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ZITTAU, GERMANY — The 18th stop on the 2024 XTERRA EMEA Tour took place at the Zittau Mountains Nature Park on August 17, featuring Arthur Serrières (FRA) and Anna Zehnder (CHE) as winners of the elite men’s and women’s Full Distance races, respectively.
The event also served as the DTU Cross Triathlon German National Championship with Sebastian Neef (DEU) and Anna Maria Dietze (DEU) winning their titles as the first Germans to cross the line. A €15,000 elite prize purse was on the line and 58 slots were awarded to top age group qualifiers for the XTERRA World Championship in Trentino, Italy.
The following day, August 18, was dedicated to promoting emerging talent with races that doubled as qualifiers for the XTERRA Youth World Championship. Complementing the weekend's intensity, the after-party and camaraderie highlighted a celebration for the off-road community in one of Europe's top XTERRA racing locations.
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Swim (1.5K): The race started with a 1.5K swim in Lake Olbersdorf. The lake's temperature hovered around 25°C to 26°C, providing comfortable conditions. The course layout, designed as a triangular two-lap track with an Australian exit halfway, offered spectators frequent views of the competition.
Bike (37K): Transitioning from the swim, athletes mounted their bikes to tackle a 37K course that not only circled the scenic lake but also stretched into the challenging terrains of the Zittau mountains. This segment offered a blend of high-speed gravel paths and more demanding mountain trails, featuring over 1,000 meters of total elevation gain. The course required adept handling and strong power output, especially through the technical climbs and rocky descents. The last 5 kilometers, designed to be flat and fast, tested speed and stamina as they prepared for the final transition.
Run (10K): The final leg was a 10K trail run through dense forests surrounding the area. This part of the race was laid out in two 5K loops with a total elevation gain of 190 meters. Runners faced steep climbs and quick descents. The course culminated at the race's highest point, marked by the ringing of the iconic finisher's bell.
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The women's competition had Anna Zehnder (CHE) mindful of the heat from the outset, noting, "This morning, it was quite warm already at 7:00 a.m. I was concerned about cooling down and staying hydrated." Zehnder and Lizzy Orchard (NZL) quickly distinguished themselves in the swim, with Zehnder taking a slight lead with a swim time of 24:32, just ahead of Orchard's 24:35. "In the swim, I led with Lizzy Orchard but was the first out of the water. I maintained a good pace on the bike, though I was worried about being caught by Lizzie or Kerri-Ann (Upham)," Zehnder recounted.
Helena Karásková Erbenová (CZE) faced difficulties after a slower swim time of 27:35, but she mounted a strong comeback on the bike with the fastest bike segment of the day at 2:00:10. Despite a mishap, she pushed forward to the front of the race, heading into T2 with a strong lead, "I felt weak on the bike after the swim but gradually improved. Unfortunately, I made a mistake and crashed on a descent. After the crash, I was more cautious on the downhills," Karásková Erbenová explained.
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Jana Dubcová (CZE), despite a slower swim of 29:25, excelled in the biking and running segments. "My swimming was as usual not my strongest, but I really enjoyed the bike and felt at home during the run," Dubcová said. Her determination saw her moving up the ranks significantly, and she was surprised to find herself in third place as the race neared its end: "2 kilometers before the finish, I wasn’t aware I was in third place. I just pushed as hard as I could."
In the final phase of the race, Zehnder faced a challenge as she entered T2 hearing that Karásková Erbenová had built a 3-minute lead. Zehnder didn't lose heart, "At the end of T2, I heard from the speakers that Helena had a 3-minute lead. Despite the deficit, I started making up time immediately." She excelled in the run, posting the fastest split of 48:28, overtaking Karásková Erbenová, who struggled further with a time of 53:14. Zehnder captured the lead around the 6th or 7th kilometer and secured her victory, "It was a tough run, but the conditions improved and the crowd was fantastic. After catching up to Helena, I didn’t look back and eventually extended my lead to one minute and 57 seconds."
Zehnder's triumph was a profound moment for her, reflecting on her achievement she said, "Crossing the finish line first was an unbelievable feeling, especially as a rookie at XTERRA Germany."
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1. Anna Zehnder, CHE: 3:21:14
2. Helena Karásková Erbenová, CZE: 3:23:11
3. Jana Dubcová, CZE: 3:29:01
4. Kerri-Ann Upham, GBR: 3:29:56
5. Lizzie Orchard, NZL: 3:32:23
Complete Results Here.
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In the men's race, the swim was fiercely contested, with Robin Schüssler (DEU) setting a rapid pace early on, posting the fastest swim time of the day at 20:39. He was followed by Arthur Serrières (FRA) and Maxim Chané (FRA) and Sebastian Neef (DEU) in close pursuit. Reflecting on the swim, Serrières noted, "My swim felt quite easy; I managed my pace well and had a small gap at the first Australian exit, following Robin Schüssler in the front."
The intensity increased during the bike segment, where Neef demonstrated exceptional power, achieving the fastest bike time of 1:40:28. He pushed the limits, saying, "I tried to maintain the lead by pushing hard on the bike." Despite the challenge, Serrières kept pace, initially surprised by Neef’s strength: "I took the race a bit too lightly at first and was really surprised by Sebastian's push. I made sure to avoid any falls during the bike segment." Meanwhile, Chané encountered mechanical issues that compromised his ride, "During the technical parts, we kept close, but the second half of the bike segment was tough for me due to a mechanical issue—my bike seat dropped and locked down." Despite his difficulties, Chané managed to secure third place, finishing at 2:50:23. He summarized his race experience with a mix of frustration and optimism, "Starting the run with heavy legs was challenging. After realizing I had a gap, I knew I had a great chance to secure third."
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As the race transitioned to the running segment, Serrières found his stride, eventually taking the lead and maintaining control. His final push resulted in a total time of 2:43:19, the fastest run segment at 40:21, leading him to victory. He reflected positively on his performance, emphasizing his readiness for future challenges: "On the run, I managed well and stayed in control, pushing just enough. I’m quite happy with it and believe my run is getting faster as the season ends. I’m really looking forward to the World Championship in Italy. I just need to focus on the little things and maintain freshness."
1. Arthur Serrières, FRA: 2:43:19
2. Sebastian Neef, DEU: 2:47:03
3. Maxim Chané, FRA: 2:50:23
4. Martin Gebhard, DEU: 2:59:35
5. Robin Schüssler, DEU: 3:00:25
Complete Results Here.
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XTERRA Germany closed its latest chapter in Zittau, marking its longstanding presence on the XTERRA calendar highlighting the event's dual role as both a fierce competition and a community festival. As the event wrapped up, XTERRA and local O-SEE Challenge organizers look forward to the continued evolution and growth of this celebrated race for an even bigger weekend set for 2025.
XTERRA is a global lifestyle brand that champions the outdoor enthusiast in their pursuit of relentless adventure.
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