THE 216 participants of this Sunday’s XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Asia-Pacific Championship in Danao City, northern Cebu, will be negotiating a shorter course this year.
While racers will still start with the 1.5-kilometer swim, organizers have removed the hill section in the middle and end of the bike course, shortening it by six kilometers for just 28 kilometers of off-road biking.
The race ends with the same 8K trail run.
The race will start at the waters fronting the Coco Palm Beach Resort in Barangay Sabang and end at the Cebu Technological University (CTU).
Although the hill sections have been removed, participants can still expect punishing climbs before entering fireroads and then rocky terrain in the bike segment of the gruelling race.
The most number of participants in this year’s race will be coming from the Philippines with 146. Sixteen will be from Japan, nine from Australia including five pros, seven from France, six from New Zealand, five from United Kingdom, four from the United States, three each from Guam, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, two from Spain and one each from Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Ireland, Korea, Qatar, South Africa, Timor Leste.
Back to defend their titles are Bradley Weiss of Australia and Carina Wasle of Austria.