Updates from The Mountain Zone Cybercast

At this point, all teams are facing exhaustion. (photo: Chris Vile)

The top placed American team, Team R.O.A.M is the third team to withdraw from the event following the evacuation early this morning of its star team member, Pat Csizmazia.

Csizmazia, 27, from Idaho, complained late yesterday of hallucinations and loss of sight and felt he could not continue. "He said he'd never felt anything like it, and it scared him." Event Medical director, Dr Adrian Cohen said that he suspected Csizmazia was suffering from a viral infection and coupled with the arduous race conditions and lack of sleep was unable too continue. The other three ROAM team members are expected to continue "unofficially" in the event after a compulsory 24hr rest period.

The terrain in here is amazing. (photo: Chris Vile)

Today the competitors face another major section of rope work on the Herbert River (Tyrolean Traverse) as well as an ascent of the Blencoe Falls and a mountain biking leg. They will all be trying to make the rafting section on the Tully River before 3pm today when an imposed 'dark zone' will stop racers until Thursday morning. (Latest news is Team Eco Internet is making a break for it, hoping to beat the dark zone and claim a wicked lead. This is a tactic that gave them a significant lead in the 1996 Eco-Challenge in British Columbia where they won -- a day ahead of other teams.)

One of the highlights for today is the competitors first glimpse of Blencoe Falls and the realization that they are required to climb 80 meters up through the falls over many very steep rock overhangs. During the climb, competitors will be surrounded by a cascading mist from the falls and the thundering din of the water as it plunges past the climbing teams makes for one of the most dramatic settings on the course.

The Tyrolean Traverse requires the competitors cross, hand over hand 20ft above the water. They will hear the splashing tails of salt water crocodiles below them. This traverse is extremely dangerous and the salt water crocs have been known to jump as high as six 6ft out of the water to hunt their prey.

-- Chris Vile, Mountain Zone Kiwi Correspondent