Manche 3 Overview: A 105 km Journey in the Sky
On Tuesday, 10 September, Manche 3 of the competition delivered a spectacular 105 km task (officially flown as 104.5 km) under flawless blue skies. With stable weather, generous sunshine and reliable thermals, organizers seized the opportunity to design a fast, wide-ranging course that showcased both pilot skill and tactical decision-making.
The task sent pilots on a panoramic tour of the region, demanding precise navigation, constant attention to changing lift, and careful management of speed and altitude. It was a classic example of modern high-level paragliding competition: long, tactical, and unforgiving of mistakes.
Key Pilots in the Spotlight
Among the international field, several names drew particular attention as Manche 3 unfolded:
- Yoshiaki Hirokawa (JPN) – Bib 8: The Japanese pilot is known for his calm, analytical flying. In a long task like this, his ability to read the sky and avoid risky lines was a major asset.
- Andy Tallia (FRA) – Bib 9: Flying on home ground, Tallia combined local knowledge with aggressive racing, looking to gain every possible minute in transitions.
- Rafael Barros (BRA) – Bib 10: Coming from Brazil’s strong cross-country culture, Barros brought a dynamic style built on trusting strong climbs and pushing speed when conditions allowed.
- Stéphane Drouin (FRA): Another French pilot with deep experience in the region, Drouin’s conservative yet efficient approach made him one of the reference points for lines and decisions during the task.
These pilots, among many others, turned Manche 3 into a high-speed chess game in the air, constantly weighing risk against reward with every glide.
Weather Conditions: Blue Skies, Strong Decisions
The day unfolded under near-ideal conditions for a racing task. Blue skies and stable sunshine meant:
- Consistent thermals across much of the course, though varying in strength and height.
- Clear visibility that made gaggle dynamics and route choices more readable.
- Higher average speeds thanks to reliable lift and reduced hesitation in transitions.
However, blue days also remove the handy visual cues of cumulus clouds, forcing pilots to rely on experience, terrain reading, and the moves of the leading gaggle. This made Manche 3 not only a physical test, but also a mental one, where timing and intuition were as important as raw gliding performance.
The 104.5 km Course: A Tactical Circuit
Although officially described as a 105 km task, the precise measurement came to 104.5 km. The course line was designed to make the most of the day’s sky, sending pilots on a circuit that demanded:
- Strong starts to join the right gaggle from the first meters.
- Careful use of height in key transitions over less forgiving terrain.
- Smart turnpoint approaches to avoid getting low in areas with weaker lift.
The first leg generally set the tone: those who pushed hard early and hit good climbs could take control, while cautious pilots risked being trapped in slower air behind larger groups. Mid-task, the field often stretched out, revealing which strategies paid off and which gambles had failed.
Race Dynamics: Gaggles, Lines and Speed
At competitive level, a 104.5 km task is long enough for several strategic phases to emerge:
The Start and First Climb
The start cylinder saw tight gaggles where pilots like Yoshiaki Hirokawa and Andy Tallia worked the same cores, constantly adjusting their position to stay near the top of the stack. Getting high before the start was crucial; anyone launching into the first glide from low altitude paid a heavy price.
Mid-Course Decisions
As the course unfolded, small route differences began to matter. Some pilots favored slightly more direct lines, accepting weaker climbs to keep pushing forward. Others, including more strategic flyers like Rafael Barros and Stéphane Drouin, occasionally deviated to stronger-looking terrain, willing to add a bit of distance to gain climb quality and arrive at turnpoints higher and safer.
These middle sections are where a long task often breaks open. On this day, the blue sky demanded constant focus: the fastest line was rarely the straightest, and the best thermals were often found by those reading the land forms and sun exposure rather than flying purely on instinct.
The Final Glide
Late in the task, pilots who had managed their energy and altitude reserves well could switch into full-speed mode. Estimating the final glide from the last reliable climb to goal became the decisive calculation. Push too early, and the risk of arriving short or being forced to stop and climb again was real. Wait too long, and valuable seconds were lost to rivals willing to commit earlier.
For the leading pilots, Manche 3’s final kilometers were an all-out sprint, with speedbar fully pressed and every small line of improved air exploited to hold or gain position on competitors.
The Athletes’ Skill Set on Display
A task of this length and character highlights the full range of modern paragliding skills:
- Precision thermalling to climb fast and efficiently in often invisible lines of lift.
- Glide strategy to choose the best compromise between speed, safety margin, and expected lift ahead.
- Group dynamics, reading other pilots’ moves while resisting the temptation to follow bad decisions.
- Endurance and focus, remaining mentally sharp for several hours of continuous flight.
Manche 3 was an especially good showcase of how different flying styles can coexist at the front: analytical versus instinctive, aggressive versus conservative, all converging on similar arrival times when executed well.
Why Manche 3 Stands Out in the Event
Within the broader competition, Manche 3 will be remembered as a benchmark task. It combined:
- Ideal weather that allowed organizers to set a challenging, but fair, long-distance race.
- Rich tactical complexity, without excessive lottery or weather traps.
- High spectator value, with clear race phases and notable performances by pilots like Hirokawa, Tallia, Barros, and Drouin.
For many pilots, finishing such a task is more than a line on a score sheet. It is a personal milestone: a long day in the sky, a deep dive into their own decision-making, and a memory of racing through clear September air over the French landscape.