Bright morning sunlight bathed the campsite at Bogatanya on Friday, the calm after the storm of the night before. The first destination was near the Czech Republic border, only minutes away from this picturesque area of wooden framed houses, rolling hills and distant mountains.

After a light first section, it was on to section two where masses of butterflies and ladybirds filled the meadow above the official starting line - it is the time of their lives, perhaps for competitors too on this penultimate day. A massed start flagged off by the local Mayor roared away up a steep green hillside and round a field route that crossed near a hunter’s high tower. Once over the hill, a long muddy traverse gave an opportunity for most to use their now honed winching techniques as they powered their way into the bogs. The pull out over the other side was helped by a handy MAN KAT parked strategically at the top of the opposite side. Colourful, noisy and great to view on a warm summer’s day, before teams headed for their final destination at Hohenmolsen near Leipzig, and tomorrows climactic final day.