Top start for a six day non-stop race

A unique and surprising start to this 11th edition of the Raid in France Savoie Mont Blanc in the streets of Bourg Saint Maurice with the teams walking towards the start point of the orientation course carrying their inflated packrafts on their backs. Before starting this 400 kms adventure in total autonomy in the Alps, Beaufortain and the Bauges the racers have had a warm up in the marshes of the town. To follow they have embarked on the Isère river for this first section of this Adventure Racing World Series.
The start of the Raid in France, French leg of the ARWS adventure racing world series, commenced this Saturday 25th June from Bourg Saint Maurice.  A lot of emotion, some fear and the need to get started could be seen in the eyes of the racers.  Their goal: Aix Les Bains crossing half a dozen mountain passes, a climb up the petite Aiguille des glaciers, the highest point of the race at 3,465 metres.  Followed by a traverse across the Beaufortain and Bauges regions, a trip on rivers leading to the Lac du Bourget.
For this 2022 edition from Bourg Saint Maurice – Les Arcs to Aix les Bains, Riviera of the Alps, the Mont Blanc panorama can be seen from start to finish.  The teams (made up of 4 racers, with at least 1 female member) confront a chain of 11 sections, day and night, in total autonomy, and orientation: trek, packraft, kayak, mountain biking, totalling 16,542 metres of positive climb, the equivalent of 2 times the Everest!
The opening prologue is typical of a Raid in France start“, declared Stéphanie Blocks, 400Team Naturex 2 team member, “With our feet in the water and mud, totally clothed, we weren’t disappointed……It was fun but the more difficult events are to come!“.
After the prologue the teams started the packraft section on the Isère river, one of France’s nicest rivers classed 3/4 level.  The first team to finish this section at Centron and to start the next at AT1 was Panthères Absolu Raid (team 21), a very experienced kayaking team.  The following night will consist of the first mountain bike section: 68 kms for 3 767 metres of climb crossing Aime/La Plagne, the Rosuel valley and the resort of Les Arcs by the Col de la Chal pass.
To spot the teams tomorrow direction: village of Le Crot (above Saint Foy/Tarentaise) up to the Pierre Giret car park to start the first walking section.
Partners
ARWS
Fédération française de triathlon
Agence nationale du sport
Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Département de la Corrèze
Ville de Bugeat
Emile Maurin
Trail endurance
La chaône L'Équipe
Office nationale des forêts
Lethiguel
Suppliers
Frontier
ATC
Rhône-Alpes distribution
Cheney
Magazine
IGN rando
Tactical Foodpack
RIF TV
All our films and reportages
RIF pictures
RIF: The best moments in pictures
AR World Series TV
Discover the Adventure Racing World Series