XTERRA Elite Season Heats Up at XTERRA Portugal
Press Release / 20.05.2022
The second of 10 majors on the 2022 XTERRA European Tour takes place Saturday, May 21, in the hot and sunny countryside surrounding Golega in the Ribatejo Province.
The event marks the start of the summer racing season for a lot of the top elites in the EU as well as New Zealand stars Sam Osborne and Samantha Kingsford, who swept all three majors in the U.S. last year.
“The NZL summer has been a little different with a few half Ironman’s, some long-distance triathlons, and a small stint in the US racing on the road,” said Osborne, who finished sixth at CLASH Miami in March. “Covid unfortunately took out both our XTERRA’s in New Zealand this year but I’m excited to get back on the mountain bike and hone off-road again.”
Osborne is no stranger to XTERRA Portugal, having competed in 2016.
“It’s hot here, and looking likely the hottest day will be on Saturday,” he said. “The course is dry, dusty, and super physical. There are lots of punishing steep climbs on river stones that make traction challenging, and some descents are equally as steep with not that much flow, so you really have to manhandle the bike through them.”
In addition to the course challenges, Osborne will be up against the continents fastest man, Arthur Serrieres (pictured). The Frenchman is the reigning and two-time XTERRA European Champion and finished second at XTERRA Worlds behind only Hayden Wilde in December last year.
“It’s the two Arthurs, really,” said Osborne, adding 2019 ITU Cross Tri World Champion Arthur Forissier in the mix. “Plus, everyone seems to be saying big things about Panagiotis Bitados, and the German powerhouse Jens Roth is here. It’s been a minute since racing the Europeans, and having not been able to get to Worlds last year leaves a big question mark on the style of racing that happens here.”
Bitados, just 18, won his home country race at XTERRA Greece last month for the second time.
"It’s my first time here, and the one loop 35km mountain bike course is beautiful with some technical parts,” said Bitados.
“The heat will be a big factor and the ones coming from warm climates will benefit. I believe a small group of fast swimmers like me will exit the water together and will stay together on the bike as its difficult for anyone to make a huge gap. It’s all about the run and the one who will have power and energy left in the tank will win"
Other contenders include Sebastien Carabin from Belgium (pictured), who won XTERRA Malta last month and was fifth at Worlds, along with Portuguese stand-outs Rui Dolores (2019 XTERRA Portugal Champ) and Francois Vie (3rd in Golega last year) among others.
Kingsford Faces Strong Competition in the Women's Race
In the women’s race all eyes are on Kingsford, the highest ranked female in the field.
“I’m going into this race in the dark not knowing anything about my opponents,” said Kingsford, who placed 4th at CLASH Miami earlier this year. “I haven’t raced any of these girls before, so I really have no idea what their strengths and weaknesses are. All I can do is focus on myself and race my own race.”
Kingsford will face strong competition from Solenne Billouin from France (pictured), who showed she has huge potential by winning XTERRA France and Belgium last year.
Matilde Bolzan from Italy (pictured below) is a world-class mountain biker and the long, technical course will suit her well. Francois’ sister, Pauline Vie, finished third here last year and as the race doubles as the Portuguese Championship, will have extra motivation to do well.
The challenge itself starts with a unique, spectator-friendly 1.5km warm water swim in Lagoa de Alverca where athletes swim 750-meters, exit the water, run up the shore, and dive back in from a bridge for another 750-meter swim.
Up next is a 35km mountain bike that ventures from the village to the heath hills for demanding climbs and technical single track that weaves through the region’s cork forests and agricultural plantations. The final leg is a completely flat 10km trail run that effectively doubles as a tour of the area’s vineyards and crops – from corn to wheat to sunflowers and tomatoes.
“Race day is going to be hot and with a 2pm start, we are going to have to manage ourselves well to race hard but also smart with the heat,” said Kingsford.
