Three athletes in nail-biting finish for third place

16 July 2015, 6:27PM

Red Bull X-Alps

Austrian makes extraordinary comeback after one hour’s sleep to clinch third

After nine days, the fight for 3rd place in the Red Bull X-Alps came down to the wire Tuesday afternoon. From the jaws of defeat, Austrian adventurer Paul Guschlbauer (AUT1) succeeded in claiming third place, to the relief of his supporters and fans who had earlier watched his progress on Live Tracking in agony and despair as he fell to 4th.

Paul Guschlbauer (AUT1) secures third place. ©zooom/Harald Tauderer

In the morning the four-time champion Christian Maurer (SUI1) secured his win of the world’s toughest adventure race with the traditional flight to the landing float in Monaco bay. Second to arrive was Sebastian Huber (GER3), competing for the first time, who finished in 8d 23h 43m after an extraordinary race performance. He too then took off for the cooling waters of the Mediterranean. But the real excitement came later.

All day Guschlbauer, Aaron Durogati (ITA) and Gaspard Petiot (FRA4) traded leads in a thrilling dash across the Alps Maritimes of France. Not until the last kilometer was it clear who would win this fight.

The three were all in the air until 12 km of goal. First to land was Durogati. Guschlbauer then stole ahead and it looked like it was his for the taking. But then a late charge from the Frenchman looked set to upset the Austrian’s plans.

On foot the terrain is not forgiving. There is no direct line to the Peille Turnpoint – where the clock stops – only a maze of switchback roads adding more frustration and fatigue to the athletes.

For almost 12 hours straight the three had hiked and flown over the steep mountain terrain of southern France. For Guschlbauer it was even longer. The Austrian had hiked through the night after pulling a Led Lenser Night Pass, which allows competitors to ignore the mandatory overnight rest period. It was a high-risk strategy to gain precious kilometers on foot, but left Guschlbauer beginning the day already exhausted after just an hour’s sleep and in danger of making mistakes.

And that was not something he could afford to do against the world champion pilot Aaron Durogati. Fortunately for Guschlbauer, he got the better of the Italian flying ace this time.

“It's so great to be here,” said an emotional Guschlbauer. “I really messed up badly two days ago and yesterday I saw the others were flying when I was hiking. That’s when I knew I had to fight hard. And that’s what I did.”

The result will be a source of huge relief. He had enjoyed a second place lead for much of the race and even challenged the four-time champion Maurer during the race, until he made a disastrous route choice on Sunday.

Huber was also celebrating. He had also pulled a Night Pass, hiking the last 100km to the final Turnpoint and official finish at Peille. “I’m so happy. My dream has come true,” he said.

“It’s an outstanding achievement,” said race director Christoph Weber. “It’s incredible how skillful Huber is, flying very precisely while he’s also a very strong endurance runner, just the skills you need for the Red Bull X-Alps.”

As the first placed rookie, Huber also wins the Mazda Rookie Trophy. This morning he flew to the landing float in the sea shortly after Christian Maurer (SUI1), who won the race for the fourth time in 8d 4h and 37m.

Meanwhile at the back, Dawn Westrum (USA3) was having the flight of her life to prevent her from being eliminated. By late lunchtime she had overtaken Gerald Gold (AUT3) and it seemed she would be safe for the rest of the race. Her goal was to stay until the end and it looks as though she will be successful, proving herself to be one of the indomitable characters of the 2015 Red Bull X-Alps.

Follow all the remaining athletes with Red Bull MOBILE Live Tracking as they battle to reach Monaco before the clock stops at midday on Friday.

Seb Huber (GER3) wins the Mazda Rookie Trophy. ©zooom/Harald Tauderer

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