XTERRA European Championship Rewind from Prachatice

August 15, 2022

Arthur Serrieres from France and Sandra Mairhofer from Italy captured the XTERRA European Championship in conjunction with the 18th annual XTERRA Czech off-road triathlon with winning times of 2:30:16 and 2:57:39, respectively, on Saturday, August 13, 2022, in Prachatice, then put their speed and skill on full display for the whole world to watch in the televised XTERRA Short Track races.

/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Arthur Serrieres from France and Sandra Mairhofer from Italy captured the XTERRA European Championship in conjunction with the 18th annual XTERRA Czech off-road triathlon with winning times of 2:30:16 and 2:57:39, respectively, on Saturday, August 13, 2022, in Prachatice, then put their speed and skill on full display for the whole world to watch in the televised XTERRA Short Track races.

Watch Replay here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdzOgz0mjys

For Serrieres, Saturday’s win marks a second successful XTERRA EU title defense after winning the 2019 race in Czech and the 2021 title in Zittau, Germany. It’s his 19th career XTERRA World Tour victory, fifth this season, fourth straight in Czech, unprecedented third XTERRA European Championship race win in-a-row, and second victory in a week after taking home the XTERRA Nouvelle-Aquitaine title last Saturday.

For Mairhofer, it’s her second XTERRA EU Championship in-a-row, and fourth XTERRA World Tour win.

In the men’s elite race Sam Osborne (NZL) posted the fastest swim time, 21:09, to lead a train of racers featuring Michele Bonacina (ITA), Franco Pesavento (ITA), and Keller Norland (USA) into the swim-to-bike transition.

Lukas Kocar (CZE) was seven seconds off the lead in fifth place, Serrieres was in ninth position 15-seconds back, Felix Forissier (FRA) was 1:14 behind in 15th, and Ruben Ruzafa 1:23 back in 20th.

“I had a really good swim today, so I could manage my efforts on the bike, and wait for the run to win,” said Serrieres.

Once on bike, the home country hero (Kocar) charged his way to the front and started pulling away from most of the field. About halfway through, 18K in, he had 60 seconds on a pack of four that included Bonacina, Serrieres, Osborne, and Pesavento.

Behind that group Ruzafa and Felix Forissier were reeling in riders one-by-one.

“I was pleased to have a good performance after not racing so well at Nouvelle Aquitaine last week,” said Forissier. “I had a bad swim, but rode strong and made it to the front just before the end of the bike – with the small group we could ride the technical sections quickly. Once we hit the run, I felt amazing and could push really hard all the way. I made a little gap to Ruben and thought that was it, but he came back and pushed me all the way to the end.”

Ruzafa, who was just 24-years-old when he won his first of three XTERRA World Championships back in 2008, proved he’s still the best mountain biker in XTERRA with the fastest split of the day (1:25:02).

“I felt great in the swim, above my normal level,” said Ruzafa. “ I knew that the front of the race would ride the mountain bikes super fast so I pushed really hard and I rode up into 4th position by the big climb. And then I really surprised myself with the run. I don’t know if Felix was tired, but I think he was surprised that I was running so fast and I was determined to show that ‘Old Man Ruben’ is not done yet, and that I will fight everyone for a win at any race.”

Felix Forissier had the second-best bike (1:25:30) and by the bike-to-run transition he and Ruzafa had caught up to Serrieres and the three of them came into T2 together about 90-seconds behind Kocar.

As he has proven time-and-time again over the last two seasons, Serrieres is a speed demon on the run, and as expected he posted the fastest 10K time (40:52) to pull away from Ruzafa and Felix Forissier, and then blitzed past Kocar to take the tape with 1:38 to spare.

“It is my third XTERRA European title and it is so nice to do it again here in Czech,” said Serrieres. “My first big breakthrough victory was also here in Prachatice so it’s special to come back and win where it all started. For me, it’s proof that my altitude camp I did to prepare for this worked well so I will repeat it to be even stronger before the next big target at the World Champs in Trentino.”

Felix Forissier held off a hard-charging Ruzafa on the run to finish second, Ruzafa came in third just four-seconds later, and Kocar held on for fourth. Pesavento was impressive all day and finished four seconds ahead of Maxim Chane (FRA) in fifth position.

In the women’s elite race Maria Calleja (ESP) and Amanda Felder (USA) had the fastest swims (24:45) with Loanne Duvoisin (SUI) about 30 seconds back in third.

Top contenders Alizee Paties (FRA), Solenne Billouin (FRA), and Marta Menditto (ITA) were one-minute off the swim leaders and Mairhofer was almost two minutes behind in ninth position.

Mairhofer made all that time back and more on the bike with the days’ best split (1:38:28) to take a one-minute lead into the run. Paties was the closest challenger at T2, about one-minute back, then Duvoisin and Billouin together, three minutes behind.

