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XTERRA European Champs in Austria

Written by "Kahuna Dave" Nicholas: The second XTERRA European Tour event in a row takes place this weekend in a beautiful little lake village nestled in the Carinthian Carnic Alps in southern Austria named Klopeinersee.  As well as being the fourth stop on the 2009 Euro Tour, this event will be the one-day XTERRA European Championship.  The online entry has been stopped at 350 but you can show up at the visitors center in Klopeinersee and register in person this Friday.

The pro field is strong with Frenchman Franky Batelier looking for his fourth win in a row.  His job will be tough as Austrian Michael “Michi” Weiss, last year’s Austrian champ, wants to keep his crown, and he beat Batelier here last year.  Olivier Marceau, always on the podium, will be there along with a very strong Felix Schumann (2nd in Germany last week).  Schumann is ready for his first XTERRA win and this could be the weekend for it.

Ronny Dietz was 3rd to Schumann last week, but beat Felix in Austria last year.  Karel Zadak from the Czech Republic has put in performances second only to Batelier this year and will look to improve on his 5th place from last year.  Michael Szymoniuk, a very quick young Austrian pro has found his winning ways in the Austrian Tour and could very well surprise the more established pro’s on his home turf.  Another young pro that is giving XTERRA a go is Finland's Mikko Vastaranta.  Mikko had a great 5th in Germany in his first try and is ready to go in Austria.  The field is strong and the competition will be fierce.

For the women, Switzerland’s Renata Bucher (pictured above) has won 2 of 3 but Austrian Carina Wasle won in the Czech Republic and will want to win in her home country.  She has dominated the Austrian Tour this year and needs to win the Big Show in Klopeinersee.  Anna Baylis-Scheiderbauer makes her return to XTERRA in Austria and had a nice 3rd behind Renata and Julie Dibens last year.  Jenny Smith and Brandyn Roark-Gray from the US will continue their European Tour at Austria.  Jen finished 5th in Germany and Brandyn had bike troubles and placed 11th but is looking for a much higher place this week.

The weather man is predicting rain once again.  Odd, as Carinthia has the highest number of sunny days in all Austria.  The first two years at Austria had rain and while it makes things a bit difficult, it did not discourage the fantastic Austrian fans who turned out in droves.  The rain influenced the organizer enough that Robert Latschen put in his now famous “mud pit” just a few meters before the finish.

A big feature of this race has to be the two huge parties held inside the hospitality tent at the finish line.  Live bands, food and liters of cold Austrian beer continue on into the night, with the athletes leaving early on Friday but busting it out Saturday eve after the race.  The southern Austrians know how to party and their hospitality is legendary.  If you’re there, it is an easy 30 minute drive over a beautiful mountain pass to enter the Nation of Slovenia.

We should look for some great battles this weekend.  Michi Weiss will fight hard to knock Batelier from his winning ways, but Franky will not go easily.  Carina wants to be Champion of her own country and erase a bad race from 2008, but must go through Renata to get to the top step.  There are both sport and full distances, so if you’ve wanted to get to Europe and need an excuse...  take a look at Austria.