CRISTALP 2001 – 4 GO MAD IN THE SWISS ALPS

Jack, Adi, Shalli and Rick CATS do the Grand Raid Cristalp

see the Terrain map unless youve seen it already, for more info.

6 valleys, total altitude gain of 4600 metres ( 15,200ft) and all 131 Km make the main challenge............just to finish.

The rain poured down the night before the event, meaning a damp 6.15 start to the first climb (in the dark). But with mild overnight temps and 45 mins of climbing to begin with this was not a big problem.( even for Shalli who was sleeping outside ooops)

An improved starting format now sees your race number, and ultra trick your name is written on it pro-style, pre-scanned, meaning a hectic mass start on time for all. Having ensured your finishing rucksack is in the lorry for the end we are underway. The course is slippery in the wooded sections but the suns soon up and its back to normal conditions for a Cristalp, ie Bloody hot.

35 yr old Frenchman Christophe Manin dominates the race for the second succesive year completing the 131 km and 4,500 Metres of climbing in a staggering 6 Hrs 24m Full results available at Grand raid Cristalp 2001.
Shalli put in a brave attempt to get under 10 hrs, but just missed out, whilst Adi put in a superb effort to finally complete the event in a great time. As one German friend I passed put it "He is fresh as a flower , you British can be fit YA"

All the following Brits managed to finish, with many others timed out at checkpoints on route. A fantastic time from Robert Jebb mixing it with the European specialist climbers.(Ben Bardsleys Transalp partner untill Ben got injured)

class finishing position rider area Finishing time HRS:MINS
16 Robert Jebb Keighley 07:30
42 Stephen Bottomley Kirkstal 08:22
42 Morgan Donnelly Hexham 08:36
41 Sylvain Garde GB-Croydon 08:45
60 Robbie Bryson IRL- Belfast 09:18
146 Anthony White GB- Warrington 09:59
165 Patrick Schalbetter GB- CATS Market Harboro 10:14
115 Ian Mills GB- Glos 10:20
10 Adrian Scott Numplumz, Peterborough 10:26
127 Jack Peterson Numplumz, Kettering 10:33
202 Neil Gard GB- Sheffield 10:41
170 Nicholas Townsend GB- Risca, S 11:54
174 David Mercer Warrington 12:19
186 Neil Cranston GB- Cramling 12:19
188 Rick Newham CATS Market Harboro 12:21
ladies 12 Lydia Gould Winchester 10:47
ladies 14 Kathryn Newbery GB- Sheffield 10:55
ladies 16 Heather Dawe GB- Otley, 10:55
ladies 18 Sarah Autie GB Yatton 11:06