A record number of competitors, including individuals and teams, from 23 countries competed in the Gobi March (China) 2007. One-hundred and fifty-seven competitors completed each stage of the event out of 180 that started the event.

This year's event began outside Kashgar in a remote area known as Tashkorgan, a region where 85% of the population is of Tajik heritage. From the start, the competitors experienced extreme weather which included rain, a blizzard at the top of the mountain pass and extreme heat during the final stages of the event. The rain, the most precipitation in four decades, created high rivers and washed out roads which required competitors to be carried across certain rivers by donkey carts. The RacingThePlanet staff and volunteers successfully managed the most logistically challenging event to date, the volunteers performing remarkably well under the most trying conditions.

The Gobi March (China ) 2007 was won by Canadian Mark D. Tamminga in a time of 29:06:55 hours. Lucy J. Brooks and Stephen A. Hilton of the United Kingdom tied for second place overall in a time of 29:09:05. Lucy, who also won the women's division, became the first woman ever to win a stage in a 4 Deserts event, and was within a few minutes of winning the overall event. German Nina Breith took second place for the women followed by Joany T. Verschuuren of Canada in third place.    

Brunton and Gerber were the official product partners, supporting the event with top-of the-line products. The Brunton solar panels were used extensively by the media team. They proved invaluable at the high mountain pass as logistics prevented the generators from being setup at such inhospitable points.

The Coca-Cola Company provided 18,000 bottles of water (1.5 liters) which was consumed by both competitors and staff during the seven day period.

The Esquel Group provided vital government relations support, and fielded the official 'Team China ' in the event. The Esquel Group also had several employees as volunteers during the event.

The Gobi March was founded in honor of three missionaries, Mildred Cable and two sisters -- Francesca and Eva French. Mildred Cable and Eva and Francesca French were Christian missionaries who began their work in China around the turn of the 19th century. After more than 20 years of doing routine missionary work in China, the trio headed northwest – to the Gobi Desert and beyond. Mildred Cable used to say: "Only a fool crosses the great Gobi without misgivings."

Live website coverage of the Gobi March (China) 2007 was broadcast from the 4 Deserts website at www.4deserts.com/gobimarch. The website featured hundreds of pictures, breaking news texts, daily journals, video clips and field updates. Full results are also posted on the website.

About RacingThePlanet
RacingThePlanet Limited is an international outdoor lifestyle brand and global leader in organizing some of the world's most prestigious outdoor events including the 4 Deserts, a series of 7-day footraces across the world's largest and most forbidding deserts. These events include the Gobi March in China, the Atacama CrossingTM in Chile , the Sahara Race in Egypt and The Last Desert in Antarctica. These locations represent the driest, hottest, coldest and windiest places on Earth. The 4 Deserts™ attract individuals from all backgrounds and from all walks of life, the majority being professionals including bankers, lawyers, airline pilots and medical doctors.  The 4 Deserts is one of the world's most prestigious outdoor events. With several ancillary business units including an online merchandise shop, a television and film production unit and an online portal, RacingThePlanet Limited is headquartered in Hong Kong and has ten representative offices around the world. For further information about RacingThePlanet, please visit the website at www.racingtheplanet.com.

For further information about Gobi March in China please contact RacingThePlanet at info@racingtheplanet.com or visit the website at www.racingtheplanet.com.