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XTERRA Short Track Italy Lake Garda this Saturday

XTERRA racing returns to Europe this Saturday, June 5, 2021, with an unmissable season opener at the invite-only XTERRA Short Track event in Lake Garda, Italy

In a unique twist, and in contrast to the Short Track course fans are accustomed to, Saturday’s elite races showcase an urban focus with all of the action playing out in the center of the beautiful town of Toscolano Maderno.  Viewers can expect high speeds, narrow passages, and man-made obstacles that will test the athletes and create an exciting racing atmosphere.

“I think a race in the city center with artificial obstacles could suit me well, and I feel confident,” said Lukas Kocar (CZE), who will be looking to build on his strong second place finishes in the elite men’s races at Short Track Molveno and Czech Republic last year. “I anticipate a very close and dramatic race and that is exactly what I enjoy about the Short Track format.”

Kocar will be joined in the men’s elite race by some of the best athletes in Europe including 2019 XTERRA European Champion and 2020 XTERRA Short Track Czech Republic winner Arthur Serrieres from France (pictured above), three-time XTERRA World Champion and 2020 XTERRA Short Track Molveno winner Ruben Ruzafa (ESP), and 2019 ITU Cross Tri World Champion Arthur Forissier (FRA), who has fond memories of Lake Garda after winning the full course event here in 2019.

With a stacked start list, this race will be the perfect opportunity for athletes to showcase what they have been working on and test where their fitness is at after a tough year of limited racing in 2020.

I think Serrieres and Forrisier will be the strongest guys because of their experience and past results,” said a humble Ruzafa (pictured at top of article), who holds four ITU Cross Tri World titles in addition to his three XTERRA crowns.  “There are a lot of unknowns, however, as each country has experienced different circumstances during the pandemic and each triathlete has therefore faced different challenges so you never know, maybe we will see some big surprises out on the course in Lake Garda.”

The competitors in the women’s elite race are also ready to make the most of a return to racing and leave it all out there on the racecourse.  Sandra Mairhofer from Italy (pictured above) spoke of her excitement ahead of the race in June: “There are so many strong girls out there in the XTERRA world who are hungry after this strange year. Every race is an opportunity for me to give my best and at the end, we will see who will be at the top. I can’t tell you who will cross the finish line first, but for sure we will fight for the win and have fun out there.”

Mairhofer, who finished just six seconds behind XTERRA Short Track Molveno Champ Marta Menditto last October, has enjoyed a strong start to 2021 after dominating the World Triathlon Winter Championships in Andorra in March but she will face impressive talent as she toes the line with athletes such as reigning ITU Cross Triathlon World Champion, Eleanora Peroncini from Italy (pictured below), as well as experienced veterans such as Carina Wasle (AUT) and Loanne Duvoisin (SUI).  

Duvoisin, who is currently the highest European athlete on the XTERRA World Ranking in 7th place, commented: “Since the Short Track in Czech Republic, I have set myself the goal to improve my technical level and I hope that my work will pay off. I am really looking forward to finally racing again. I had time to work a lot during this special year and the form should be there.” 

Watch all the action unfold in real-time on Facebook Live starting at 3:50pm CET (9:50am in New York).

XTERRA Short Track Italy Lake Garda Elite Men
XTERRA World Ranking / Name (NAT)

3 – ARTHUR SERRIERES (FRA) 
4 – RUBEN RUZAFA CUETO (ESP)
10 – ARTHUR FORISSIER (FRA)
13 – JENS ROTH (DEU)
15 – LUKAS KOCAR (CZE)
19 – FRANCOIS CARLONI (FRA)
27 – BRICE DAUBORD (FRA)
31 – FILIPPO BARAZZUOL (ITA)
45 – THEO DUPRAS (FRA)
76 – RICCARDO RIDOLFI (ITA)
93 – GAËTAN VIVIEN (FRA)
107 – MATEO BOZZATO (ITA)
125 – VOJTECH BEDNARSKY (CZE)
156 – ANDREA ZANENGA (ITA)
245 – MARCO RINALDI (ITA) 
NR – FREDERICO SPINAZZE (ITA)
NR – MICHELE BONACIA (ITA) 
NR – SAMUELE BERNO (ITA) 
NR – PIETRO SANTINI (ITA) 
NR – FRANCO PESAVENTO (ITA) 
NR – JOSEF TREBO (ITA) 
NR – NICOLO RUGGERO (ITA) 
NR – MATTEO SFREGOLA (ITA) 

XTERRA Short Track Italy Lake Garda Elite Women
XTERRA World Ranking / Name (NAT)

7 – LOANNE DUVOISIN (SUI) 
12 – CARINA WASLE (AUT) 
14 – SANDRA MAIRHOFER (ITA)
15 – MARTA MENDITTO (ITA)
18 – ELEANORA PERONCINI (ITA) 
27 – JINDRISKA ZEMANOVA (CZE) 
45 – MARIA CALLEJA (ESP) 
66 – SÉGOLÈNE LEBERON (FRA) 
71 – SOLENNE BILLOUIN (FRA) 
226 – KATJA KRENN (AUT) 
233 – LYSON DUMONT (FRA) 
NR – MARTINA STANCHI (ITA) 
NR – NICOLE RAO (ITA) 
NR – ALESSIA ORLA (ITA) 
NR – IRENE BALLOTA 
NR – EMMA FESTA (ITA)
NR – SOFIA CLAVIO (ITA) 
NR – MATILDE DAL MAS (ITA) 
NR – DEIDE DIEDERICK (NLD) 

About XTERRA Short Track
XTERRA Short Track is a short course race concept that debuted in Czech Republic in 2019.  An elite-only event where athletes have to qualify during the full distance event or in a preliminary short track race to claim the best starting position in the final grid. The course is made up of a two-lap 400m swim with an Australian exit, a very technical four-lap 6km bike circuit littered with jumps, rock gardens, root infested single track and a couple of flat-out pedaling sections. The run will then be contested over two-laps using a slightly shortened course.

The 2021 XTERRA Short Track series will feature events in Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, and France. The biggest advantage of this format is that athletes race multiple laps on a very tight course which makes it perfect for live TV coverage and a thrilling atmosphere for spectators.

All four Short Track events will be streamed live on TriathlonLive.tv, and Facebook.

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