Thursday, 2 April: Martinique’s Ugo Fidelin heads a field of 48 professional and amateur riders looking to try to ‘tame’ the 18th running of the world famous Karujet that started today in Guadeloupe.
The event, described by competitors past and present as an ‘animal’ and the toughest in offshore racing and known for breaking bikes, bones and bodies, began in 1998 as a challenge between two friends racing around the stunning Caribbean Island and has since achieved iconic and legendary status, and in 2006 was recognised by the UIM affording it World Championship status.
Of the seven World Champions that have lifted the title since 2006, four, Fidelin, two-time winner Davy Vaitilingdon, Teddy Pons and Marc Forbin are amongst the entry facing seven gruelling stages over the next four days, setting out each day from the event base on the beach at Viard.
Lining up alongside registered UIM-ABP tour riders Fidelin and Pons is Jean-Baptiste Botti, who won heat 1 in Qatar in March, Alex Barret and Herve Partouche.
http://aquabike.net/pdf/entry%20karujet%20runabout%20gp1.pdf
http://aquabike.net/pdf/entry%20karujet%20amateur.pdf