From 18 to 24 of July will be held in the Val d’Aran the third edition of Raidaran, a test that has achieved the international recognition after becoming host of the 2016 Adventure Race European Championship (AREC). This time in only one category-elite-, teams will fight for the continental title in a territory that offers exceptional conditions such as changing summer temperature, exigent slopes and exceptional beauty.
More than 30 teams of a maximum of 40 have registered in the competition, from Spain, France, the Czech Republic, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Canada and Colombia. The Spanish representation has four Catalan teams and three from the rest of Spain (Basque Country, Galicia and Extremadura). Each has 4 members, between which should be at least one woman.
New itinerary
The tour, starting in Vielha and arriving to Lleida, will pass by mountains, rivers with white-water and different zones, especially protected with their spectacular landscape. The organization is doing their best to recover the old and not so used mountain paths in order to offer beautiful and natural landscapes for the racers. Peak ascents, mountain passes, valleys, lakes and lot more can be expected without forgetting the spirit of the team, the main character of the adventure races. The race stages are combined with the mountain biking sections in inhospitable places, hiking sections in solitary zones where the river and water will be the main protagonists.
Marked by the harsh terrain, the Raidaran 2016 will be a raid expedition, which must be overcome steep slopes in the most extreme situations. Oscillating temperatures of the valley in summer, very hot day and very cold at night, will be a determining factor.
Besides the title of champion of Europe ARES, Raidaran winner will get free registration to the World Championship ARWC, which will be held in Australia next November.