Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race 2010

HELLY HANSEN-PRUNESCO WIN 2010 WPER

February 12th

HELLY HANSEN-PRUNESCO PUSH ON THROUGH DARWIN CHALLENGE

Helly Hansen-Prunesco continued to lead the field in the 2010 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race last night as the lead teams continued to trek through the magnificent Darwin range on Chilean Tierra del Fuego – but the other British team, Fast and Light, became the first team to drop out of the race through sheer exhaustion.

After taking a strong lead through the final bike section, reigning champions Helly Hansen-Prunesco refused to tire and continued to set the pace through the turba bogs and thickly forested valleys of the Darwin foothills. They are also believed to have swum across an icy river after missing a Tyrolean traverse.

Race director Stjepan Pavicic, who saw several teams deep in the mountains from the race helicopter during the day, said: “Helly Hansen-Prunesco were all together and looked to be working well as they trekked on into what is an absolutely stunning and spectacular region.

“The time they went through PC11 shows they are clearly continuing to set a strong pace at the front with the weather still looking good. All the racers this year have shown impressive strength and although we have now lost our first team from the race they all managed to make it to PC8 and that is an achievement in itself.”

As the racers continued to move from dirt roads on bikes into thick untracked bush on foot, the trek through the remote green valleys of the Darwin foothills led them to a spectacular rappel into a narrow canyon, in which beaver dams created a wet pool-filled trek down to the Tyrolean.

This rope crossing allowed competitors to cross the river but dumped them up to their legs in the fast-flowing river, but it had been set up by the organisers in a different location to that which had been planned, due to logistical challenges in the remote location where it was set.

Switzerland went across the Tyrolean at 10am and there now remains a tight battle for second place as Air Europa Bimont crossed just one hour and 45 minutes later and Herbertz an hour after that. Untamed New England had a terrible night in the mountains, however, dropping from second to fifth after briefly getting lost.

Harper Forbes, of Untamed New England, said: “It was a rough night. We had a hard time getting down the canyon from the rappel. It got a little hairy in there and we got cliffed out a lot. We decided to take the time to sleep because we didn't know exactly where we were – and it took us five hours to get to the other side of the valley.”

All the teams had arrived at PC8 by 1:11pm on February 12 but Fast and Light, who arrived in 13th place, were totally exhausted after a tough 178km mountain bike ride through the centre of the island and with one team member suffering from a stomach upset they made a tearful decision to end their race.

As darkness descended on the course at the end of the fourth day, all teams apart from Fast and Light, who are now back in Punta Arenas, had left checkpoint eight with six already passed the Tyrolean at checkpoint 10, a location known as the ‘point of no return’ as the teams who decide to go on have no way out until they reach the Beagle channel at checkpoint 15.

PC11

1. 1 Helly Hansen-Prunesco UK Approx 5pm

PC10

1. 1 Helly Hansen-Prunesco UK possible passed swimming

3. 16 Air Europa Bimont ESP Arr 11:44 Dep 12.15

5. 5 Untamed New England CDN (no times)

2. 5 Untamed New England CDN Arr 3:41am Dep 9:49am (2)

4. 16 Air Europa Bimont ESP Arr 5:55am Dep 10:33am (5)

6. 7 GearJunkie.com USA Arr 2:37pm Dep 3:53pm (6)

8. 6 Terra Mundo Lontra BRA Arr 10:29pm Dep 7:30am Feb 12 (8)

10. 2 East Wind JPN Arr 1:25am Feb 12 Dep 9:30am (10)

12. 3 Eddie Bauer USA Arr 10:42am Feb 12 Departed (TBC)

14 Boe Ejercito de Chile CL Arr 1:11pm Feb 12 Departed (TBC)

* Helly Hansen-Prunesco -25mins due to a missing bag that delayed departure

February 11th

HELLY HANSEN-PRUNESCO POWER AHEAD

An awesome performance on the second long mountain bike section of the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race pushed Helly Hansen-Prunesco ahead of the lead pack as the teams began what will be a gruelling 114km trek through the notorious Darwin range in the southern part of Chilean Tierra del Fuego.

The lead three teams had been separated by just eight minutes at the end of the first trekking section but in an echo of the powerful mountain bike run that helped them win the 2009 event, the four British racers were determined to push hard on the bikes again in what could be a crucial part of the race.

