Paragliding
Aaron Durogati in race to home valley
The veteran Italian athlete Aaron Durogati (ITA1) was in a desperate bid to reach Turnpoint 4, Merano 2000 first.
He was the fastest athlete on foot to the top of the Hahnenkamm on Day 1, proving that when it comes to speed hiking, there is no one as strong on the steep ascents as Aaron Durogati (ITA1).
On Monday, Day 2 of Red Bull X-Alps, as the field of 33 competitors moved into northern Italy towards Turnpoint 4, Merano 2000, Durogati was determined to be the first to make it to his childhood home. All morning, he was locked in a duel with the German rookie Christian Schugg (GER4) to reach the Turnpoint first.
Aaron Durogati (ITA1) was determined to reach his home valley first
© zooom / Maximilian Gierl
The day began with a staggered start, with athletes having to set off according to the time they finished the Prologue. Aaron and Christian Schugg both overnighted at the same spot, just north of Cortina but Christian, was able to get away 25 minutes before Aaron, owing to his better performance at the one-day Prologue.
Choosing different paths into the mountains, Aaron hiked a 13.6km route with almost 1,400m of ascent to get into position. Once in the air, it didn’t take him long to catch up, but Christian was not giving up easily and by midday, was narrowly ahead of the Italian as they raced west.
The route requires athletes to climb the 500m Heini Holzer via ferrata to tag the next Turnpoint positioned at Kuhleitenhütte. While Christian was first to land near Turnpoint 4, Merano 2000, it was Aaron who made it to the top of the Heini Holzer via ferrata and Turnpoint 4, first.
From there, it was a short glide to Turnpoint 5, Schenna. By this point, the front of the pack had shifted, with Christian Schugg coming in first but now followed by Tommy Friedrich (AUT2) and reigning champion Chrigel Maurer (SUI1) as second and third, respectively. From here, the athletes have 1,104km to complete the rest of the route.
Penalty for six athletes
In other race news, six athletes, including Aaron and Christian Schugg, were each handed down a three-hour penalty for violating rule 7.6 which governs “irresponsibly towards their own safety”. Simon Oberrauner (AUT1), Thomas Friedrich (AUT2), Christian Schugg (GER4), Christian Maurer (SUI1), Aaron Durogati (ITA1) and Lars Meerstetter (SUI4) were penalized for flying down from Turnpoint 3, Toblinger Knoten, after yesterday's storm. The penalty will be added to the compulsory rest period on Tuesday morning, June 17.
Simon Oberrauner (AUT1) was one of the athletes who got a penalty
© zooom / Maximilian Gierl
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