Ben Allen and Helena Erbenova win the 2015 XTERRA Czech Championship

Ben Allen of Australia and Helena Erbenova of the Czech Republic captured the 13th edition of the XTERRA Czech Championship on a hot afternoon in Prachatice.

With the win Erbenova also secured her third XTERRA European Tour (XET) Championship crown in four years (she also won in 2012 and 2013). XTERRA Czech was the ninth of 12 races in the XET and the fifth of seven Gold level events. Elite athletes count their best four Gold and three Silver finishes. In her seven scoring races this year Erbenova won three Gold events (Spain, Italy Czech), two silver events (Greece and Sweden) and was second at France and Portugal for a total of 607 points (625 is max possible).

It’s the former winter Olympians third win in a row on the European Tour and third win in four years at her home country championship race.

For Allen the victory marks his third XTERRA World Tour win this season (16th lifetime) but his first victory in the Czech Republic after five tries.

“I’ve raced here many times before, and have always dreamed to take the win,” said Allen, who was making his first appearance on the XTERRA European Tour this season. “I’m so stoked to have accomplished that dream today. It wouldn’t have been possible without the love and support of my team.”

XTERRA managing director Dave Nicholas was on-site to take in the action and brings us this report…

The posters say 2002 “2015 and the Czech XTERRA race keeps going. We never saw one like this however. The sun burned most of the day and the temps were in the high 80’s. The organizers were on it and put out lots more water and the local population turned out in droves, and while not exactly legal, houses offered bottles and cups of water to passing runners and bikers.

It was Welcome Back Ben and Jacqui Day with Allen coming out of the swim second, passing Roger Serrano until he finally broke free on the 2nd lap going up the first technical climb.

“Ben pulled me a bit and I forgot where I was” said the soaking wet Serrano. “I got to the steep part and was in the wrong gear and had to unclip and run the bike. After that I never saw him.”

Allen continued to hammer the bike having the fastest time by more than one-minute. He led by nearly three-minutes coming into T2 and ran a smart two, tough laps.

“I knew I had a gap on Roger but did not know where Bradley (Weiss) was” said Allen.

Weiss, the South African who won the XTERRA Asian Tour Championship this year, had rear tire problems on the first lap and had to stop. “There was a small cut that was just in the wrong place and no way I could fix it” he said while watching the race out on the course.

Serrano was worried about Weiss as well. He came by me on a nasty uphill asking “where is Bradley?” Brad was right next to me and when Roger completed the mountain loop the second time and came down the hill Brad ran out yelling “Here I Am.” Everybody laughed in the middle of a very hard race; but that is the XTERRA way isn’t it?

Tomas Kubek had a great day – almost. The man from Slovakia was right on Serrano’s heels coming into T2 after posting the 2d fastest bike. They were together going up the hill on the first lap, but when they came down Tomas was clearly in pain and had dropped back giving 2nd to Serrano by a wide margin.

There is a super fun, tricky, technical part on the bike loop that has a steep up ramp that turns 90 degrees and goes down over a small rock jump and then into a series of bermed esses that is just a joy to watch. Everyone from the best biker to the most tentative rider has to do it and the differences are amazing. Ben came by in the lead, Serrano second, Kubek third, Jan Pyott fourth and then you could hear screeching brakes, crunching tires locking up on the sandy base and four bikes came through so fast and furious I had no idea who was who until I looked back into my photo file. Vaclav Holub led with Lubos Truhlar on his rear wheel followed by Czech champ Jan Kubick and Austrian Michael Szymoniuk.

Things started settling down as the weather and a tough course started taking its toll. Allen had it pretty much his way, Roger was solid in second. Poor young Tomas Kubek had given it all on the bike and was headed backwards. First Jan Pyott passed him and then the battling Szymoniuk and Kubick. These two had dropped the others and ran to a photo finish with the Austrian less than two-seconds ahead. Kubek never gave up and had a grand 5ht place. He’s only 24 and has a lot of years in front of him.