Once on the run, the 2022 World Triathlon Cross Champion was up front all by herself through the finish chute with Paties finishing nearly two minutes later in second and Duvoisin in third place.

“I know that I am one of the best but I’m not unbeatable, so I had to have a perfect race today,” said Mairhofer. “I have worked hard on my swimming, but fortunately I can rely on my biking and running. Today I had to go really hard to catch the front group on the bike, but training has gone really well and I knew that I have really good legs that can make the difference on the really hard course here in Czech.”

Paties, who was in the lead until about halfway through the bike, was thrilled with her runner-up performance.

“I didn’t expect to come second, so I am pleased with my performance,” she said. “I had a good swim near the front and by 10km on the bike I was in the front and controlling the race. Once Sandra came past at 20km(ish) I tried to follow but I decided to stick to my pace and concentrate on my own race as I know how fast she can go! I never gave up on the run, believing I could catch Sandra, and also to stay ahead of the chase group of strong women behind.”

For Duvoisin, who posted the best run split of the day (50:53) to pull away from Billouin (who placed fourth), the result is impressive considering she was balancing training with her intense physiotherapy studies in Lausanne at the same time.

“All year I’ve been balancing my studies with my training, so I am not in the shape I need to be in order to win, but that will come,” said the 2021 World Triathlon Cross Champion. “I swam in the lead group until the last lap of the swim where I dropped back a bit, then onto the bike I followed the wheel of Alizee before Sandra caught us and the group exploded! Once onto the run it was so tough with some really tired legs, but I just hoped everyone was hurting as much as I was. I’m looking forward to the short track tomorrow. I’ve practiced a lot on the course and am looking to make up for my crash last year with a good performance!”

Marta Menditto, who had a big win at XTERRA France last month, rounded out the top five.

See videos, images and more at: https://www.instagram.com/xterraeurope

The XTERRA European Championship was the first of four big events in seven days awarding €50,000 in prize money to the sport’s top elite athletes who have flocked to central Europe for the contests.

All-time XTERRA European Championship Race Winners

Year Location – Men/Women

2006 Villacidro, Italy – Nicolas Lebrun/Renata Bucher

2007 Sardinia, Italy – Olivier Marceau/Eszter Erdelyi

2008 Sardinia, Italy – Olivier Marceau/Sibylle Matter

2009 Klopeinersee, Austria – Franky Batelier/Renata Bucher

2010 Sardinia, Italy – Franky Batelier/Melanie McQuaid

2011 Zittau, Germany – Olivier Marceau/Marion Lorblanchet

2015 Cranleigh, England – Ruben Ruzafa/Lesley Paterson

2016 Zittau, Germany – Ruben Ruzafa/Michelle Flipo

2017 Mons Klint, Denmark – Bradley Weiss/Brigitta Poor

2018 Zittau, Germany – Bradley Weiss/Brigitta Poor

2019 Prachatice, Czech Republic – Arthur Serrieres/Morgane Riou

2021 Zittau, Germany – Arthur Serrieres/Sandra Mairhofer

2022 Prachatice, Czech Republic – Arthur Serrieres/Sandra Mairhofer

All-time XTERRA Czech Elite Champions

Year – Men / Women

2002 – Olivier Marceau / Candy Angle

2003 – Nicolas Lebrun / Jamie Whitmore

2004 – Nicolas Lebrun / Jamie Whitmore

2005 – Olivier Marceau / Renata Bucher

2006 – Nicolas Lebrun / Renata Bucher

2008 – Nicolas Lebrun / Carina Wasle

2009 – Franky Batelier / Carina Wasle

2010 – Franky Batelier / Renata Bucher

2011 – Ronny Dietz / Marion Lorblanchet

2012 – Nicolas Lebrun / Helena Erbenova

2013 – Felix Schumann / Helena Erbenova

2014 – Ruben Ruzafa / Kathrin Mueller

2015 – Ben Allen / Helena Erbenova

2018 – Ruben Ruzafa / Helena Erbenova

2019 – Arthur Serrieres / Morgane Riou

2020 – Arthur Serrieres / Laura Philipp

2021 – Arthur Serrieres / Loanne Duvoisin

2022 – Arthur Serrieres / Sandra Mairhofer

Mairhofer, Kocar win XTERRA Short Track Czech

Then on Sunday, Sandra Mairhofer (ITA) and Lukas Kocar (CZE) won the second round of the XTERRA Short Track off-road triathlon series with winning times of 40:43 and 34:31, respectively.

It’s the first XTERRA Short Track win for Mairhofer, who captured the full-distance XTERRA European Championship race yesterday, and the second for Kocar – who won his first in Germany last year.

The race combined a two-lap, 400-meter swim with an exciting four-lap, 7.6K mountain bike course and a tough two-loop, 2.4K trail run.

