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XTERRA Czech report



by Dave "The Big Kahuna" Nicholas, XTERRA managing director

The XTERRA European Championship series kicked off with the 4th annual Czech Championship held in the fantastic little village of Hluboka nad Vltavou. This race has been voted two straight years as the number one multisport event in the Czech Republic, and there was no letdown for the 2005 edition.

A great field of pros and age groupers from a record 15 countries jumped into the 18-degree water of the Vltavou river. Because the size of the field and displays have grown so much, an entirely new transition, swim exit, finish and compound were created on the grounds of the Hluboka Swimming Pool complex. This pool is a beautiful municipal facility that would be the envy of any city anywhere.

The day was as spectacular as the castle above the village.. high 70s, great sun, few clouds, light breezes. Perfect racing weather. Olivier Marceau went into the lead early and was able to hold it despite a very strong challenge from France’s Nico Lebrun. Nico said he simply went flat after catching Marceau and decided it was best to take 2nd than possibly blow up entirely.

The better race was going on behind these two. Young German Andreas Bocherer started to challenge Lebrun but flatted. Justin Thomas was consistently strong and was having a great race with Thomas Jiranek and Jan Kubicek, two very fast Czech pros with Maurizio Brassini (Italy) and Lieuwe Boonstra (South Africa) hanging around and ready to pounce.

The women’s race was led out of transition by Switzerland’s Sibylle Matter, followed by Candy Angle. It wasn’t long before Jamie Whitmore came up through the field along with Melanie McQuaid. Not far back were Melissa Thomas and Renata Bucher. The women’s race was quite fierce with these six women in close proximity. So close, they came off the bike within three minutes – front to back - Sibylle, Jamie, Melissa, Melanie, Candy and Renata. The action was about to start.

We all knew Renata Bucher could run. At the XTERRA Saipan Championship in April, she posted the second-fastest run overall and won the women's race. What she did today stamped paid to any ideas that Saipan was not the real deal. She had a very solid bike and then simply ran past everybody. Third at the end of the first 5.5-K lap and easily into the lead for the finish. Perhaps there are particular kinds of courses that suit her, but with a win in Saipan, a third at Temecula and another top spot on the podium in Czech she is a force to be reckoned with.

Jamie came home second, just a few seconds back with Sibylle third, Angle fourth, and Thomas fifth.

So we start our sixth Euro season in fine style. I say it every year and I mean it more every year. You need to come over here and meet your European XTERRA family. And as I have also said – the beer is spectacular.
XTERRA