Red Bull X-Alps 2015, incredible action on days 1 and 2

RACE DAY 1 ANALYSIS
What an amazing day of racing. The pilots flew fast and together to the Dachstein turnpoint, but then the strategic options opened up. With the positions so close, and the pure energy of the race, the athletes would have been feeling the pressure at every moment.

Local athlete Paul Guschlbauer told us, “I’ve never been that high above the Dachstein before!” It’s a far cry from the 2011 race which saw athletes battle through storms up the via ferrata to summit the turnpoint. From there, it was an epic race north and west.

Gruber, Maurer, Guschlbauer, Mayer and McClurg flew the direct line flawlessly, adapting well to perfect flying conditions and putting the gas pedal down all the way, and timing it perfectly to fly off the Aschau turnpoint.

McClurg and Gruber have demonstrated impressive pace and tactics for two newcomers to the race. McClurg has a serious back up team: a pro meteorologist and a mountain guide. It takes an incredible amount of detailed planning to do really well here: just one example, Guschlbauer landed in pretty much the last available field before the slopes up to the Kampenwand become carpeted in trees, and he arrived with less than 50 metres.

Gruber's Night Pass is looking very well played indeed, and he'll use it to both get a psychological lead over Chrigel and be perfectly positioned to make the most of Day 2.

The enforced rest period (22:30 until 05:00) adds an extra tactical dimension to the race as the teams must carefully plan where they stop each night.

The forecast for tomorrow is for a good but potentially tricky day. Expect to see many teams making good flights from Aschau, but the many possible routes to the Zugspitze will split the leading pack. The excitement is only going to continue. This is a well known race in the valleys of the Alps, and is becoming something like a Tour de France of adventure races!

DAY 2: THE DAY AHEAD
After such an amazing day in the air yesterday, athletes will be fired up to again make the most of the day ahead.

"Day 2 could well be the make-or-break day of the 2015 Red Bull X-Alps for the podium positions," says race reporter Tom Payne, who has competed in the Red Bull X-Alps three times, once as an athlete and twice as a supporter.

"Wetter.tv are forecasting good flying conditions for Monday. On Tuesday, however, the dreaded Foehn winds are expected, making flying difficult on the north side of the main Alpine spine." The Foehn is a warm wind that flows into the northern Alps from the south of the Alps.

That means athletes will want to push on and cover ground – and those ahead will beat the weather.

"Athletes who can get round the Zugsptize and push south towards Brenta will be able to continue to make good progress in the air the next day, whereas those behind will be facing a long, gruelling hike."

Key questions for the day ahead are:
Has Stefan Gruber (AUT3) been able to use his Night Pass to open up a lead over Chrigel Maurer (SUI1) and Paul Guschlbauer (AUT1)?
How will the leaders navigate the wild and complex terrain between Aschau and the Zugspitze?
Many athletes will pass the Aschau turnpoint today, but who will be able to catch the lead three?