Conrad Stoltz narrowly held off Josiah Middaugh to win the 2009 XTERRA West Cup in Las Vegas. Melanie McQuaid also had a tough fight on her hands with Shonny Vanlandingham on her way to the women's title.
Canadian Christine Jeffrey was first out of the water in a little over 20 minutes, as the lead men were slightly swimming off course during the the point to point 1,500m swim.
The bike course in the Nevada desert had lots of steep one and two-minute climbs followed by quick descents, and the South Africans Conrad Stoltz and Dan Hugo quickly charged into the lead. They were hotly pursued by American Josiah Middaugh who had lost very little time to the leading men during the swim and was thus in a very good position. Middaugh first flew by Hugo and a short while later caught and passed Stoltz too. He carried a small lead into the second transition and now it came down to a battle on the run.
Stoltz soon recaptured Middaugh and the two were running side by side testing the will, strength and endurance of each other. Late in the run Stoltz charged away on a descent and crossed the line 32 seconds ahead of Middaugh and became the repeat his XTERRA West champion. Hugo held on to third.
"My hats off to Josiah, he really made me suffer," said Stoltz after the race.
Early swim leader Christine Jeffrey was quickly caught by 2008 XTERRA West winner Melanie McQuaid. McQuaid pretty much rode by herself but Vanlandingham had slowly moved through the filed and entered T2 in second place about 90 second behind McQuaid.
Out on the run all eyes were on Leslie Paterson, who charged past Vanlandingham and looked like she might spoil McQuaid's day. But Paterson ran out of steam and soon it was Vanlandingham back in second place and inching closer to McQuaid. In the end McQuaid won by 23 seconds and Vanlandingham finished second. Paterson crossed the line in third, 65 seconds behind the winner.
“There was just no place to hide and no place to rest and not a second to catch my breath. I’ve never been more tired in my whole life," said McQuaid.
Loews XTERRA West Cup
May 2, 2009 / Las Vegas, NV
Pro men results
1. Conrad Stoltz (RSA) 2:16:06
2. Josiah Middaugh (USA) 2:16:38
3. Dan Hugo (RSA) 2:21:12
4. Mike Vine (CAN) 2:24:06
5. Jasper Blake (CAN) 2:25:40
6. Steve Larsen (USA) 2:26:34
7. Justin Thomas (USA) 2:28:24
8. Brian Smith (USA) 2:28:40
9. Craig Evans (USA) 2:29:26
10. Brandon Rakita (USA) 2:31:20
Pro women results
1. Melanie McQuaid (CAN) 2:42:09
2. Shonny Vanlandingham (USA) 2:42:32
3. Lesley Paterson (GBR) 2:43:14
4. Renata Bucher (SWI) 2:46:45
5. Christine Jeffrey (CAN) 2:50:30
6. Emma Garrard (USA) 2:50:47
7. Rebecca Dussault (USA) 2:51:06
8. Jenny Smith (NZL) 2:52:26
9. Danelle Kabush (CAN) 2:54:39
10. Jenny Tobin (USA) 2:55:35