The team arrived into the forested campsite at 12:45am, three hours ahead of their closest rivals after 13.5hrs of non-stop biking and Bruce Duncan said: “That was a monstrous bike. Oh man, the mountain pass was absolutely brutal, it just did not stop, and on the way down, oh god, it was freezing, absolutely freezing, so wet and cold.

“The plan was just to get that done, we knew we had to get it done so we had to get our head down and get on with it. We had a good run and we’ve now had three hours sleep, so that makes four hours in total so far. Now we want to get out for first light for this first trek and just keep going.”

The 178km ride, which took competitors through the beautiful forested hills of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Karukinka reserve, proved a gruelling test of endurance with a seemingly endless climb over a mountain pass – but most of the lead teams missed the beautiful views as they completed it entirely in the dark.

All teams had to stop at the Karukinka Reserve headquarters, the seventh checkpoint in the race, during the ride between PC6 and PC8 but Switzerland were unable to find the building and decided to continue without stopping. They arrived at PC8 in third, four hours behind the leaders and an hour behind second-placed Untamed New England.

The teams were now spreading out, with some electing to sleep beside the road en-route to PC8 and others pushing through to rest at the checkpoint. Helly Hansen-Prunesco chose to do the latter and, after three hours of rest they set off along a small rushing river at first light, with Untamed New England second out, almost four and a half hours later as the race moved through the forest and into the Darwin foothills.

PC8 (Latest Feb 11, 7:30pm)

1. 1 Helly Hansen-Prunesco UK Arr 12:45am Dep 5:22am (1)
2. 5 Untamed New England CDN Arr 3:41am Dep 9:49am (2)
3. 4 Switzerland SWI Arr 4:40am Dep 10:00am (3)
4. 16 Air Europa Bimont ESP Arr 5:55am Dep 10:33am (5)
5. 9 Herbertz DE Arr 9:00am Dep 10:29am (4)
6. 7 GearJunkie.com USA Arr 2:37pm Dep 3:53pm (6)
7. 11 Nord Water FIN/SWE Arr 3:30pm Dep 5:45pm

February 11th

KLOSER, ALL TO PLAY FOR IN THE DARWIN RANGE

Top adventure racer Mike Kloser believes the battle for victory in the 2010 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race is still wide open - but admitted Team Helly Hansen-Prunesco’s strong lead puts them at a significant advantage as the battle continues through the majestic and challenging Darwin range.

Kloser, who has raced for 20 years and is filming the competitors throughout the toughest sections of the course for the TV show on this year’s race, followed Helly Hansen-Prunesco into the Darwin range at first light on Thursday morning and believes they must play a careful strategy to maintain their lead.

“The guys have been going pretty much non stop,” said Kloser at PC8. “They got a few hours rest here, for what it’s worth, and now it’s a long push. If they’re smart, the will get a few rest stops in the middle of this, a couple or three hours of sleep each would be wise for them to do – but we will see what they end up doing.

“My guess is they’ll probably end up doing this, if they average four or five kilometres an hour, in 40 hours or so. There’s a good couple of days worth out there, so a lot of racing left, but once you get ahead and get a chance to sleep in a race like this, that sleep can be a huge component in the race because everybody else has to race your race from behind.”

Helly Hansen-Prunesco pushed on relentlessly through the night to build a healthy lead in the long mountain bike section after arriving at PC6 with a lead group of three teams. Kloser, a former mountain biking world champion, was impressed but also believes that section is only one of the potential turning points in this year’s race.

Teams will race through the Darwin range in an effort to arrive at the Beagle Channel when darkness falls in, probably, two days’ time. If they make that, they will rest during the enforced ‘dark zone’, which stops the clock at night to prevent kayaks from taking to the water in the dark.

“I think that bike there was a pretty big factor in how this race is going to pan out but then there’s the cut-off to making the kayak push and that could be an even bigger factor,” said Kloser. “From what I could see watching the racers, seeing how they were and hearing their strategies, I think it’s a three or four team race right now.

“There is still a lot to go, and I think with the Canadians, who came in second when these guys were sleeping, it will be interesting to see what plays out. It will be important how much sleep they take, as Kelly Hansen-Prunesco are a few hours ahead with their rest, but that’s not much.