“Great to be back on the Euro Tour again,” said Allen after the race. “Spending some time away has left me hungry to come back! Roger and I exited the water with a handy lead and we worked together on the bike for 12km before Roger faded and wasn’t able to stay with me. I know the bike course in Czech extremely well having raced here five times before. It’s not easy and if you red line on any of the climbs you will pay for it later in the race. I rode within myself and really enjoyed the race. Loads of the locals came out to support all the athletes on a very hot and humid day! The course in Czech is extremely challenging, steep climbs, rocky descents and encompasses the Czech culture riding/running in and out of the town square. Michal (Pilousek) and his team do an amazing job creating a fun filled weekend for all the participants. The food and beer is cheap and you will always walk away, never forgetting your Czech adventure!”

Pro Men

Pl Name Time Points
1 Ben Allen, AUS 2:40:19 100
2 Roger Serrano, ESP 2:44:27 90
3 Jan Pyott, SUI 2:45:02 82
4 Michael Szymoniuk, AUT 2:46:08 75
5 Jan Kubicek, CZE 2:46:10 69
6 Tomas Kubek, SVK 2:46:21 63
7 Lubos Truhlar, CZE 2:47:17 58
8 Pavel Andreev, RUS 2:47:44 53
9 Vaclav Holub, CZE 2:49:54 49
10 Jan Francke, CZE 2:52:41 45
Also: Veit Honle (41), Markus Benesch (37), Pavel Jindra (34), Malte Plappert (31)

DNF: Brad Weiss, Theo Blignaut, Clement Briere, Christopher Schwab, Lukas Kocar

The women put on an equally, maybe more interesting race. Jacqui Slack won the swim with Brigitta Poor second. Brigitta was wise in taking a few weeks off and missing Italy to recover. She had not missed a race in a very grueling season and showed some fresh legs today. Carina Wasle was 3rd and coming strongly on the bike but it was not to be her day. She flatted and fell far behind.

Up front Jacqui maintained a minute to minute and a half lead over Poor. Czech Champion Helena Erbenova was caught in a gaggle of men and was having problems getting past them. The same problem for Austrian Sandra Koblemueller.

“I am Austrian and my strength is climbing” she Koblemueller. “I was so far back in the swim I would get to a hill I could climb but people in front could not and I had to walk. I need to learn to swim,” she smiled.

Erbenova is such a racer that she never leaves anything on the table. If she is strong she wins, if not, she still pushes until her body gives up.

“Today was so different” she sighed. “I would be super strong and then my legs would go away. Carina passes me going up the hill and I pass her coming down. And oh, getting by those men was so hard.”

The heat began to get to Slack and while Erbenova had passed Brigitta for second, the Hungarian was not about to give in. Brigitta passed Erbenova to come into T2 with all three leading women together. It became a foot race and this is no pushover run course. Some is flat and some is on pavement but there are two really tough hills and two equally tough, steep, loose downhills. Helena was able to hold off Brigitta, but not by much (just 52 seconds). Jacqui fought a valiant battle against fatigue and came home a wonderful 3rd. As for our slow swimmer Sandra? She ran a fabulous 45-minute run segment beating the second fastest woman by nearly 4 minutes, actually having the 8th fastest run of the day and was able to pass Wasle for 4th.

So XTERRA Czech XIII is in the books. Awards and free beer tonight; a great race from a neat fresh water lake to a tasty, technical bike and run to a postcard perfect Bohemian village. What more could you ask for?
XTERRA Czech Photos

Women

Pl Name Time Points
1 Helena Erbenova, CZE 3:07:04 100
2 Brigitta Poor, HUN 3:07:56 90
3 Jacqui Slack, GBR 3:12:04 82
4 Sandra Koblmueller, AUT 3:13:59 75
5 Carina Wasle, AUT 3:19:29 69
6 Verena Eisenbarth, GER 3:23:04 63
7 Lenka Cibulkova, CZE 3:27:06 58
8 Elke Innerebner, ITA 3:27:39 53

XTERRA CZECH ALL-TIME PRO WINNERS

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

XTERRA EUROPEAN TOUR UPDATE

Erbenova made it mathematically impossible for anyone to catch her after today’s win and Roger Serrano nearly did the same thing with his second-place showing. With three races to go only Francois Carloni and Ruben Ruzafa have a mathematical chance at catching Serrano. For Ruzafa to contend he’d have to do the XTERRA Denmark / XTERRA European Championship double – a tough task as Denmark is on Saturday, August 29th and the European Championship in England is on Sunday, August 30th. Not impossible, but not easy. And while there are a myriad of scenarios where Carloni could catch Serrano all are tough and Serrano does hold his destiny in his own hands. With wins at the last three races (Germany, Denmark, England) nobody could match his final points score. XTERRA European Tour Points Rules Document.

