Pro triathlete Nico Lebrun is the latest elite to confirm he is racing at the XTERRA England Championships and, as a former world champion in the sport, he starts as one of the favourites for the overall title.
The race will be held in the grounds of the Vachery Estate in Cranleigh, Surrey on the weekend of the 7th-8th September 2013.
Lebrun is the latest big name to join an international PRO field that also includes XTERRA champions Jacqui Slack, Ben Allen and Doug Hall with many more expected to be confirmed over the coming weeks.
Nico Lebrun captured the XTERRA World Championship title in 2005 in thrilling fashion. After a tough race over the infamous course in Maui, Hawaii, Lebrun took the win of his career only after crossing the line with a broken elbow – caused by a trip just 500 metres from the finish line.
That performance and title is one chapter of a formidable race CV from an athlete who is the reigning XTERRA European series champion and can count 35 wins and 41 podium finishes on the XTERRA circuit alone. He now turns his attentions to XTERRA England, the last race on the XTERRA Europe circuit, in a bid to win another title.
Nico Lebrun said: “With the XTERRA England Championships set as the European series 2013 final, I have to be there. I started XTERRA in England, so I'm really happy to go back and I always have fun in UK!
ADDICTIVE FUN
The XTERRA England Championship event offers 40 qualifying spots for athletes looking to qualify for the world championships held later in the year in Maui, Hawaii. The XTERRA series is considered to be the pinnacle in off-road triathlon and attracts the very best in off-road competitors, yet it has a very warm and open attitude to newcomers.
Nico has the following advice for those that are new to XTERRA racing:
“Be careful - XTERRA is a drug, you will be an addict! On the training side, spend a lot of time on your mountain bike, it's where you will catch or lose the most time.”
The race itself is set within the open grounds of the Vachery Estate, which provide a very welcoming setting for families and supporters while you race it out in the spring-fed lake and woodlands.
As well as the standard distance, the organisers are running a sprint-distance event alongside so that all can try this race experience and course. There are further options that include a six-hour endurance mountain bike race and open-water swims which form part of the H2O open-water series.
Find out more about XTERRA England and sign up to this race at the event website: xterra-england.co.uk
Images: Rémy Masseglia ©