“When you’re talking about the big amount of racing that’s left, there is all to play for. I think navigation wise the Darwin may not be so bad, but so many things can go on out there I think it is going to be a lot down to how the terrain goes and if these guys get tired it could change things. There’s a lot of racing left to go…”

February 10th

SWITZERLAND LEADS THE FIRST DAY OF THE WENGER PATAGONIAN EXPEDITION RACE

Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia Chilena.- At quarter past noon of Tuesday, February 10, began the 8th version of the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race, the most demanding adventure race in the world, and that this year will cross Tierra del Fuego and end in Puerto Williams, the world's southernmost city.

Yesterday's journey was marked by strong winds in the Chilean Patagonia, which prevented competition depart with the Kayak crossing of the Strait of Magellan, as planned. The weather conditions that included winds of 45 knots, forced the cancellation of the test, a decision that was supported by competitors.

The 14 teams were transferred by ferry to Tierra del Fuego, where they were greeted by the director of WPER, Stjepan Pavicic, and afterwards, began a trek of 16 kilometers, along the beaches of the island. Participants then began the first 110 kilometers of bicycle, which crossed the breathtaking scenery of Tierra del Fuego, while facing winds over 100 mph.

As this note, the Swiss team was leading the race, followed by last year's champion team, led by British Nicola MacLeod, form the team Helly Hansen-Prunesco. Further back were the teams from Air Europa - Bimont (Spain), Herbertz (Germany), Untamed New England (Canada) and GearJunkie.com (USA). Meanwhile, Terra Mundi Lontra (Brazil) was in eighth position. The representatives of Chile had a difficult start, with Almas Patagonia in eleventh place and the BOE Chilean Army team coming in last.

February 10th

WILD WINDS HIT OPENING DAY

The wild and unpredictable conditions in Chilean Patagonian made for a thrilling opening day on the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race – as organisers and competitors were both challenged to the limit both getting to and travelling through the remote region of Tierra del Fuego on Tuesday.

A field of 56 international competitors expected to kick off the world’s toughest and wildest race by kayaking across the Straits of Magellan but the Armada de Chile was forced to cancel the paddle when conditions became too extreme, with winds of 45 knots and swells of three metres.

Instead, all were gathered on the shoreline staring at white-capped waves as race director Stjepan Pavicic shouted the plans over the howling wind, directing the racers to the Patagonia ferry across the straits, where they took an impromptu opportunity to watch the local nature as a school of porpoises danced in its wake.

Nicola MacLeod, the captain of reigning champions Helly Hansen-Prunesco, backed the decision to cancel the kayak and explained: "It looked alright but out there we would be going across and downwind, the most awkward type of paddling. I think we would have had some swimmers and some people on the rocks on the other side."

The teams landed on Tierra del Fuego and gathered for the new race start on the stunning grassland-backed pebble beach, where the incessant headwinds continued to blow. With the words "Welcome to Patagonia", Pavicic started the race and the teams finally set off on their 600km adventure.

The pack of athletes immediately split into two, with an advance group making a strong pace into the wind and some of those behind roping up to help each other battle against the wind. Just two-and-a-half hours later, the lead teams turned off the beach at a whale carcass and arrived at PC2, with Switzerland leading the way.

Reigning champions Helly Hansen-Prunesco were not far behind, however, and their slick speed at the checkpoint, where teams had to collect and put together their mountain bikes, change their gear and re-pack their bags, served them well as they began riding towards PC3 in the lead.

Switzerland and Herbertz, from Germany, were close behind and the lead trio was half an hour ahead of fourth placed team Spain as they set off on the rough tracks through the undulating hills for the next 100km.

The ferocious winds, blowing head on, made it a tough ride but it was a thorn in the road that stopped Helly Hansen-Prunesco with three punctures, costing 20 minutes and allowing Switzerland to re-take the lead. "The wind was so strong in the first part it nearly blew us off the bikes," said Helly Hansen-Prunesco’s Bruce Duncan.

As darkness fell on PC3, Switzerland kept going and Helly Hansen-Prunesco also moved through fast, although all teams were missing food bags and maps after the challenging conditions caused the ferry to Tierra del Fuego to be stopped and left much of the organisation’s gear on the wrong side of the straits.

