400team Raidlight 2 (19).
“Personally, I like races with a lot of mountains and relief.. this is why i loved 2012 edition, with its unforgettable start in Ecrins. Here, I was more skeptical but honestly, those lands are not flat at all! With raid in france wherever we are, there is a spirit of nature! Its the biggest strength of this race… even in urban areas, Pascal will manage to find surrealistic paths”, Alex Pons, Lafuma (12).
“Raid in france is such a trip in nature! This year the race was affect by the conditions what didn’t allow us to make the most of landscape. But, the nature whims proved to everyone that Raid in france organizers are very professional, they handled perfectly the racers, and took the good decisions and the good time. They have been responsible and perspicacious regarding security. Very few race are organized this way. At the start, with my teams we didn’t had any expectations in terms of ranking, but when the race starts, time after time you want more and you start to be competitive. We are not very physical but each member of the team has his own skills, what allow us to keep on going well. In other words, we are happy!”, Christophe Aubonnet, Intersport (9).
“It’s our third Raid in France and on each edition we get a bit better physically, orienteering, managing our logistical issues … We made a nice race this year! Obviously we are disappointed about the cut off of several lengths. This morning, before we started again, we were feeling like the race was over but minutes after minutes we got back into our race and got very emotional seeing the finish line on the beach .. and crossing it! Once again, by settling a real finish line, pascal showed that raid in france is the best race in france… And further !”, Pierre François, Passion Raid nantes Mag’s (4).
“We had two new members in the team this year, but their integration has been pretty fast and easy. We share the same values: racing for pleasure and live a human and sporty adventure together. Raid in france give us this opportunity, thanks to a team of volunteer nice and totally devoted. We really enjoyed racing in the canyon of Chassezac : we were alone, at night, lightening the canyon with our lights.. it was magic…!”, Nicolas Mitton, Yogiteam Maxi-Race terre de running (27).
“It’s so good! Raid in France must be organized every year!Even the bad wheather reinforced the links between the teams and to live an outstanding experience!”, Sébastien Plévy, Maxyrace Oneone (5).
“A challenging and demanding course, this is the definition i had been given of Raid in France. It’s not a lie! I reckon that the mental aspect is as important as the technical one. We lost our orienteer since saint-Eulalie and had to deal with that. A regret, is the cancelation of the caving section. I hope that the organizers will give a space to this discipline next year”, Raphael Raymond, Withspiritborntoadventure (3).
“The circle is completed: after a volunteer experience in 2012, I raced my first long distance adventure race this year, in Raid in France. With my team mates, we reached our goal: arrive in grau du Roi smiling. We manage it, thanks to a demanding race were the human aspect is primordial between races and between racers and volunteers”, Francis Gaillard, Pole Ressources Sport Nature (11).
Copyright : Jean-Jacques Raynal
