Inaugural CIC Med Channel Race Day 3 - Head for the Balearic Islands!
by Sirius Events 30 Apr 07:37 NZST
29 April 2025
Rounding the small island of Spargi in Sardinia in the Maddalena archipelago late in the morning of this second day of racing, the leaders, CREDIT MUTUEL (No. 158) and CENTRAKOR (No. 183), were just a few meters apart and even confused on the website map.
It was a beautiful reflection of the sporting intensity of this first edition of the CIC MED CHANNEL RACE, images reminiscent of many others seen on the Normandy, English, and Irish coasts of the race's northern cousin. En route to the Balearic Islands, the two duel-fighters alternated in the lead, Mikaël Mergui and Keni Piperol taking it early in the afternoon before handing it back to Ian Lipinski and Alberto Bona with a bonus of just one mile at 19:00. These two clearly aren't about to give up.
Mathieu Claveau and Victoire Berger confirmed their good intuition from the night around 15:00 during their passage through Spargi in the race podium, with a gap that widened to 20 miles with the closest pursuer. German Chris Kerl (No. 135 AQUAMARIN), teamed with Patrice Pou-Pupp, made good use of the tactical maneuvers along the Corsican coast and gained a clear advantage over the group of pointus and the scow CROSCALL, unfortunately stuck for several hours in windless areas. At 7:00 PM, only five competitors had passed the island of Spargi, with a gap now of 70 to 90 miles between them. RÊVE A PERTE DE VUE (No. 32) and QWENZA (No. 98) are bringing up the rear but have made up ground and remain in the game.
The next sequence for everyone will be a long downwind descent towards the island of Mallorca and the next gate to the south of the island, the final waypoint where the course may be modified. Known for being tricky with areas of strong winds, the Spanish leg is already causing anxiety. The initial assessment of these three days of racing certainly lives up to expectations, both sporty and otherwise: tight gaps, magnificent scenery, a fast pace of the race, but in which scows and pointus play an equal role.
Find out more at www.med-race.com