Europeans commit to XTERRA Saipan next year

All European pro triathletes who competed in the 8th Annual XTERRA Saipan Championship are raring to come back next year and vowed to bring along more of their mates from the Old World.

Uli Katzer of Austria and Sasha Wingerfeld of Germany said they will invite pros not only from their countries but also from the other parts of the European continent to take part in the crown jewel of the XTERRA Global Tour in 2010.

Katzer and Wingerfeld are regular campaigners in the European series and other big triathlon events in the continent.

“Most of us do not know or hear about Saipan,” Katzer said moments after finishing the race on Saturday.

He placed 8th overall with a time of two hours, 59 minutes, and one second in his first try on Saipan. He was fifth in the swim (19:03), 10th in the bike (1:39:56), and sixth in the run (58:25).

He said it was a good finish for him despite the searing heat.

“We know little about Saipan. After this experience I will definitely tell them to try [and come] here,” said Katzer, who was invited by longtime friend Renata Bucher, the five-time winner of the XTERRA Saipan women’s division.

Katzer said most of the triathletes learn about each tournament through personal invitations.

After conquering the uphill and downhill bike and run of Mt. Tapochao, Katzer said there is no doubt that XTERRA Saipan series is the hardest course in the Global Tour.

“The ocean swim is perfect. It’s warm. I did a good job there. Somehow it needs more days, maybe one week, to adopt myself with the weather before the race,’ he said.

Wingerfeld, another first-time Saipan racer, is already excited to come back next year.

Barely unnoticed due to the presence of the other top pros, Wingerfeld’s first stint on Saipan was memorable, as he finished third with a time of two hours, 43 minutes, and 26 seconds.

He finished strong in the swim, coming out of the Micro Beach waters with the third best time of 17:51, fourth in the bike (1:29:29), and third in the run (54:24).

“I will be coming back with some of my friends,” he said.

The XTERRA Saipan is part of the 2009 Saipan Sports Fest and is organized by Taga Inc. in association with the Marianas Visitors Authority. It is sponsored by DFS Galleria, Coca-Cola, Subway, IT&E, Glimpses of Saipan, Foremost, Docomo Pacific, MARPAC, and Northwest Airlines.