Temperatures Drop and Rain Soaks the Paddle Stage

The first stage of the race was a 10-12 mile paddle down the Black River on the Eastern edge of the Tug Hill Plateau. Teams in fast boats made quick work of the stage but all teams suffered under the cold and rainy conditions.

Soaking wet and nearly frozen, teams waded through ankle deep mud at TA2 before getting on their bikes for stage 2. Some racers were more affected by the cold than others and many struggled to transition using numb and shaking hands.