The best off-road triathletes in Europe are gathered in Prachatice for an action-packed weekend of full distance and televised Short Track racing at XTERRA Czech Republic this Saturday and Sunday, June 19-20
Με Ελληνική συμμετοχή ο αγώνας, αυτή του Αντώνη Λάφη (#239, Μ19)
As an event that has been part of the XTERRA series since 2002, the Czech Republic always delivers something special and the course is well known for its tough climbs, fast fire roads, and technical single track. The full distance event will offer up a prize purse of 15,000 euros and all-important world ranking points, plus qualification for the Short Track event on Sunday, meaning it is going to be an all-out battle from the get-go.
In the women’s race, Helena Karaskova Erbanova is the highest ranked out of the 13 elite female athletes after her incredible bronze medal performance at the XTERRA World Championships in Maui back in 2019. The Czech legend and XTERRA Hall of Famer has come out of retirement especially for the occasion and will be looking forward to having a strong hit-out on home soil.
“I have never missed an edition of XTERRA Czech and racing at home has always been 9very special,” said Karaskova.
Renown for hunting athletes down on the bike and run, Karaskova will have her work cut-out to catch young favorites Loanne Duvoisin and Sandra Mairhofer. Finishing first and second, respectively, at the XTERRA Short Track event in Lake Garda, Italy earlier this month, both athletes showed they were in fine form and more than ready for the season ahead after racing neck and neck for much of the fast-paced race.
ITU World Cross Tri Champion Eleonora Peroncini will again be looking to podium and build on her third placed finish in Italy, while athletes such as Marta Menditto, Solenne Billoin, Carina Wasle, and Jindriska Zemanova will also looking to battle it out at the front of the pack.
In the men’s race, Jens Roth (Nicknamed ‘The Shark’) will be looking to establish a strong lead in the swim ahead of a stellar field of athletes which features 10 of the top 20 ranked XTERRA athletes including seven-time World Champion Ruben Ruzafa, Francois Carloni, Maxim Chané, and Karel Dusek.
The two Arthur’s – Arthur Serrieres and Arthur Forissier – will once again be gunning for the top spot after a thrilling battle at the XTERRA Short Track Italy Lake Garda a few weeks ago.
“So happy to be back in Czech. I won here in 2019 and then both full and short track races in 2020 and I hope to perform well again,” said Serrieres.
There is no denying the two will have their work cut out, with all eyes also on local powerhouse, Lukas Kocar who would love to win on home soil, especially after a crash on the course in 2018 and a broken seat post in 2019. While a dropped chain saw him lose precious time and finish third at the XTERRA Short Track race in Italy earlier this month, all the athlete needs is a race without drama to be able to show off his full potential.
With a packed field across both the men’s and women’s races, XTERRA Czech Republic is set to be an exhilarating weekend of racing as athletes take on the classic lake swim, point-to-point bike and a hilly run course before racing for the finish line in the beautiful Prachatice town square.
Sunday’s Short Track event will be broadcasted live on XTERRA Europe’s facebook page. Elite women: 09:00 CET / Elite men: 10:30 CET
Tentative Elite Start List
Women
| World Ranking | First name | Last name | Country | Short Track – Lake Garda Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Helena | Karásková Erbenová | CZ | – |
| 8 | Loanne | Duvoisin | CH | 1 |
| 13 | Carina | Wasle | AT | 6 |
| 15 | Sandra | Mairhofer | IT | 2 |
| 16 | Marta | Menditto | IT | 4 |
| 19 | Eleonora | Peroncini | IT | 3 |
| 29 | Jindřiška | Zemanová | CZ | 7 |
| 59 | Anna | Tomica | PL | – |
| 67 | Segolene | Leberon | FR | 11 |
| 72 | Solenne | Billouin | FR | 8 |
| 110 | Heleen | Adams | BE | – |
| NR | Aneta | Grabmüllerová | CZ | – |
| NR | Tereza | Rudolfová | CZ | – |
Men
| World Ranking | First name | Last name | Country | Short Track – Lake Garda Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Arthur | Serrieres | FR | 2 |
| 4 | Ruben | Ruzafa Cueto | ES | 7 |
| 9 | Maxim | Chané | FR | – |
| 10 | Arthur | Forissier | FR | 1 |
| 12 | Karel | Dušek | CZ | – |
| 13 | Jens | Roth | DE | – |
| 15 | Lukáš | Kočař | CZ | 3 |
| 16 | Sébastien | Carabin | BE | – |
| 19 | Francois | Carloni | FR | 5 |
| 27 | Geert | Lauryssen | BE | – |
| 29 | Jens Emil | Sloth Nielsen | DK | – |
| 31 | Rui | Dolores | PT | – |
| 32 | Filippo | Barazzuol | IT | 9 |
| 44 | Lucas | Van Deynze | BE | – |
| 47 | Théo | Dupras | FR | 10 |
| 49 | Veit | Hönle | DE | – |
| 50 | Samuel | Jud | CH | – |
| 54 | Michal | Francke | CZ | – |
| 86 | Jacques | Martines | FR | – |
| 93 | Gaëtan | Vivien | FR | 13 |
| 127 | Vojtěch | Bednarský | CZ | 14 |
| 212 | Andres | Carnevali del Castillo | ES | – |
| 364 | Marek | Olszewski | PL | – |
| NR | Federico | Spinazzè | IT | 6 |
| NR | Petr | Soukup | CZ | – |