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Brent McMahon, Jennifer Spieldenner top Challenge Penticton
Brent McMahon and Jennifer Spieldenner won the Challenge Penticton half distance against strong pro fields on Sunday in British Columbia.
Men
Italian-born U.S. resident Davide Giardini led the swim in 22:04, followed closely by Chris Braden of the U.S. and Canadian star Brent McMahon.
Giardini led the field into T2, followed closely by Canadian Trevor Wurtele and McMahon. McMahon took charge quickly on the run and held it to the finish with a 3rd-best 1:14:28 half marathon, which gave him a 3:50:38 finish and a 3:14 margin of victory over Wurtele and 6:45 over 3rd-place Giardini.
“I wanted to go out and I wanted to win this event,” said McMahon. “It takes lot of hard work to do that. There were great Canadians and great international athletes here. They didn’t make it easy on me.”
Brent McMahon and Jennifer Spieldenner won the Challenge Penticton half distance against strong pro fields on Sunday in British Columbia.
Men
Italian-born U.S. resident Davide Giardini led the swim in 22:04, followed closely by Chris Braden of the U.S. and Canadian star Brent McMahon.
Giardini led the field into T2, followed closely by Canadian Trevor Wurtele and McMahon. McMahon took charge quickly on the run and held it to the finish with a 3rd-best 1:14:28 half marathon, which gave him a 3:50:38 finish and a 3:14 margin of victory over Wurtele and 6:45 over 3rd-place Giardini.
“I wanted to go out and I wanted to win this event,” said McMahon. “It takes lot of hard work to do that. There were great Canadians and great international athletes here. They didn’t make it easy on me.”
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Ironman Vichy
Auvergne, France
August 30, 2015
S 2.4 mi. / B 112 mi. / R 26.2 mi.
Results
Women
1. Gurutze Frades (ESP) 9:25:27
2. Tine Holst (DEN) 9:30:59
3. Natascha Badmann (SUI) 9:32:33
4. Alyssa Godesky (USA) 9:52:15
5. Helle Wehle (DEN) 10:22:46 * F30-34
Men
1. Mauro Baertsch (SUI) 8:23:49
2. Bertrand Billard (FRA) 8:27:39
3. Christian Brader (GER) 8:31:12
4. Patrick Jaberg (SUI) 8:34:02
5. Mike Schifferle (SUI) 8:40:16
Ruzafa, Paterson win XTERRA European Champs as Caveman bids adieu to XTERRA
Ruben Ruzafa edged Conrad “Caveman” Stoltz after a furious battle, and Lesley Paterson chased down Jacqui Slack and Renata Bucher on the run to win the XERRA European Tour Championship elite races Sunday afternoon at the Vachery Estate in Cranleigh, England.
Men
An overnight, driving rain left the trails muddy and slick, making the day a fitting setting for the farewell race of XTERRA’s greatest racer - against a virtually unbeatable newcomer - with a winning streak of 15 that extended to 2013.
Stoltz, the four-time XTERRA World Champion and all-time win leader with 51 XTERRA victories, was hanging up his kit at the age of 41 after nearly two decades in triathlon’s most rugged version of swim, bike and run. Befitting his gladiator’s spirit, this was to be no ceremonial parade.
British veteran Richard Stannard led the swim a few seconds ahead of Ben Allen’s 17:41 split, with Stoltz a minute back in 18:54 and Ruzafa another minute arrears in 19:35. Allen passed Stannard early on the bike and Stoltz said it took him ages to catch Allen and take the lead. Whereupon former mountain bike pro Ruzafa moved to the front on lap two.
“I couldn’t pull away,” said Ruzafa. “I tried to speed up but he stayed on my wheel.” The two champions – Ruzafa is a three-time XTERRA World titlist – battled it out on the slithery, steep trails of the Vachery Estate and arrived at T2 simultaneously and began an equally give-no-quarter foot race.
Auvergne, France
August 30, 2015
S 2.4 mi. / B 112 mi. / R 26.2 mi.
