Press and Media Center

ITU Cross Tri World Championship Tomorrow

The first-ever ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship will be held tomorrow, Saturday, April 30, at “El Anillo” (Caceres), Spain with a huge contingent of Americans and international XTERRA regulars on the start list.

The races should be exceptionally fast with a 1km swim, 20km mountain bike and 6km cross-country run held at “The Ring” in Extremadura, an International Innovation Centre for outdoor sports.

The U.S. men’s elite team (jersey pics courtesy Branden Rakita) includes six-time XTERRA National Champion Josiah Middaugh, fellow Colorado standouts Seth Wealing, Brian Smith, Branden Rakita, and Cody Waite, along with Tennessee’s-own Craig Evans.

The Americans will be up against a host of familiar names and faces such as four-time XTERRA World Champ Conrad Stoltz, three-time XTERRA World Champion Eneko Llanos (ESP), three-time Olympian Olivier Marceau (SUI), and a ton of elites from XTERRA’s European Tour. In all, there are 35 pros from 17 countries on the start list (with the U.S. having the most representatives with six).

The U.S. women’s elite team features reigning XTERRA World Champion Shonny Vanlandingham, plus Suzie Snyder, Emma Garrard, and Sara Tarkington.

Joining the American women are XTERRA international sensations Melanie McQuaid (CAN), Renata Bucher (SUI), Carina Wasle (AUT), Christine Jeffrey (CAN), Marion Lorblanchet (FRA), Susan Sloan (RSA), and many others from the XTERRA World Tour.  A total of 26 pro women from 12 countries are on the women's elite list. 

How the pro races will unfold is anyone’s guess as the course is short, flat, fast and by most accounts not very technical. Recent rain in the area, however, may make things muddy and unpredictable.

Read what Conrad “the Caveman” Stoltz has to say on his website, www.conradstoltz.com.

The elite races start late in the day; 4:15pm for the women (7:15am PST) with the men to follow at 6:30pm (9:30am PST).  Visit the ITU Cross Tri Website for start lists, course information, pictures, results, and more information.

The U.S. team also features 53 age group athletes ranging from 23 to 68-years-old who had qualified at one of three XTERRA championship races last year or the Scott Tinley Adventure off-road tri.  See some of the American faces on USAT's website.

Here's a look at the complete list of USA age group team members competing tomorrow (subject to change):

Women's Team

• Grace Bollinger
• Lisa Bommer
• Lisa Brummond
• Roxy Cate
• Sue Anne Clark
• Beverly Enslow
• Kathy Frank
• Kathy Hudson
• Jaime Janus
• Audrey Kane
• Shelby Katz
• Annette MacNiven
• Kristin Jo Markham
• Robyn Reyes

Men's Team

• Juan Diego Baltodano
• Marcus Barton
• Bill Billingsley
• Mark Budgeon
• Glenn Cook
• Rick Copley
• Brian Crooks
• Charlie Dixon
• Daniel Duryea
• Christopher Ellis-Ferrara
• Tim Forbert
• Laurence Goddard
• Peter Hanson
• Rife Hilgartner
• Terry Hutchins
• Robert Jackson
• Stewart Kelly
• James Kentro
• Daniel Kimball
• John Klish
• Daniel Kunkel
• Peter Lilley
• Tucker Newberry
• Brent Peacock
• Bryce Phinney
• John (Tom) Pierce
• Ronald Scranton
• Brian Smith
• David Southall
• Ryan Stranahan
• Gregg Swersky
• Christopher Trevelise
• Blake Voges
• Richard Wall
• Charlie Wertheim
• Gordon Wright
• Matthew Yarbrough