XTERRA Genesis Race Wrap-up

(click images for full-size photos)

By Michelle Cabalse, Editor

(Taxhimay, MEXICO) - Mexico's Javier "Toro" Rosas delivered a one-two punch to the field of elite racers at XTERRA Genesis on Saturday to take home the overall title.

The race served as a gateway event to the XTERRA Global Tour debut of XTERRA Mexico scheduled for July 15, 2006. Organizers had pre-registered 50 racers for Genesis, but by race day 160 athletes had signed on - most with little or no off-road racing experience.

Among the day's top contenders were Rosas' countryman Francisco Serrano, who finished fifth in the Nissan Xterra USA Championship Series this year. Turbo Bike and Olympic teammate Eligio Cervantes also toed the line along with a string of the country's top tri stars.

First to finish the 1000-meter, two-lap swim was Leonardo Saucedo (MEX), followed by Javier and Esteban Rosas, Omar Maces (MEX) and Cervantes. Race favorite Serrano hit T2 in seventh.

Coming second out of the water set Rosas up perfectly for a "Toro Attack" on the 30K mountain bike. After blending into the lead pack through the first section of single track, the road opened up and so did Rosas' engine. He blazed past Saucedo, posting the fastest bike split of the day in 1:21:58 by almost two minutes. Serrano's attempts to reel him in failed, but the effort bumped him up to the second-best bike split of the day in 1:23:43.

With energy to spare Rosas continued to dominate on the hilly, two-lap run. The 10K course included a natural obstacle never seen before on an XTERRA course - an island. Athletes splashed through knee-deep water to reach the island, and dove across the opposite side to continue the trail run.

Once again Rosas posted the fastest split of the day in 38:59. The bike-run combination gave Rosas an extra $4,000 in primes plus the overall win in 2:17:36. Saucedo held off the field to take second in 2:21:19. XTERRA veteran Serrano surged to the lead pack to earn third in 2:22:09.

The ladies overall title also went to the racer with the fastest bike and run splits of the day. Jamie Whitmore (USA) was the top female finisher in 2:52:46. In second for the ladies was Fabiola Corona (MEX) who led after the swim but fell prey to Whitmore's superior bike skills to finish in 2:56:41. Holding steady througout the rugged race was third-place finisher Daniela Campuzano (MEX) in 3:13:38.

XTERRA MEXICO.COM 

ELITE MEN			ELITE WOMEN
Javier Rosas (MEX)	2:17:36		Jamie Whitmore (USA)	2:52:46
Leonardo Saucedo (MEX)	2:21:19		Fabiola Corona (MEX)	2:56:41
Francisco Serrano (MEX)	2:22:09		Daniela Campuzano (MEX)	3:13:38
complete results

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