Bradley Weiss of South Africa maneuvers his bike through a curve in the bike leg of the XTERRA Danao Asia Pacific Championship. CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON
Weiss, Wasle survive intense heat to retain titles in XTERRA Danao
The scorching heat of the sun couldn’t stop XTERRA world champion Bradley Weiss of South Africa and Carina Wasle of Austria from topping their respective categories in the XTERRA Danao Asia PAcific Championship yesterday in Danao City, northern Cebu.
But it did enough to bother the back-to-back champions.
“It was so hot, I just wanted it to be over,” said the 29-year-old Weiss, who banked on his biking and running skills to retain his men’s title.
Weiss recovered from a slow swim start to once again relegate New Zealand’s Sam Osborne to second place after crossing the finish line with a time of two hours, 16 minutes and 28 seconds.
Unlike last year, it was a close fight between Weiss and Osborne as the South African only managed a 49-second lead over the New Zealander who breasted the tape at 2:17:17.
“I pushed pretty hard and when I opened a small gap, I maintained it,” said Weiss in the run phase which he said he found very challenging because his legs were already tired from biking.
Osborne, who came out of the water second to Australia’s Ben Allen, managed to engage Weiss in a neck-to-neck battle in the bike phase but he lost time when he punctured a tire and slipped in the turnaround as he had to untangle his bike from the yellow tape that marked the trail.
It was pretty much the same story in the distaff side as Wasle was also able to hold off Australia’s Penny Slater to retain the title but unlike last year, there was just a 3-minute gap between them. Wasle clocked 2:49:38 while Slater posted a time of 2:52:38.
According to Wasle, she was lucky that the course was a bit shorter this year because she found the scorching heat hard to cope with.
“It was a very hard race, it was very hot out there, I’m just happy that I made it to the finish line,” Wasle said.
Both, however, preferred this year’s shorter course.
CARINA WASLE. CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON
“The course last year suits me up a little bit more but I prefer this race because it is hard and intense and the gaps are short between racers making it more exciting for the racers as well as spectators,” said Weiss.
Wasle, for her part, said “when it’s shorter you’re faster.”
Rounding up the top 5 in the male pro were Keiran McPherson also of New Zealand (2:19:47), Allen (2:23:48) and XTERRA Danao first timer Fabien Combaluzier of France (2:25:35).
The lone Filipino XTERRA pro, Cebuano Joseph Miller, finished 10th with a time of 2:55:31.
Joining Wasle and Slater in the top 5 were France’s Myriam Guillot-Boisset also of France (2:56:33), Leela Hancox of Australia (3:03:58) and former New Zealand beauty queen Kristy Jennings (3:09:35).
Cebu winners
Still in the Individual Full category, the Asian Elite title went to Michael Acas of Cebu’s Rider Omega Tri Team. He clocked 2:56:56.
The full mixed relay title went to the Rider Omega Tri team manned by Karen Mae Indaya, Jessie Sanchez and Joseph Arnel Emia, who combined for a time of 2:24:46.
Cebuanos who topped their age-group categories were Chobie Dueñas of Motor Ace Racing, who took the 20-24 title with 3:17:41.
Dueñas’ teammate, Jonathan Liloc, ruled the 35-39 after clocking 3:17:44.
Motor Ace Racing team clinched the relay mixed title of the Individual Lite. The team was comprised of powerhouse couple Amale and Noy Jopson and Lorenzo Borromeo. They clocked 1:54:04.