February 10th

TIGHT BATTLE AT THE FRONT ON DAY TWO

The drama continued in the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race on Wednesday as reigning champions Team Helly Hansen-Prunesco edged ahead after the lead changed hands three times on the long trek through wild rolling hills and dusty salt pans in Chilean Tierra del Fuego.

The organisers had to act fast overnight to put emergency rations in place for the incoming racers with supplies were left stranded on the mainland after the ferry to the remote island was cancelled due to rough weather – but the lead group were not deterred and trekked on at rapid pace.

Race director Stjepan Pavicic was impressed by the strength of the leading teams and said: “The race has run to the time we expected given the good conditions we have had, and now the teams have divided into two big groups, with the leading teams that have escaped the pack competing very strongly.”

Cloudless skies over the wide open landscape offered spectacular views of the stars as the teams trekked into the night from CP3, with leaders Switzerland and second-placed Helly Hansen-Prunesco separated by just five minutes when they set off from the old sheep shearing building.

German Team Herbertz was third away, two hours later, followed by Untamed New England and Air Europa Bimont, from Spain. Every team had made it in by morning, but by the time the new day dawned there was already a new look to the leaderboard after a long night of trekking.

With the fourth checkpoint closed due to logistical issues, teams had set off in different directions, with some taking the gravel road rather than following the suggested route through the wild pampas, and by the time the leaders reached checkpoint five, it was Air Europa Bimont who came in first.

The Spaniards had gained two-and-a-half hours in a strong section that saw them take a 30-minute lead over Switzerland. Helly Hansen-Prunesco was 15 minutes further back while Team Herbertz, from Germany, had dropped back to a distant fourth ahead of Canada and GearJunkie.com.

After a 17km final section the first trek of the race, originally planned to be 57km, finished with the top three covered by just eight minutes at checkpoint six. Untamed New England arrived ahead, but after another trademark transition to the bikes that took just 19 minutes, Helly Hansen-Prunesco left first as the race headed into its second night.

“This time has been close to the best time we had estimated,” said Pavicic. “And I really like the spirit of Team Helly-Hansen, because when we cut PC4 many teams took a car road but they preferred to go off the road, so we know that they have the perfect spirit for this race.”

The teams will now cycle south overnight for 178km to reach the Wildlife Conservation Society reserve of Karukinka, which was set up in 1994 to protect the fragile environment in Patagonia. From there, they will begin what is expected to be a crucial 114km of trekking through the notorious Darwin range.

CHECKPOINT TIMES

PC3

1. 4 Switzerland SWI Arr 9:00pm Dep 9:40pm (1)

3. 16 Air Europa Bimont ESP Arr 9:50pm Dep 11:46pm (5)

5. 5 Untamed New England CDN Arr 10:18pm Dep 11:30pm (4)

7. 11 Nord Water FIN/SEW Arr 11:15pm Dep 3:30am (8)

9. 15 Fast & Light UK Arr 1:35am Dep 6:25am (9)

11. 8 Almas Patagónicas CL Arr 4:30am Dep 9:50am (13)

13. 3 Eddie Bauer USA Arr 6:25am Dep 7:50am (11)

2. 4 Switzerland SWI Arr 5:58am Dep 6:20am (2)

4. 5 Untamed New England CDN Arr 6:20am Dep 6:25am (3)

8. 7 GearJunkie.com USA Arr 11:30am Dep 11:40am (6)

10. 11 Nord Water FIN/SWE Arr 1:35pm

PC6 (up to Feb 10, 10pm)

1. 5 Untamed New England CDN Arr 10:57am Dep 12:22pm (3)

3. 16 Air Europa Bimont ESP Arr 11:07am Dep 11.58am (2)

5. 9 Herbertz DE Arr 2:03pm Dep 3:55pm (5)

7. 6 Terra Mundo Lontra BRA Arr 6:45pm Dep 8:17pm (7)

CHECKPOINT 1 – SELK NAM Named for the aboriginal tribe that once inhabited the region, Selk Nam marks the start of the trekking section for this year’s race. Competitors will drag their kayaks onto the beach and travel 16 km along the shore to checkpoint two. Tide pools, whale bones and the occasional aboriginal artifact are found along this section.


CHECKPOINT 3 – ESTANCIA BLANCA ADRIANA The 26km trekking section begins at Estancia Blanca Adriana. Racers can expect to see shallow lakes and salt pans throughout this part of the trek.


