Xterra South Africa at Grabouw
April 18th, 2008 by Dan Hugo
Tomorrow this time I’ll be at Grabouw doing some warm-up and pre race gear check’s before the start of Xterra SA 2008 at 11:30am at the Elgin Country Club. A major rendezvous for myself as the first of 7 Xterra’s on the global series I’ll race over the next three months.
After three good races earlier this year, in the Totalsports Challenge Kleinmond, the Duel Ultra Triathlon, and Xterra Shongweni, and to a lesser the Subaburu Sani2c Adventure, its been a longish two month build to this weekend’s hit out. I’ve not had a build up like that for some time, and although they never are perfect, I’m hoping to show the form I fel I’ve built over its term.
As per tradition at Grabouw, there has only been one Xterra SA winner, and rightly so. As a South African, I can take pride in Conrad Stoltz (conradstoltz.com) being the best, being three time Xterra World Champion, and having won in October, he’ll be starting as a reigning world champion. What an asset to the event and what better yard stick to measure up against. I look forward to seeing the master in full flow, like an artist in his prime painting some canvass with graceful skill on single track at speeds I cant follow. I’ll be closer than I’ve been though.
(Xterra SA 2007 Podium - myself in 2nd, Conrad in 1st, and Kent Horner on the right in 3rd)
Felix Schumann has been staying in Mon Desir with Dylan for the past two weeks, and will be in fine form tomorrow too. He placed 6th at Maui last year, and seems strong across all three disciplines. Another German, Nico Pfitzenmaier is racing as well, but has been on and off after his mixed team wim at the Epic.
Sadly it sounds like Lieuwe Boonstra wont make the start line after a crash on the Cape Epic ten days ago ruptured some intercostal muscles which are too painful to swim with. Neither wil last year’s third placed Kent Horner, who is focusing on racing another good ITU World Cup in Richard’s Bay.
Be interesting to see the girls race results sheet after too. Eszter Erdelyi, the current European Xterra Series Champion is here, and Michelle Lombardi and Jeannie Bomford and Carla Germishuis will be facing a hard ask to get a South African on the top step.
(Swim start in 2007 at Grabouw)
I am feeling more confident in the water, especially aided by my new 2XU wetsuit. I did some 100’s in the pool on Wednesday, and was lapping 1:08’s comfortably. Which in my form means the suit is making a 6-8second difference per 100m of swimming. Unreal. My bike is sorted and setup, thanks to Specialized. The S-Works Epic is the perfect bike for the course, with lots of loose, bumpy terrain you want to be pushing over in the big blade. I’ve put a Roll-X tire on the front, for better grip and cornering, and a Fast Trak on the back for better rolling. Both heavy in being Tubeless, but I wouldnt want to risk anything else. There are many rocky sections that seem to want to tear through a side-wall. Running wise, I feel like I’ve not done a big run for 10days now, but before that, I was running the best I have for ages too with one or two break through run’s. I’m going to hit it out in my Puma Complete Racer. So be interesting to see how all that comes together tomorrow.
The course is going to be fast. 22min swim/transition, 1h08bike, and 40min run. 1.5km, 25km, 10km. The bike course is faster and less technical. Very much push and relax stuff. A drag up a short climb, then a bit of recovery down a single track, then again, and again. There is only one very techincal down hill, and I’ll be hoping to protect my tires and jockey as much as my time deficit down it. The run has changed for the first time ever too, with a shorter climb. Should be a bit faster than usual.
If you’re racing tomorrow, have a great time. Enjoy all the day will be throwing at you, which includes adverse weather. Strong wind and thunder showers are being predicted. But thats Xterra and outdoor lifestyle sports. Enjoy.
