Click to play on Red Bull X-Alps website
A record 19 athletes completed the 1038km Red Bull X-Alps race in 2015 – 60 percent of the participants who set off from Salzburg on 5 July.
Chrigel Maurer (SUI1) won for the fourth time, in 8d 4h 37m, followed by Sebastian Huber (GER3) 19 hours later in 8d 23h 43m, and Paul Guschlbauer (AUT1), 9d 5h 59m. Ten of the 32 withdrew or were eliminated, and there were just three left in the race when it ended. Michael Witschi (SUI3) was the last athlete in, just 15 minutes before the clock stopped at midday on 17 July.
Cross Country’s weather expert Honza Rejmanek (USA1) made goal just an hour before the cut-off time. Despite having been on the podium in 2009, he declared that making goal in this year’s event was a bigger buzz:
It’s been a wild ride. It’s been the most intense, fast paced Red Bull X-Alps – it’s picked up speed year by year. It’s just incredible. It’s surreal. It’s amazing to be here finally. Making Monaco was more important to me than even that podium in 2009. Here we finally get to finish the race.
Dave Turner at the Col du Galibier – he will finish his journey to Monaco at a more relaxed pace, the clock having stopped for the 2015 Red Bull X-Alps
For Dave Turner (USA4) although the clock may have stopped, he is still going. He plans to complete his journey and vol-bivouac his way to the sea. On his Facebook page he writes,
I still have a week before my flight back to California, and I’m definitely going to take my time on these last few days to the Mediterranean. During the race I had to pass up so many great swimming spots, cafes, little hiking trials, and so on. Now I intend to stop as I wish and get the full experience again. Some of the best parts of my vol biv trips are getting to meet locals, explore new places, eat local foods, stop in at regional paraglider clubs, and generally take in the entire experience. The race was so hectic that I lost part of this aspect of this adventure, but now the opportunity is open again.
So it’s back to work and eyes off the Live Tracking for those at home, and a long hot bath and plenty of rest for the athletes. The Red Bull X-Alps will be back in 2017.
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