Results
Women
1. Gurutze Frades (ESP) 9:25:27
2. Tine Holst (DEN) 9:30:59
3. Natascha Badmann (SUI) 9:32:33
4. Alyssa Godesky (USA) 9:52:15
5. Helle Wehle (DEN) 10:22:46 * F30-34
Men
1. Mauro Baertsch (SUI) 8:23:49
2. Bertrand Billard (FRA) 8:27:39
3. Christian Brader (GER) 8:31:12
4. Patrick Jaberg (SUI) 8:34:02
5. Mike Schifferle (SUI) 8:40:16
Ruzafa, Paterson win XTERRA European Champs as Caveman bids adieu to XTERRA
Ruben Ruzafa edged Conrad “Caveman” Stoltz after a furious battle, and Lesley Paterson chased down Jacqui Slack and Renata Bucher on the run to win the XERRA European Tour Championship elite races Sunday afternoon at the Vachery Estate in Cranleigh, England.
Men
An overnight, driving rain left the trails muddy and slick, making the day a fitting setting for the farewell race of XTERRA’s greatest racer - against a virtually unbeatable newcomer - with a winning streak of 15 that extended to 2013.
Stoltz, the four-time XTERRA World Champion and all-time win leader with 51 XTERRA victories, was hanging up his kit at the age of 41 after nearly two decades in triathlon’s most rugged version of swim, bike and run. Befitting his gladiator’s spirit, this was to be no ceremonial parade.
British veteran Richard Stannard led the swim a few seconds ahead of Ben Allen’s 17:41 split, with Stoltz a minute back in 18:54 and Ruzafa another minute arrears in 19:35. Allen passed Stannard early on the bike and Stoltz said it took him ages to catch Allen and take the lead. Whereupon former mountain bike pro Ruzafa moved to the front on lap two.
“I couldn’t pull away,” said Ruzafa. “I tried to speed up but he stayed on my wheel.” The two champions – Ruzafa is a three-time XTERRA World titlist – battled it out on the slithery, steep trails of the Vachery Estate and arrived at T2 simultaneously and began an equally give-no-quarter foot race.
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“I thought back after my first XTERRA in Richmond where it was all about the experience and not the result and I just wanted to enjoy the race and I did,” said Stoltz. “The bike course was so much fun. It was slippery and challenging and it was pretty crazy. I had the best run form I’ve had in a while and Ruben and I went out and were together through about 7k and I thought I’d test him a little bit. I went to the front and he hung in and then my shoe got stuck in some the mud and came undone for two seconds. He took advantage and really pushed the screws down and I went from being comfortable to pretty uncomfortable in quick time. Then I jumped across the river and my legs started cramping so I was on the ropes. Even though I came to enjoy the race as much as possible, I do get carried away in the racing and of course I wanted to win my last XTERRA.”
After the race, Ruzafa said this was his hardest battle. “I thought it might come down to a sprint, but when Conrad had a problem with his shoe I knew this was my chance,” said Ruzafa. “When he stopped I said, ‘OK, I’ll take it,’ I just pushed ahead and kept it to the finish.” It was, added Ruzafa, “a really big challenge for me. It was exhausting. So slippery out there and all the time concentrating. I think Conrad should be proud. He is a great person and a great racer.”
At the end, Ruzafa hit the finish in 2:29:05, 25 seconds ahead of Stoltz and 1:10 ahead of fast closing Ben Allen, who notched the fastest run of the day.
After the race, Ruzafa said this was his hardest battle. “I thought it might come down to a sprint, but when Conrad had a problem with his shoe I knew this was my chance,” said Ruzafa. “When he stopped I said, ‘OK, I’ll take it,’ I just pushed ahead and kept it to the finish.” It was, added Ruzafa, “a really big challenge for me. It was exhausting. So slippery out there and all the time concentrating. I think Conrad should be proud. He is a great person and a great racer.”
At the end, Ruzafa hit the finish in 2:29:05, 25 seconds ahead of Stoltz and 1:10 ahead of fast closing Ben Allen, who notched the fastest run of the day.
