Der dreifache XTERRA World Champion und Doppel-Champion der XTERRA European Tour Ruben Ruzafa hat den XTERRA Greece für sich entscheiden können. Der Spanier konnte somit das erste mal in Griechenland gewinnen, welches bereits die 5. Auflage des Rennens war. Bei den Damen hat sich Helena Erbenova aus Tschechien den Titel am Stadtrand von Athen gewonnen. Original RennreportIt started great and finished even better. Our third race of the XTERRA European Tour season took place in Vouliagmeni, Greece, a very nice suburb of Athens. The race takes place at the same venue as the 2004 Olympics and we share the same swim and transition area. But this race is not for speedos and space helmets but for real men and women who go out and challenge themselves in the mountains and forest high above the Mediterranean.The pro field was impressive with 20 men and 8 women representing 10 different nations. Just under 400 total athletes took to the beautiful white sands for a 9:15 start. The pros got a one minute advantage on the field over a two lap 1500m swim.Jens Roth led from the water followed by Roger Serrano and young Maxim Chane’, Tiago Maia and Hannes Wolpert. Not far back were super bikers Francois Carloni and 3 time XTERRA world champion Ruben Ruzafa. Spanish Olympian Miriam Casillas Garcia was first woman out of the water and in the top 10 of all the swimmers. Current Euro Champion Brigitta Poor was second but already 2 minutes back from the tiny Spanish woman.Indeed Brigitta passed into first place about half way into the first bike loop. French woman Morgane Riou was in 3rd with Isabella Ferrer, a long distance racer on a new bike in 4th. I was happily surprised to see many time champion Helena Erbenova only about 3.5 minutes behind starting the big climb. Helena was just back from a 4 day adventure race in China and said she was tired. But at the press conference she grinned and remarked “but when I am tired sometimes I have my best races”.
