You just finish this horrendous hiking section that was so steep. And then you have to get on a bike. But it's not all about endurance. One of the greater skills tested in the race is navigational prowess. Until the night before the race, the Southern Traverse course is kept secret.
Teams have a map and a mandate to get from point to point.
Half the time you prefer to walk in the wrong direction instead of just standing there freezing. But it's set in spectacular surroundings, pitting the world's best adventure racers against each other. The field is very strong this year. We're going to traverse some undulating plains which look a bit deserted with bush on the ground. Then we're going to climb over mountains where we've got big rock scree slopes.