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German pro says run portion will be crucial
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Posted on Apr 16 2009
Sascha Wingenfeld of Germany, one of two professional triathletes competing for the first time in this weekend’s XTERRA Saipan Championship, said the run portion of the race will be crucial for all the big guns.
“I think that it would be between Mike (Vine) and Sam (Gardner) for the Top 2,” said Wingenfeld, a Frankfurt native who had been competing in the European series and finished fourth in the 2006 European Championships.
Wingenfeld will try to break into the Top 5 of the crown jewel of the XTERRA Global Tour.
After the swim and bike, the German pro said it would be a close race to the finish line.
“So it’s important to have a good run,” said Wingenfeld, who is strong in the bike and run.
He said he’s not so strong in swimming because of his height. He is listed at 5’6.”
Wingenfeld says he’s in tip-top shape for Saturday’s race but still hopes more luck will come his way.
“It’s my first race of the season and I’m excited about it. I don’t know the chances of the other pros,” he said.
The other first-time competitor on Saipan is Ulli Kratzer of Austria.
This would bring a total of 13 pros who are expected to join the race this year.
The others include Switzerland’s Renata Bucher, Great Britain’s Gardner, Jim McConnel, and Julie Dibens, Saipan-based Mieko Carey of Japan, Andrew Noble of Australia, Vine of Canada, Taro Shirato and Takahiro Ogasawara of Japan, Shonny Vanlandingham of the United States, and Arland Macasieb of the Philippines.
Like the other pros in the field, Wingenfeld is a little bit bothered by Saipan’s sweltering heat.
“There’s a lot of rain when I left Germany and the snow was several inches thick. The temperature is as low as five degrees,” he said.
He left Frankfurt last Thursday for a 12-hour flight to Seoul and reached Saipan after another four hours.
“I’ve heard a lot about Saipan two years ago and wanted to come but I just didn’t had the chance before,” he said.
Wingenfeld owns a small company specializing in health science.
“I do some health services for athletes most of my time,” he said.
