Though the deceptively straightforward formula, five sports over five days in five different beauty spots, remains unchanged, this year’s race will incorporate some carefully considered modifications and exciting developments aimed at both teams and spectators. The fast and technically challenging stages, interspersed with well-defined ‘rest periods’, will once again showcase the spectacular Haute Savoie region over a course designed to test skills and stamina to the limit.

From Bourg Saint Maurice to the finish in Morzine, an impressive selection of the world’s AR glitterati, competing as co-ed or single sex teams, will run, trek, bike, climb and canoe across 256km of the most spectacular scenery France has to offer. Thirty-eight teams from 12 nations have already registered, some in the hope of upsetting the likes of last year’s British winners SAAB SALOMON, perennial favourites NIKE from the USA and stalwart locals LAFUMA – SPORT2000 VIBRAM (FRA), and others looking to gain invaluable experience, so essential to success in this sport, from racing against adventure racing’s finest.

Our own corner of the continent will be represented by one of New Zealand’s most accomplished squads, the Auckland-based ORIONHEALTH.COM, captained by 35-year-old Wayne Oxenham. The all-Kiwi unit’s meteoric rise to international acclaim began almost immediately as they chalked up top 5 finishes in the 2006 and 2007 ARWC crowning last season with a 4th place in the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge. Wayne, however, is the first to point out that their track record on the international long-distance circuit is little comfort when it comes to the fast and technically demanding race format of the MXR. ‘None of us have raced in France or the Alps before. Our only races in Europe were in Sweden in 2006 and Scotland in 2007 and we expect these are very different from what we will encounter in France,’ he admitted.

With characteristic perspicacity, the man who led his team to 13 straight wins on the domestic 24-hour circuit harbours no illusions about the task facing them next July: ‘We're all good long distance technical runners and general endurance athletes but we think the faster, shorter and more technical nature of this course will challenge us more than other races.’ The course aside, there is also the rest of the field to contend with: ‘We're expecting a very high level of competition. We spoke to a number of people that raced last year and it seems there are plenty of very fast, off-road runners and we think our lack of experience on this type of race and the local terrain will count against us.’

An uphill struggle of more kinds than one probably awaits Wayne and his team-mates, Anna Berthelsen and Stuart Lynch, and they will need to improve a number of skill sets, climbing and biking among them, if they want a share in the glittering prizes. Of course, especially in this sport, there are other rewards beyond the ‘baubles’ as Wayne so aptly points out: ‘We're really excited by the format of the race as it's new to us and will bring new challenges and experiences. When we're having fun, we race well.’ As past campaigns confirm, this audacious mix of optimism and spontaneity has brought the team results and may prove useful once again in the Alps next July.

Competition between the teams will be enhanced by slightly altering the way points are awarded. This year, the winners of each stage (team/individual) will receive the maximum number of points (300/100) and every other team/individual will be allocated a fraction of that maximum depending on their time behind the winners. This will level the playing field across the disciplines and encourage the teams to race faster and narrow the time gap on their rivals.

Devised in close collaboration with the local authorities, the Mountain-X Race Festival will be a colourful caravan following the race and featuring local outdoor attractions like film projections, live music and raffles for a range of regional leisure pursuits. The armchair enthusiast hasn’t been forgotten either because, for the first time ever, an adventure race will be entirely filmed in high definition, bringing the thrills and spills of this unique, groundbreaking event to screens around the globe in never before seen widescreen, digital, multi-channel sound and super high-resolution.