CHECKPONT 6 – BLOQUÉ ERRÁTICO Bloqué Errático is situated on top of a windy hill, where racers will pick up their bikes and begin a 128km ride. This section of the race passes an interesting rock formation which protrudes from the side of a hill unlike any other formations in the area.


CHECKPOINT 8 – LODGE LAGO DESEADO This checkpoint, situated at the end of a lake with panoramic view of the mountains, is perhaps one of the most spectacular. Competitors will enjoy, if only briefly, incredible vistas of the area complete with a waterfall while trekking the 18km to checkpoint nine.


CHECKPOINT 10 – RIO AZOPARDO Another rope skills test for competitors, checkpoint ten is a Tyrolean Traverse across the Azopardo River. After they have crossed the river, racers continue trekking for 18km through peat bog and over a mountain pass.


CHECKPOINT 12 – CORDILLERA DARWIN Check point 12 brings racers into the heart of the Darwin Mountain range. The 18km route sticks mainly to valleys for travel but provides some awe-inspiring scenery.


CHECKPOINT 14 – GLACIER STOPANNE At this point racers pass the majestic Stopanne Glacier where they are presented with an amazing view of the Darwin range and begin to trek along the waters of Bahia Yendegaia, a fjord-like ocean channel.


CHECKPOINT 16 – BAHIA WULAIA At check point 16 competitors will pull their kayaks out of the water for the last time and begin the 9km trek to the top of Mt. King Scott, which was chosen specifically for its view of the Darwin Range.


CHECKPOINT 18 – PC CANAL BEAGLE This is the very last leg of the route. Competitors will be met with their bicycles in order to ride the 38km on gravel roads to the finish line at Puerto Williams.

ABOUT WENGER PATAGONIAN EXPEDITION RACE

The Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race is an annual adventure race which takes place in the southern-most region of the world. Top-ranked international teams compete in spectacularly rugged and climatically diverse terrain in the Chilean Patagonia region located between southern latitudes 49º and 56º. Extremely physically and mentally challenging, the event test competitors to the limit on bike, kayak and foot as they traverse plains, mountains, glaciers, native forests, swampland, rivers, lakes and channels, guided only by their mind and spirit and driven on by their physical stamina and experience. Past routes have incorporated the Southern Continental Ice Field, the Torres del Paine National Park, the Strait of Magellan, Tierra del Fuego, the Darwin Range, and the Beagle Channel.

ABOUT CONSERVATION SUPPORT

The Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race aims to raise awareness of the need to preserve the fragile terrain of Southern Patagonia. The focus is on educating the global community about the environmental issues facing these isolated and virgin territories, developing sustainable tourism and working to avoid the exploitation of natural resources by non-sustainable industrial activities. The 2010 race passes through a 300,000ha Wildlife Conservation Society conservation area called "Karukinka", the largest terrain of this kind and one with the very last protected sub-Antarctic forest reserves on earth.

ABOUT WENGER

Wenger was founded in 1893, in the famous Swiss Jura region. It has developed around a passion for innovation, precision and expert craftsmanship and is best known as the maker of the genuine Swiss Army Knife. Today, the company produces approximately 250 styles of their famous pocketknives, as well as butcher's and professional catering knives known the world over. In 1997, Wenger Watch SA was founded in the hotbed for Swiss watches, Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. In just 12 short years Wenger Swiss watches have developed a reputation for reliability, multi-functionality and performance. Within the last eight years, Wenger established relationships with a small number of industry leaders who began manufacturing Wenger-branded products that embody the characteristics of the world famous Swiss Army Knife in the footwear, tent, backpack, sleeping bag, computer mobility and travel gear categories.

For more information: www.patagonianexpeditionrace.com and www.wengerna.com.

During Race:
Race Office (All Media Inquiries) - hq@patagonianexpeditionrace.com Tel: +56 61 613 893 Video footage: Florian Schnellinger, Quattro Media, Germany - media@4msports.com Tel: +49 8093 57220

Post Race: Will Gray, WGMedia, London, UK (International Media) Tel: +44 7950 213064

Nancy Harrison, ATMS, Wellington, USA (US/Canada Media) Tel: +1 970 568 7423

For video footage: Florian Schnellinger, Quattro Media, Germany e-mail: media@4msports.com Tel: +49 8093 57220