Hundreds of duathletes gear up for a fierce showdown in their side of the battle as they share center stage with the elite pros in the XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon set tomorrow (Sunday, June 17) in Albay, Legazpi City.
While focus will be on the likes of reigning world champion and back-to-back reigning men’s titlist Bradley Weiss of South Africa and Aussies Penny Slater and Leela Hancox in the women’s division, the duathletes wage their own fight in trail running and mountain biking and back in the 2km run-14km bike-4km run with the majestic Mayon Volcano as backdrop.
Also on tap is the XTERRA Lite, a 750km swim-14km bike-4km run featuring the future of Phl off-road triathlon.
For details, visit www.albay.xterraphil.com or hashtags #XTERRAAlbay or social media accounts facebook /XTERRAAlbay, twitter @XTERRAAlbay or instagram @XTERRAAlbay.
Meanwhile, the organizing Sunrise Events, Inc. has lined up a busy Saturday for all the participants in the event presented by the City of Legaspi and produced by SEI, including a bike course ride out from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., an Expo Open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., meet the pros presscon at 3 p.m. and a Mayor’s night and welcome dinner at 6 p.m.
Action fires off tomorrow at 7 a.m. for the XTERRA full while the Lite and Duathlon are set at 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., respectively.
Meanwhile, Weiss is all primed up for another crack at XTERRA glory as he banners the compact men’s cast that includes New Zealand’s Sam Osborne and Kieran McPherson, 2016 XTERRA Asia-Pacific titlist Ben Allen of Australia, Japanese Takahiro Ogasawara, the 2016 XTERRA Saipan winner, Akihiro Maeda, also of Japan, Kiwis Alex Roberts and Olly Shaw and local ace Joseph Miller.
Weiss is also eyeing a sweep of SEI’s XTERRA races after ruling the Danao stop last April although he expects a tougher challenge from the rest of the pack in the premier off-road triathlon.
Slater and Hancox have also toughened up for an expected tight duel with Kristy Jennings of New Zealand in the women’s pro side of the grueling 1.5km swim-28km mountain bike-8km trail run event backed by Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines, Prudential Guarantee, @GO Express, Sanicare, AlcoPlus, David’s Salon, and media partners The Philippine STAR and HyperHD on Cignal.