Blog

Xterra Italy 'Holiday'

30th Jul 2014

It's not often a race has 1600m ascent on the bike. Even less often when that's the easy part! Yes, Xterra Italy certainly knew how to put on a challenge...

1600m ascent on bike and 450m on run!

We arrived in Scanno later than planned at 10pm, to find the B&B we were booked into closed and not answering their phone. Last thing we needed after a long day of travelling... but here the Xterra adventure began! What to do except drive around looking for any hotel that still had lights on and people home? The first one we find, that will do!

Hotel sorted but hungry, we went off in search of food and hoping any restaurant would still be open at now 11pm! The first place we found spoke English and served pizza- result! The bar lady asked if we were here for the Xterra (compression socks a giveaway maybe?!) and proceeded to introduce us to the organisers Wolf and Luisa who were sat on the next table! From this point we were at home, they were very welcoming and would sort out our accommodation in the morning :-)

The climb starts with some steps only 400m from transition!

After a much needed sleep and lie-in, time to recce the course! The bike course's reputation preceeded it with various athletes posting on social media about the 1200m, no 1600m, no 1800m of ascent! The main climb up to the ski station actually didn't seem too bad- though it probably took 1 hour at steady pace- but the descents could be interesting! Ranging from 'steep' to 'very steep', most were rideable in the dry, but now it was starting to rain, and more was forecast for race day!

The run was just one lap of 10k- but equally hilly & steep. Most decided to save their legs and only recce part, but I like to see everything- and this was the best chance to take in the stunning views at leisure! It really is a beautiful area but I won't be sightseeing on race day ;) Though I wouldn't normally run 1:15 of hills the day before a race.

At least the swim practise was easy...

Enjoying the swim practise

It's always nice to catch up with other Xterra athletes and meet new ones, we had a good chance at the Pro introduction on stage, followed by aperitifs, cheeses and meats which one of the Italian Pros had brought from his own farm for us to try! Fellow Brits Sam Gardner and Daz Parker had bad luck with their bikes- both lost by different airlines and weren't sure they could even race!

Meanwhile I found myself along with Jan Pyott in a TV interview for Scott bikes (who sponsor the event)- to talk about our weapons of choice! (The Scott Scale 700 RC incidentally I think is perfect for this course- it will be me that is the limiting factor!)

Chatting with the Scott boys- Peter and Jan

After tiring myself out with the course recce, I've never slept so well the night before a race! Not the case for Daz whose bike had turned up at 3am, but at least she was on the start line! Sam's didn't arrive at all, so down to myself, Daz, Rory and Llewellyn to do GB proud!

I had a solid start on the swim- 5th out in 20:19 is fine. Today was going to be all about the bike. And it started pretty well- with some fun sections as we passed through Scanno town- riding down steps & running up, enjoying the spectator support! Super bikers Renata and Helena passed me, but otherwise I was still in a good position by the time we reached the ski station.

Chilling after the bike recce, while my bike gets a wash!

But now the hard part for me- the descents! The first was still mostly rideable, although I did skid off a few times. Luckily didn't break either myself or the bike, although Sandra and Ladina passed me I hoped I'd see them again on the next climb.

But rain has been falling for an hour now, and the second descent (just as steep as the ski slope) is much more chewed up. Conditions are much harder than when we did the recce! I'm surprised how much I actually can ride given I have literally never ridden anything like it before. A few weeks ago I wouldn't have even known how to get down it but luckily managed to get a couple of coaching sessions in on steep terrain (thanks Tom!)



In the beginning it was kind of fun sliding sideways round every corner, despite a few more offs, but by the second lap the track is almost unridable. There is no grass left to grip and it�s just a mudslide. I�m not sure whether it�s better to get off and run like many athletes are- but no grip for shoes either. But trying to ride is even slower, so I resort so running / sliding with the bike like everyone else. Another lady passes me and shouts encouragement, but it�s getting frustrating, I just want to be on the run now! The race clock is on 2:50 hours by the time I reach T2 and I suspect the top men have nearly finished.

Dismounting for more steps! Together with Sandra Koebmuller

My legs feel surprisingly good on the run- no sign of cramp so hopefully I can catch at least one of the ladies...
I'm passing lots of men although the gaps to the women must be big, as it's about 4k in before I spot anyone. Good to know I'm closing the gap, but then we get to the slippery, muddy sections of the run. Same story as the bike, I cannot even stay upright in places and I'm sliding down on my arse or just skidding off the off-camber trail completely into a ditch. I twisted my ankle in one of these offs, and pulled a stomach muscle which is now causing a stitch. I have to slow my pace and lose sight of the other lady. I never see her, or any other ladies again. Even the final 1500m where I was looking forward to going super fast down a flat road- I can't even run because of the stitch. I have to stop & stretch by the side of the road hoping there are no more ladies behind me. Some of the men I passed in the first 1km come past again and check I'm not having an asthma attack or something! Thankfully not, just a very bad day in the office...



Finally the finish line is there, it�s taken me nearly 4 hours, and definitely the toughest Xterra I have done! I managed to hold on to 9th Pro, but it wasn�t the result I was hoping for. That said, it�s also by far the toughest field I�ve raced in!! I can only congratulate race winner Helena, 2nd Carina and 3rd Kathrin- all super tough athletes. You have to be to even finish this course!

But respect especially to the age groupers- some of whom took more than 7 hours to complete and didn�t give up!



I think this race will now go down as one of the most epic on the Xterra calendar- thanks to Wolf and his team for all their hard work and organisation! You can�t plan the weather, so hopefully I�ll be back to try this course again when I�ve had another winter to practise descending!!