Event: Switzerland

Rivella Terrific

When:	14 - 15 Jun 2008 (annual)
Where:	Crans-Montana
Opening Hours:	Various

The Rivella Terrific endurance race sends dozens of hardened athletes on an odyssey up, down and around the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana - running, cycling, swimming, skating and more.

The race boasts ten legs: five up and five down. Beginning at the Forum d'Ycoor in Crans-centre, the relay teams climb to the Plaine-Morte glacier by inline skate, mountain bike, running (partially through the snow!) and a bit of Alpine skiing - the total climb is 1370m.

The next leg involves an 11km freestyle cross-country ski around the glacier. The descent includes the last five legs: steep running and cycling descents (no change of bike allowed), followed by a relatively flat five-kilometre run, an 800-metre swim in Lake Grenon ("thermal suit strongly recommended", according to the organisers). The anchor leg is a 19.5km cycle through Aminona, Mollens, Bluchevent and back to the Forum d'Ycoor. As a final insult, the cyclists gain and lose 560 metres on this leg.

Teams consist of eight members for the ten legs, so some team members have to be especially fit to complete more than one section.

If you're not up for it as a participant, you can follow the race throughout most stages and enjoy the beautiful local landscape.