Corsica Raid 2004

Corsica Raid 2004 begins on Sunday morning and will run for a week, starting from Porto Vecchio the southeastern region of the island. Now in its tenth year, the race is rightfully considered a classic on the European adventure race scene. It will see a strong field of just 16 teams (chosen from more than 70 applications).

We will be following two teams in Corsica Raid 2004, Sea Clean International (#1 on the race roster) and Team Pedini Cucine (#6).

Team Sea Clean International is made up entirely of women racers. Of the five, one is from Russia, one from Kyrgyzstan and one from Brazil. The final two, from Latvia, have had trouble getting to the event in time. Time will tell what happens. It could be a tiring race for the first three. The only man in the team is their assistant behind the scenes, David Ogden of International Adventurers.

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Between them they have considerable experience of adventure racing, but the women of Sea Clean International have not raced together before, so it will be completely unknown territory. Personality and team dynamics are a vital part of success in any race so it will be an interesting test for them.

We spoke to Karina Bacha from Brazil. She is youngest team member, but also probably the most experienced racer among them.

‘We are five women from very different countries, so it will be a real melting pot, but mentally we’ll be very strong and I am sure we’ll get along well.’

Karina has competed in races are as afield as the Raid Gauloises in Vietnam and Kyryzstan, Eco-Challenges in New Zealand and Fiji, and three Southern Traverses.

‘My biggest concern in Corsica is about the cold. There is lots of snow still and the water in the canyoning is going to extremely cold.’

‘But we’re looking forward to the experience. Corsica is wonderful for an adventure race. There are so many different disciplines so close to one another – the ocean is so close to the mountains and so close to the snow. It should be great.’

Team Pedini Cucine need no introduction as far as the Corsica Raid is concerned. They were on the point of winning the race last year, but during the final night they were overtaken and were pipped to the post.

The team, made up of two Italians and three Corsicans, will be on home terrain and will provide a formidable opposition for any team competing this year.

‘We are not there just to win, though’, says Roberto Mattioli. ‘Our aim is always to race as best we can and to enjoy ourselves along the way. We’ll see how it turns out at the finish line.’

The team has changed slightly since last year. One competitor, Laurent Gire, has injured his knee and so has bean forced to join the assistance crew. He is replaced by Pascale Romanetti. Also, Andrea Visioli has replaced another female competitor.

Roberto says that the team members of Pedini Cucine are pretty even in strength and reckons that the fact that the race has been brought forward to May is an advantage for them because they are accustomed to winter sports. The only issue is the shorter training time they have had because it is being staged earlier in the year. What will he enjoy most about the race?

‘My favourite moments are the night stages. I raced a lot of them last year.’

No doubt he will be out there on the mountains at night again this year, starting on Sunday night.

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