Paragliding
Bei Yu beats elimination with minutes to spare
The spirit of Red Bull X-Alps was on full display this morning as Bei Yu (CHN) pulled off a heart-stopping escape from elimination.
With the elimination axe set to fall at 08:00, Bei Yu (CHN) found himself in a race against time that could define his Red Bull X-Alps experience. The Chinese athlete pushed hard on the previous day, using his Night Pass the night before to reach the X-Turnpoint, St. Moritz, after what he described as "about an 80-hour day."
But the effort had taken its toll. "I was feeling good, but tired," Bei admitted after his marathon push to St. Moritz. Conditions turned challenging after the Turnpoint with strong winds and difficult launch conditions. Wisdom prevailed over desperation: "I wanted to fly, but it was too strong," he said. "I decided not to risk pushing my limits." He ended his day around 22:00 and prepared to push on again on the next day with the second elimination looming.
A dawn flight
Bei started his day knowing that James Elliott (CAN1), the veteran Canadian athlete, was positioned just ahead of him in the elimination zone. With minutes ticking toward the 08:00 deadline, Bei reached a launch site that offered both opportunity and risk - the tricky downwind takeoff could either save his race or end it.
The spirit of Red Bull X-Alps is to push until the end
At 07:30, with just 30 minutes to spare, Bei committed to his launch. The gamble paid off spectacularly as he took to the air and glided over the valley where James had stopped, overtaking the Canadian veteran in a last effort to beat elimination.
"The spirit of Red Bull X-Alps is to push until the end," Bei Yu said afterwards. "It pushes you to a higher level you didn't think you could reach."
A twist to the tale
What makes this story truly remarkable isn't just Bei's last-minute push, but the extraordinary sportsmanship displayed by James Elliott. The veteran, recognizing his fellow athlete's situation, made a tough choice: He decided to stop and wait, rather than withdraw, to give Bei Yu a chance to avoid elimination.
It's probably the hardest decision I've ever made
Talking to race director Ferdinand Vogel, James said: "It's probably the hardest decision I've ever made, not to keep going. But I think it was the right one."
James Elliott (CAN1) had to make a tough choice
© zooom / Lukas Pilz
James even went a step further, sending a message to Bei Yu encouraging him to continue fighting. "I did send a message to Bei and told him that we would be slowing down and encouraged him to keep going if he wanted to,” James said. “So that's what he did and I'm glad."
Racing with honor
For James, the decision to stop came after honest self-reflection about his race. The first few days had proven challenging, with persistent north winds making progress difficult. "I think those first few days of north wind were really challenging," he said. While he had been flying well technically, he realized his mind "wasn't in the race where it should be."
Despite the disappointment, James reflected positively on his Red Bull X-Alps experience: "Absolutely epic adventure though, and loved the racing."
The essence of adventure racing
This early drama on Day 6 of Red Bull X-Alps 2025 perfectly encapsulates what makes its more than just a race - it's a test of character as much as physical and mental endurance. Bei's determination to fight until the final minutes and James's gracious sportsmanship remind us that in the world's toughest adventure race, how you compete matters as much as where you finish.
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