2015 XTERRA EUROPEAN TOUR POINT STANDINGS

After 9 – 8.8.15

Men

Pl Name, NAT TOTAL MLT POR ESP GRE SUI FRA SWE ITA CZE
1 Roger Serrano, ESP 526 67 56 82 67 82 DNS DNS 82 90
2 Francois Carloni, FRA 422 47 67 75 61 DNS 82 DNS 90 DNS
3 Ruben Ruzafa, ESP 375 DNS 75 100 DNS DNS 100 DNS 100 DNS
4 Jan Pyott, SUI 347 DNS 23 49 DNS 69 DNS 61 63 82
5 Kris Coddens, BEL 232 DNS DNS DNS 75 90 DNS 67 DNS DNS
6 Jan Kubicek, CZE 222 39 DNS DNS DNS 63 DNS 51 DNS 69
7 Albert Soley, ESP 219 43 39 90 47 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
8 Henry Sleight, GBR 210 DNS 25 DNS 33 58 49 DNS 45 DNS
9 Arthur Forissier, FRA 175 DNS DNS DNS DNS 100 75 DNS DNS DNS
10 Markus Benesch, AUT 149 DNS DNS DNS 43 DNS DNS DNS 69 37
11 Tomas Kubek, SVK 145 DNS 43 DNS 39 DNS DNS DNS DNS 63
12 Yeray Luxem, BEL 136 DNS 61 DNS DNS 75 DNF DNS DNS DNS
13 Martial Schmidt, FRA 132 DNS DNS DNS DNS 49 34 DNS 49 DNS
14 Veit Hönle, GER 131 DNS DNS DNS DNS 53 37 DNS DNS 41
15 Nicolas Fernandez, FRA 122 75 47 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
16 Fabrizio Bartoli, ITA 118 30 DNS DNS 30 DNS DNS DNF 58 DNS
17 Xavier Riart, ESP 105 36 DNS 69 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNF DNS
18 Tim Van Daele, BEL 103 25 27 DNS 51 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
19 James Walker, GBR 102 DNS DNS DNS 21 DNS DNS 47 34 DNS
20 Malte Plappert, GER 100 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 69 DNS DNS 31
21 Ben Allen, AUS 100 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 100
22 Fabien Combaluzier, FRA 92 56 36 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
23 Bradley Weiss, RSA 90 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 90 DNS DNS DNF
24 Sam Osborne, NZL 75 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 75 DNS DNS
25 Jim Thijs, BEL 75 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 75 DNS
26 Michael Szymoniuk, AUT 75 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 75
27 Lars Van der Eerden, NED 66 21 DNP DNS DNS 45 DNS DNS DNS DNS
28 Gonzalo Bernal, ESP 63 DNS DNS 63 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
29 Damien Guillemet, FRA 63 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 63 DNS DNF DNS
30 Brice Daubord, FRA 61 61 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
31 Ruben Salmeron, ESP 58 DNS DNS 58 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
32 Rory Downie, GBR 58 33 DNP DNS 25 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
33 Damien Derobert, FRA 58 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 58 DNS DNS DNS
34 Lubos Truhlar, CZE 58 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 58
35 Llewellyn Holmes, GBR 57 DNS 30 DNS 27 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
36 Tomas Jurkovic, SVK 56 DNS DNS DNS 56 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
37 Lars Erik Fricke, GER 56 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 56 DNS DNS
38 Jose Borrino, ESP 53 DNS DNS 53 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
39 Tomas Jiranek, CZE 53 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 53 DNS DNS DNS
40 Fabio Guidelli, ITA 53 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 53 DNS
41 Pavel Andreev, RUS 53 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 53
42 Clement Briere, FRA 51 51 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNF
43 Hector Guerra, ESP 51 DNS 51 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNF DNS
44 Vaclav Holub, CZE 49 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 49
45 Juan Gracia, ESP 45 DNS DNS 45 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
46 Florian Luquet, FRA 45 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 45 DNS DNS DNS
47 Jan Francke, CZE 45 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 45
48 Christopher Schwab, AUT 43 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 43 DNS DNF
49 Dominique Fernando, ESP 41 DNS DNS 41 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
50 Antonello Pallotta, ITA 41 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 41 DNS
51 Juan Marti, ESP 37 DNS DNS 37 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
52 Marc Pschebizin, GER 37 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 37 DNS DNS DNS
53 Marco Spadaccia, ITA 37 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 37 DNS
54 Grigoris Souvatzoglou, GRE 36 DNS DNS DNS 36 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
55 Carlos Martinez, ESP 34 DNS DNS 34 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
56 Pavel Jindra, CZE 34 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 34
57 Jens Roth, GER 33 DNS 33 DNS DNS DNF DNS DNS DNS DNS
58 Sergio Espejo, ESP 31 DNS DNS 31 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
59 Dr. Felix Schumann, GER 31 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 31 DNS DNF DNS
60 Javier Oliver, ESP 28 DNS DNS 28 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
61 Sebastian Veith, GER 28 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 28 DNS DNS DNS
62 Arthur Serrieres, FRA 27 27 DNS DNS DNS DNF DNS DNS DNS DNS
63 Nicolas Corentin, BEL 25 DNS DNS DNS 25 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
64 Matt Dewis, GBR 23 23 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
65 Simone Calamai, ITA 23 DNS DNS DNS 23 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
66 Rob Woestenborghs, BEL 21 DNS 21 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS

