Red Bull X-Alps 2013: historic hat-trick for Christian Maurer

“It's the most amazing achievement,” says race mastermind Hannes Arch. “To finish in seven days is something I never would have expected. He's just the most amazing athlete in the world. He makes no mistakes — that's his secret.”

Maurer lay just 20km short of Monaco on Saturday night. Sunday morning he was able to hike to the last Turnpoint at Peille, which he reached at 11:10 local time. Although the clock stops there, tradition dictates that the race is not over until athletes make the landing float in the sea, which Maurer reached at 12:53.

Now all eyes suddenly turn to the rest of the field. Clement Latour (FRA1), Maurer's nearest rival, was almost 300km behind him but he leads a hungry pack of chasing athletes, all keen to reach Monaco before the race closes on Friday July 19th.

The fight for 2nd place is a proving a gripping battle — Latour, Jon Chambers (GBR) and Antoine Girard (FRA2) have been jockeying for position for the last 500km and very little separates them. It's neck and neck and anyone's guess as to who will triumph.

Elsewhere it's just as heated. Paul Guschlbauer (AUT1), Ferdinand van Schelven (NED) and paragliding world champion Aaron Durogati (ITA1) were all duking it out, jostling for a place in the top five. Toma Coconea (ROM), who is renowned for his running endurance, is also one to watch. He is yet to pull a Night Pass. If he runs through the night, he could yet prove a deadly force.

The strains of racing for seven days were also beginning to take their toll on athletes. Stephan Haase (USA2) was suffering from infected blisters and despite advice from doctors to quit, was hoping he could somehow continue.