27 November 2013, Kuala Lumpur – The final trial of the 2013 Raid Amazones all-women adventure race was a surprise run through the streets in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The run was flagged off yesterday from KLCC by Tony Nagamaiah, General Manager, Malaysia Major Events, a division of Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau, an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia.
The 264 women in 88 teams ran along Jalan P Ramlee, crossed over to Jalan Sultan Ismail, turned right into Jalan Puncak, and then turned right going towards Pacific Regency Hotel, where they had to sprint up 34 floors to reach the finishing line on the roof top of the hotel.
“Bruno and I wanted to offer the contestants an opportunity to discover the capital of Malaysia, which is why we decided to do the final trial in Kuala Lumpur”, explained Alexandre Debanne, Co-Founder of Raid Amazones.
The competitors spent their first five days in Langkawi going through gruelling trials at various challenging locations. Langkawi was chosen as the destination for the 12th edition of Raid Amazones, placing Malaysia as the first ASEAN country to host this international event.
A team-based competition, Raid Amazones takes competitors on a journey of discovery of a new country and of oneself through a sporting experience, the event’s core values. The adventure race challenges the physical and mental stamina of the ‘raiders’ over a period of a week, and brings out team spirit, solidarity and teamwork from the competitors.
Day 1 saw the teams canoeing 19 km along Killim River, battling the mangrove swamps, through the tunnel of Crocodile Cave and onto the South China Sea where they finished on the beach at Tanjung Rhu. In the afternoon a member from each team took part in an archery contest to win some bonus time which could be an advantage for the final ratings.
On the second day, the competitors were challenged with a mountain bike trial that took them along 13 km of road links and 30 km of narrow paths and up and down steep and gentle hills.
The teams were put through a demanding 17-km foot race where they were challenged with the humidity and stifling heat on Day 3. They trekked down a gentle slope, along 4 km of flat ground and the final stretch of 7 km of bumpy track through jungle and rubber plantation, including crossing a stream. They crossed the finishing line at Buffalo Park.
Day 4 had the 264 women canoeing an exceptional 14-km course in the sea that took them through dozens of tiny islands. The second canoe trial began and finished at Sandy Beach Resort.
The fifth day which is the final day in Langkawi took the ‘raiders’ to Pulau Tuba, which is part of the Langkawi archipelago. On this tiny island, the ladies were put through a biathlon which had them racing on a gruelling 29-km mountain bike course and a 7-km trek that included a steep climb and descent under a blazing sun.
On the final day, Day 6, the team who reached the top of the hotel in the fastest time was Team Arbre Vert Bourgogne, who was also the overall champion of the 12th edition of Raid Amazones. This is the sixth consecutive win for the team which consists of Celine Augueux, Nathalie Lapierre and Karelle Dubief. Except for the 14 km canoe trial on Day 4, Team Arbre Vert Bourgogne won all the other challenges.
“We are certainly very happy to win again, for the sixth time. This year’s experience is even more interesting as this is the first time that we have the final challenge in the capital city of the country where we compete”, said Celine Augueux.
She added that the secret of the team’s success is that they train together on a regular basis and they have great team work, the same ability like running and cycling at the same speed.
The organisers informed that each team received a trophy that is produced by local crafts people, a tradition of Raid Amazone. They remarked that at the end of the adventure race, the ‘raiders’ will remember the joy of discovery, the sense of pushing beyond personal limits, and the power of team spirit – the fundamental values that create the success and singularity of the Raid Amazones.
Raid Amazones 2013 is supported by Langkawi Development Authority (LADA); Malaysia Major Events, a division of Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau, an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia; and Tourism Malaysia.
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