Gobi Race: 3rd Stage. 5th overall!
This third stage started off in a village, we ran for a while in the village with a forest and fields around. Then we ran on a hilly and extremely rocky and technical ground, with nice view over the mountains in the background. I joined Anne-Marie (leading woman) and we ran the rest of the stage together, the 3 first guys were way ahead, out of reach. From check point 2 to CP3 we were out of trail, doing a roller coaster and running in a riverbed. Then the last 8.4 km to the camp were nasty, going up-hill on soft gravels… along a road in construction and very hot!
The camp at the end of the 3rd stage, Gobi March (© P. Gatta)
The camp site is nice, we are at 2550 m but we worry a bit about the temperature this night, as it was already cold yesterday almost 900 m lower.
Tomorrow’s stage is supposed to be very difficult and scenic. We climb up to the Shipton’s Arch (called Heaven’s Gate) up 2900 m and go down on a steep and rocky terrain. I am looking forward to it. 🙂