Kiwi favourites Balance Vector, maintained a strong lead overnight in the 2005 Adventure Racing World Championship on the West Coast of the Southern Alps, and has just completed the rafting section on the Buller River.
The team came out of the Lyell Range feeling good after the rugged trek but captain Nathan Fa'avae said it had taken two or three hours longer than they expected and there had been some tough moments on the tops.
They are the only team so far to reach the Buller River.
There has been a big shift in positions overnight in the Lyell Range and three teams have officially withdrawn.
Balance Vector led through checkpoint 7, which is the final checkpoint before the transition stage to the rafting, at 11.03pm well ahead of two Swedish teams Cross Sportswear and Lundhags, who went through the checkpoint together at 03.19.
Buff Nike of Spain timed in at 3.22am and Merrell Wigwam Adventure at 3.26am followed closely by defending world champions Nike Balance Bar.
Montrail and Sierra International, who had been close behind Balance Vector at the start of yesterday's mountain biking section, had fallen back to 11th and 13th places respectively.
West Coast based team Kathmandu was in 16th place at checkpoint 7 after heading into the Lyell Range amongst the top ten teams.
US/Kiwi team Cranksports was forced to withdraw from the race after team member Dan Abel fell and injured his shoulder last night. He was airlifted by helicopter from the Lyell Range early this morning.
The Kiwi team House of Travel and Brazilians Try on Landscape have also withdrawn and are returning to the third transition area.
Teams who do not reach the Buller River by curfew tonight will not be allowed to complete the rafting section and will be transported to the start of the next stage, a 16- 22 hour trek in the Brunner Range, to continue unranked.
Officials in the Lyell Range report teams are tired but in good spirits as they move through the challenging bush.
The West Coast Development Trust is the principal sponsor of the 2005 Adventure Racing World Championship and $100,000 prize money will be shared amongst the five top placegetters, with $50,000 for the winning team.