Women

Pl Name, NAT TOTAL MLT POR ESP GRE SUI FRA SWE ITA CZE
1 Helena Erbenova, CZE 607 DNS 67 100 75 x82 90 75 100 100
2 Brigitta Poor, HUN 536 75 61 90 67 90 63 x61 DNS 90
3 Carina Wasle, AUT 387 DNS DNS DNS 61 100 DNF 67 90 69
4 Louise Fox, GBR 340 51 51 82 56 63 37 DNS DNS DNS
5 Jessica Roberts, GBR 259 47 DNF DNS 51 53 45 DNS 63 DNS
6 Sandra Koblemueller, AUT 211 67 DNS DNS DNS DNS 69 DNS DNS 75
7 Karin Hansen, SUI 197 43 47 DNS DNS 49 DNF DNS 58 DNS
8 Kathrin Mueller, GER 175 DNS 75 DNS DNS DNS 100 DNS DNS DNS
9 Morgane Riou, FRA 156 DNS 56 DNS 47 DNS 53 DNS DNS DNS
10 Myriam Guillot, FRA 151 DNS DNS DNS DNS 69 82 DNS DQ DNS
11 Elisabetta Curridori, ITA 138 56 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 82 DNS
12 Maud Golsteyn, NED 136 61 DNS DNS DNS 75 DNS DNS DNS DNS
13 Lenka Cibulkova, CZE 99 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 41 DNS DNS 58
14 Jacqui Slack, GBR 82 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 82
15 Coralie Redelsperger, FRA 75 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 75 DNS DNS DNS
16 Renata Bucher, SUI 75 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 75 DNS
17 Olga Parfinenko, RUS 69 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 69 DNS
18 Verena Eisenbarth, GER 63 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 63
19 Ladina Buss, SUI 58 DNS DNS DNS DNS 58 DNS DNS DNS DNS
20 Becci Kaltenmeier, GER 58 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 58 DNS DNS DNS
21 Sabina Rzepka, POL 53 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 53 DNS
22 Elke Innerebner, ITA 53 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 53
23 Celine Augueux, FRA 49 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 49 DNS DNS DNS
24 Genziana Cenni, ITA 49 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS 49 DNS
25 Sofia Brites, POR 43 DNS 43 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
26 Deniz Dimaki, GRE 43 DNS DNS DNS 43 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
27 Danica Spiteri, MLT 39 39 DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS DNS
Next up: August 15 – XTERRA Germany Championship, Zittau*

2015 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS
The XTERRA Czech Championship was the 28th of 40 events where the fastest amateur athletes from around the world qualify for the 20th annual XTERRA World Championship at Kapalua, Maui on Nov. 1.