In the women’s race a young wild card entry from Italy, Anna Gazzari, had the fastest swim (6:33), with Amanda Felder (USA) and Maria Calleja (ESP) about 15 seconds back.

By the second of four laps on the bike the leaderboard changed completely with Mairhofer in front followed by Alizee Paties (FRA), Solenne Billouin (FRA), Loanne Duvoisin (SUI), and Jindriska Zemanova (CZE) – which would end up being the top five into transition and the finish line in that same order.

Mairhofer posted the fastest bike split and looked dominant all morning long.

“I’m over the moon, and full of adrenaline,” said Mairhofer. “My swim was better than yesterday, and I felt fine swimming in the group at my own pace. It was a pretty messy swim actually, I just tried to survive and stay above the water. And then I really loved the course, loved the rocks, and I was feeling really confident on the technical parts. This is my first Short Track win, so I’m pretty happy.”

Women’s Results

Place – Name, NAT (Final Time) Points

1 – Sandra Mairhofer, ITA (40:43) 100

2 – Alizee Paties, FRA (41:07) 90

3 – Solenne Billouin, FRA (41:14) 82

4 – Loanne Duvoisin, SUI (41:18) 75

5 – Jindriska Zemanova, CZE (44:16) 69

6 – Amanda Felder, USA (44:26) 63

7 – Carina Wasle, AUT (44:34) 58

8 – Beatriz Ferreira, POR (44:48) 53

9 – Georgia Grobler, RSA (44:55) 49

10 – Anna Gazzari, ITA (45:38) 45

Complete Women’s Results

Fastest swim: Anna Gazzari (6:33)

Fastest bike: Sandra Mairhofer (21:30)

Fastest run: Loanne Duvoisin (10:26)

In the men’s race Michele Bonacina (ITA) made quick work of the swim in 5:54 but was chased by a massive group of 20 men just a few seconds behind.

Once on the bike, things changed quickly with Federico Spinazze (ITA) up front on the first lap and Lukas Kocar taking the lead early in the second lap to the delight of the home crowd.

Maxim Chane (FRA) and Ruben Ruzafa (ESP) were putting on a great show for the crowd by speeding over the rock gardens and flying over the jumps, while Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (DEN) rode his way through the field with the fastest bike split of the day.

Kocar took a big lead into the run and never looked back. Chane was second out of T2 and held that spot through the finish, with Sloth Nielsen working his way to third. The speedy Arthur Serrieres, yesterday’s XTERRA European Championship full-distance race winner, had the best run of the day to work his way into fourth position with Ruzafa rounding out the top five.

“What an amazing atmosphere,” said Kocar. “I just pushed hard from start to finish, and tried not to make any mistakes and wow, this is absolutely the best feeling to win here in Prachatice in front of the home crowd. It’s really special.”

Men’s Results

Place – Name, NAT (Final Time) Points

1 – Lukas Kocar, CZE (34:31) 100

2 – Maxim Chane, FRA (34:45) 90

3 – Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen, DEN (34:50) 82

4 – Arthur Serrieres, FRA (35:00) 75

5 – Ruben Ruzafa, ESP (35:07) 69

6 – Francois Vie, POR (35:10) 63

7 – Felix Forissier, FRA (35:15) 58

8 – Sam Osborne, NZL (35:20) 53

9 – Michele Bonacina, ITA (35:28) 49

10 – Arthur Forissier, FRA (35:38) 45

Complete Men’s Results

Fastest swim: Michele Bonacina (5:54)

Fastest bike: Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (18:06)

Fastest run: Arthur Serrieres (8:47)

Next week, the action heads to Zittau, Germany for XTERRA Short Track on Friday, August 19, and full-distance racing on Saturday, August 20.

Other useful links:

Everything you need to know about Short Track

XTERRA World Rankings

XTERRA Europe Facebook Page

XTERRA Europe Instagram

All-time XTERRA Short Track Champions

Date (Location) Men’s Winner/Women’s Winner

August 4, 2019 (Prachatice, Czech Republic) Arthur Forissier/Loanne Duvoisin

September 4, 2020 (Prachatice, Czech Republic) Arthur Serrieres/Laura Philipp

October 3, 2020 (Trentino, Italy) Ruben Ruzafa/Marta Menditto

June 5, 2021 (Lake Garda, Italy) Arthur Forissier/Loanne Duvoisin

June 20, 2021 (Prachatice, Czech Republic) Arthur Forissier/Marta Menditto

August 20, 2021 (Zittau, Germany) Lukas Kocar/Diede Diederiks

August 29, 2021 (Pujols, France) Arthur Serrieres/Michelle Flipo

July 2, 2022 (Xonrupt, France) Panagiotis Bitados/Loanne Duvoisin

August 14, 2022 (Prachatice, Czech Republic) Lukas Kocar/Sandra Mairhofer

2022 XTERRA ELITE SERIES RESULTS & UPCOMING RACES