Xterra SA Press Release

Dan Hugo was crowned South African Xterra Champion for the second consecutive year and the third time in all after crushing the field at Saturday’s Duesouth Xterra in Grabouw.

Hugo’s time over the 1.5km-swim, 25km-mountain bike and 10km-trail run was 2 hours, 15 minutes and 30 seconds, near four minutes faster than his closest rival.

The 25-year-old from Stellenbosch had his first success at Grabouw in ’08, mechanical failure in ’09 to go 3 out of 4 in recent years on home turf.

Kent Horner (2:19.22) and Nico Pfitzenmaier 2:22.13) stood alongside him on the winners podium. At the swim exit Hugo was at the front alongside Horner and trailed by Conrad Stoltz and Lieuwe Boonstra.

“I planned to race as aggressively as possible and take to the race to Stoltz. The swim-bike transition was a focus and one I pushed through with urgency,” said Hugo. “Once on the bike I felt fluid and strong, and never looked back. That was until I crashed.”  Hugo not only bruised his shoulder and hip in his crash but also damaged his Specialized Epic 29′er.

“I hit the deck really hard and got some fright with that crash. A while after the front break completely seized up. I have never seen anything like it and had no idea why. The front wheel could hardly rotate. I stopped, swopped the wheel around but the spokes jammed the brake mechanics so reverted before managing to widen the calipers a little.  After a minute that felt like an eternity I was back on the bike although my confidence got smashed a bit.”

Hugo had no idea what his lead margin was over second and the rest of the field. Despite the lost mechanical time Hugo still ended the bike leg with a three minute lead to conserve over the trail run.

Early during the bike leg Stoltz felt the effects of a recent illness and took the decision to withdraw rather than jeopardize his long-term health.  ”I have been racing long enough to know when my body isn’t reacting the way it should. I have lost friends this way and wasn’t going to risk big. I’m really disappointed not to compete today. I really wanted to do the event justice and show the people what the four time World Champion is made of,” said Stoltz.

“Not knowing my lead had me running hard to the river crossing where I could assess things while looking back. Some comfort after loosing momentum with the wheel.”

It was a big day for Hugo.

“I’m just stoked with the victory. The body was reacting so well to training recently and recovery has been great. After the niggles I had in January things have been more consistent in February.

“I had to borrow the Specialized Epic from Christoph Sauser as my 29′er is still on its way. The bigger wheels with bigger surface area made such a big difference on this course specifically by rolling over all the sand on route with better momentum than a 26’er could. Other than the problems that followed the crash the bike was sensational. I owe Sauser.”

Hugo signed a new sponsorship deal with Duesouth this past week.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to align with Duesouth, who have been instrumental to establishing Xterra in South Africa. Duesouth represent and embrace the lifestyle of the sport.”