DATE WORLD TOUR EVENT (Pro Winners)
8-Feb XTERRA Philippines Championship (Brad Weiss / Flora Duffy)
22-Feb XTERRA South Africa Championship (Stuart Marais / Flora Duffy)
7-Mar XTERRA Motatapu (Dougal Allan / Jess Simson & Simone Maier)
28-Mar XTERRA Saipan Championship (Ben Allen / Jacqui Slack)
29-Mar XTERRA Malta (Nicolas Fernandez / Brigitta Poor)
29-Mar XTERRA Costa Rica (Rom Akerson / Lesley Paterson)
11-Apr XTERRA Guam Championship (Ben Allen / Carina Wasle)
11-Apr XTERRA New Zealand Championship (Braden Currie / Suzie Snyder)
18-Apr XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship (Braden Currie / Flora Duffy)
25-Apr XTERRA West Championship (Francisco Serrano / Lesley Paterson)
25-Apr XTERRA Tahiti (Brice Daubord / Sarah Backler)
26-Apr XTERRA Reunion (Brad Weiss / Carla Van Huyssteen)
2-May XTERRA Asian Tour Championship (Brad Weiss / Myriam Guillot)
10-May XTERRA Brazil (Diogo Malagon / Sabrina Gobbo)
16-May XTERRA Southeast Championship (Braden Currie / Lesley Paterson)
16-May XTERRA Portugal (Ruben Ruzafa / Kathrin Mueller)
7-Jun XTERRA Spain Championship (Ruben Ruzafa / Helena Erbenova)
14-Jun XTERRA East Championship (Josiah Middaugh / Suzie Snyder)
20-Jun XTERRA Greece (Kris Coddens / Helena Erbenova)
27-Jun XTERRA Switzerland Championship (Arthur Forissier / Carina Wasle)
27-Jun XTERRA Mine over Matter (Karsten Madsen / Heather Pady)
4-Jul XTERRA Freedom Fest (Sergio Florian / Laurel Dudley)
5-Jul XTERRA Victoria (Brent McMahon / Zoe Dawson)
5-Jul XTERRA France Championship (Ruben Ruzafa / Kathrin Mueller)
11-Jul XTERRA Sweden (Sam Osborne / Helena Erbenova)
18-Jul XTERRA Mountain Championship (Josiah Middaugh / Flora Duffy)
25-Jul XTERRA Parry Sound (Sean Bechtel / Heather Pady)
26-Jul XTERRA Italy Championship (Ruben Ruzafa / Helena Erbenova)
8-Aug XTERRA Mexico (Josiah Middaugh / Fabiola Corona)
8-Aug XTERRA Czech Championship (Ben Allen / Helena Erbenova)
15-Aug XTERRA Germany Championship, Zittau*
16-Aug XTERRA Canmore, Alberta, Canada!
22-Aug XTERRA Adventure Fest Maui, Kapalua, HI, USA =
23-Aug XTERRA Quebec “Quebec City, Quebec, Canada!
29-Aug XTERRA Sleeping Giant, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada!
29-Aug XTERRA Denmark, Tilsvilde*
29-Aug XTERRA Japan, Hokkaido+ (start 2016 Asian Tour)
30-Aug XTERRA England / European Championship, Vachery Estate, Surrey*
13-Sep XTERRA Woolastook, Upper Kingsclear, New Brunswick, Canada
19-Sep XTERRA USA Championship, Ogden/Snowbasin, Utah, USA#
1-Nov XTERRA World Championship, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii
* European Tour / + Asian Tour / # America Tour / ! Canada Series / = Hawaii qualifiers