Reigning Xterra European Tour champion Roger Serrano, from Spain, and 2015 women’s tour runner-up Brigitta Poor, from Hungary, got off to a strong start by capturing the season-opener at Xterra Malta, last weekend.
The Majjistral Nature Reserve certainly made for a beautiful setting for the 196 participants taking part in the inaugural race of the 2016 Xterra European Tour.
However, the nice photos belie the tough conditions athletes, 11 of whom hailed from Malta, had to contend with – slightly cloudy with a temperature of 20°C, strong sea currents and 17°C waters and, most challenging of all, the strong force 6-7 winds.
A two-loop 1.5km swim started off with a tail wind, then a 90° turn that made it hard on everyone to go straight.
Jens Roth took the lead quickly and started the second loop 15 seconds ahead of Serrano, runner-up in Malta last year. They were followed by new pro Pierre-Antoine Guilhem, age grouper Jean Marc Rimaud and Fabien Combaluzier.
In the women’s elite race, Diane Lee from the UK, stole a march on local Danica Bonello Spiteri and Poor, with Morgane Riou more than one minute back.
At the start of the 30km cycle course, Roth was enjoying a 30-second lead on Serrano.
Behind them it was a race for third place, led by Guilhem and Maxim Chane, who was making his pro debut.
Lee also had a 30-second lead heading into the women’s bike section followed by Poor and Bonello Spiteri, with Riou and Alena Stevens more than a minute behind.
Back to the men’s race, a confident Serrano seized the lead in the first 500 metres of the trail run but was only five seconds ahead of Roth, who was in ‘all out’ mode.
It was four minutes before Guilhem came by in third, chased by another new pro, Hannes Wolper, and Chane in fifth. The top three stayed the same through the finish meaning Serrano secured his first Xterra after various second-place finishes on the tour last year.
“Of course, I’m happy because I’ve been trying to get a big win like this for three years,” Serrano said.
“But I know I still have a long way to go.”
Poor had a big lead on the run and ultimately finished more than four minutes ahead of Riou. Sandra Koblmueller produced a great run to move up from sixth place to third at the finish line.
Poor said: “I know I’m not yet at 100 per cent, and clearly the goal is to try to win the Tour.
“I was second last year, so I need to move up one more place. I will try to race the whole tour, and give myself the best chance of winning it.”
In all, seven Maltese athletes took part in the full distance.
Local champion Bonello Spiteri was the first from the locals to cross the finish line. A good performance was also registered by Stephania Magri who clinched second place in the 35-39 age-group category classification.
Kevin Muscat and Ryan Spiteri made a welcome return to the course while new faces Justin Gauci, Mark Lewis, Peter Grech and Ackerly Hili joined the Xterra tribe for the first time.
Adriana Galdies took part in the sprint distance and Annetto Schembri and Andrew Grech competed in the relay team segment.
“We are pleased with the outcome of the second Xterra Malta race, it was satisfying to see so many athletes return to our shores and doubling entries. That shows that our efforts paid off,” Antonello Gauci, co- founder of the race, said.
“A big thanks to the authorities concerned, the Police, Red Cross, Cisk Excel, KDM Travel, Gaia and Majjistral Park Management, JPGatt Photography, emvigee pr & marketing, SignIt, Mdina Glass, all marshals and volunteers and the Hellfire crew who gave up their weekend to make this event special.”