https://www.mondialdepul2017.com/en/blog/saturday-5th-august-task-8-three-pilots-in-goal.html

The final task is finished with three pilots in goal - in fact the
same three pilots who will stand on the podium to collect their medals tomorrow.
First into goal today was Jacques Bott (FRA) who will take the silver medal
tomorrow. Second into goal was Franz Pacheiner (AUT), who will be presented with
bronze tomorrow. And third into goal, taking it easy, is 2017 FAI World Hang
Gliding Class 2 Champion, once again, Manfred Ruhmer (AUT). The fourth
contender, Steve Cox (SUI) landed out today.

The weather conditions were tricky in places, starting with the launch. Thermal
gusts and dust devils on the airfield, with the wind veering between north and
west made take off very difficult. In fact the task for the Class 5 pilots was
cancelled on the ground. In Class 2, half the field launched in increasingly
turbulent conditions. Two pilots decided not to start. The remaining two pilots
launched as conditions allowed. Once airborne, the thermals were strong and most
were at a good height when the race started. Unfortunately, Guenther Obweger
(SUI) suffered an instrument failure and landed soon after.

In the early part of the task, Steve and Manfred were together and a few
kilometers ahead of Jacques and Franz. Then they came to the crux of the task: a
windy section close to Ancel where the north wind was strong through the venturi
formed by the valleys north of Gap and through the col Bayard. Manfred said:
"That was hard core hang gliding! It was very interesting flying in the leeside
against a 50kph wind. We had full-on turbulence and lots of lift." However,
Manfred said he felt secure strapped into his Class 2 hang glider! Steve,
however, felt differently.

"I came in low, I was in the lee, it was bumpy and there was a strong wind. I
managed to get just above the top of the mountains, but it was still very bumpy.
I chose to fly out from the hill, and then rather than go back in there in my 20
year old Swift, I decided it was Level 3 for me, so I went to land."

Jacques knew he needed height at this point: "Or I would be in the lee in a
50kph wind!" He said that last year he lost time on a task on the same route by
taking a more round-about but safer course, but this year, in full competition
mode, he chose to fly direct. "And today was not the day to do that!" He was
grateful that on his more modern Swift Light he had rudder control in the
turbulence.

Franz, meanwhile, only found it rough at the launch and the start. "I was lower
than everyone at the start, so I started late. But I managed to catch up, and
was surprised to come in second! My navigation skills have improved too," he
added.

https://www.mondialdepul2017.com/en/pages/pilots-corner/results.html

Task 8 (271 km):

Final results:

It seems a bit of a poor decision to fly in conditions that allow
the podium to be determined by who is the most willing to fly in severe
turbulence. We do wish to encourage pilots to fly safely and this does not do
that.