XTERRA Winter Worlds Press Guide '09:2007 XTERRA Maui Press ...

2009 XTERRA WINTER EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPFormer XTERRA World Champ and two-time ITU Winter Triathlon World Champ Nicolas Lebrun served as the racedirector for the inaugural XTERRA Winter European Championship that was held January 17 in Chabanon, France.Styled after the first-of-its-kind XTERRA Winter Worlds format (where Lebrunfinished 3rd last year, just 10 seconds off the pace set by race victor BrianSmith) that debuted in Utah in March 2008, the race combined a 10kmmountain bike with 5km snowshoe, 5km trail run, and 8km mountaineeringsegments (in that order).The race site was nestled in the heart of "Vallee de la Blanche", an intimatefamily-size resort in the sunny south French Alps between Provence andGrenoble. In addition to the 5,000 euro prize purse for professionals, thewinner of each age group earned free entry into the XTERRA Winter WorldChampionship at Snowbasin Resort in Utah, and five representatives from theEuropean race are headed to Utah, including women’s champ Myriam Guillot.Race Recap: Jeremie Gachet and Myriam Guillot, both from France, won theinaugural XTERRA Winter European Championship at Chabanon in thesouthern French Alps in January.JEREMIEGachet, a former junior Winter Tri World Champ, led from start to finish andcrossed the line exactly six minutes ahead of Swiss Othmar Brugger.“When I realized I was stronger on the bike than the rest of the field I decidedto put the pressure on my opponents taking the lead early in the race. But Irealized the first place was not that comfortable and I have been looking backto see if someone was coming back for the rest of the race”.In the women’s race Guillot, a world-class adventure racer, put a ton of time(more than 13 minutes) between herself and former Olympic triathlete SybilleMatter from Switzerland. Two-time French national winter triathlon championJulie Arnaud placed third.“I had no idea if I could be competitive in such a race” said Guillot. “I am usedto adventure races which are not that fast but I was happily surprised to see Iwas in front during the run. I always expected someone to come from behindand pass me on the bike, & then during the snowshoe. Only during the skisection did I realize I could win this race when I saw the gap I had.”MYRIAMTOP 3 PRO MEN: Jeremie Gachet (1:50:14), Othmar Brugger (1:56:14), Nicolas Mazetier(2:02:00). TOP 3 PRO WOMEN: Myriam Guillot (2:20:55), Sybille Matter (2:34:22), JulieArnaud (2:37:01). AGE GROUP CHAMPS: Olivia Piana (19 and under), Bruno Pellegrin (20-29M), Yvan Giraud-Telme/Ophelie Astier-Mayet (30-39 M/W), Olivier Poirot/Pascale Marin (40-49 M/W), Franck Garcin/Michele Merlin (50-59 M/W).To learn more visit enduranceandsnow.com22