Kris Coddens and Helena Erbenova posted close come-from-behind wins to prevail at XTERRA Greece Saturday at Lake Plastira.
Coddens of Belgium topped Roger Serrano of Spain by 35 seconds to win his very first XTERRA major title. Erbenova, of the Czech Republic, edged out XTERRA European Tour points leader Brigitta Poor of Hungary by 45 seconds. Erbenova, a two-time XTERRA European Tour champion, took her second XTERRA European Tour win in a row following her win at XTERRA Spain on June 7.
Men
Serrano, the XTERRA European Tour leader after four races, led the swim but surrendered the lead to Francois Carloni of France during the mountain bike leg. Carloni led Serrano on to the run, but Coddens surged and took the lead near the end of the run to finish in 2:20:28 with a 35 seconds margin on Serrano and 1:39 on 3rd-place finisher Carloni.
After four races, Serrano leads the XTERRA European Tour with 271 points, followed by Carloni with 250 and Albert Soley of Spain with 219. Two-time defending and undefeated European Tour XTERRA Champion Ruben Ruzafa of Spain, who has skipped two of the four 2015 European Tour races, is 4th with 175 points. Coddens, who has just one XTERRA European Tour finish, is 10th with 75 points.
Women
XTERRA Malta winner and XTERRA European Tour leader Brigitta Poor of Hungary led the swim and was first off the mountain bike segment. But Erbenova took charge on the trail run and finished in 2:44:03 with a 45 second margin on Poor and 2:26 on 3rd-place finisher Carina Wasle of Austria.
After four races, Poor leads the XTERRA European Tour women's points chase with 293. Erbenova of the Czech Republic, who skipped one race of the four, is 2nd with 242 points and Louise Fox of Great Britain is in 3rd with 240 points.
XTERRA Greece
Lake Plastira, Greece
June 20, 2015
Results
Men
1. Kris Coddens (BEL) 2:20:28
2. Roger Serrano (ESP) 2:21:03
3. Francois Carloni (FRA) 2:22:07
4. Tomas Jurkovic (SVK) 2:24:54
5. Tim Van Daele (BEL) 2:28:41
Women
1. Helena Erbenova (CZE) 2:44:03
2. Brigitta Poor (HUN) 2:44:48
3. Carina Wasle (AUT) 2:46:29
4. Louise Fox (GBR) 2:56:26
5. Jessica Roberts (GBR) 3:01:21
