Change of scenery for the 5th stage of the Grande Odyssée which was held on the plateau du Grand Revard bringing the race out of its traditional home in the high mountains of the Savoie and close to the towns of Annecy, Aix-les-Bains and Chambery. Judging by the crowds at the start and lining the course it is a good move.
The stage started at la Feclaz before taking a circuitous route to the veterinary stop at le Revard with le Mont Blanc serving as a backdrop. This compulsory pit stop of at least one minute gives the vet team a chance to check the condition of the dog team, their heart rate and breathing. Mushers can also give the dogs some food and water. It is not unusual for the vets to pull dogs at this stage, costing valuable “dog-power” and minutes on the second leg.
The 70km stage run over cross country ski trails was both technical and long. The route covered 1600 meters of climb and descent to finish in la Feclaz through wooded trails, snow covered alpine meadows with some arduous climbs.
The leading mushers were neck and neck at the stop causing something of a headache for the vets as teams arrived within seconds of each other. Night was drawing in for the second leg which the mushers would complete using head torches with special reflective strips on the course for guidance.
By this stage some of the teams were tiring. GPS signals were somewhat erratic under the trees but it seemed like second place Radek Havrda was gaining ground on his rival Jean-Philippe Pontier. At one stage his dog team were snapping on the heels of stage leader Daniel Juillaguet but Havrda lost ground on the last climb and Pontier pulled back valuable minutes on the final downhill kilometers to the finish.
Daniel Juillaguet was the second musher to cross the finish completing the stage in a race winning 3h49m09s. Juillaguet is the only Musher to have competed in all ten Grande Odyssée but this was his first stage win. A sweet victory for the Jurrassian.
Rémy Coste followed Juillaguet 8m22s behind. Coste recently sold his bakery business to become a full time musher and has a luxury team bus. He’ll be heading for another race in Scandanavia right after the GO. Pontier was a shade under 3 minutes behind Havrda to keep his leader’s red jersey.
Overall is unchanged with Pontier, Havrda and Coste are competing for the first three places. Saturday sees another night finish in a stage from Val Cenis to Lanslebourg where the mushers will overnight in tents with their dogs at the Base Polaire.
http://www.grandeodyssee.com/fr/192/classement-etape-5/