Pros brace for tough XTERRA Saipan

Visiting pros got a peek of the 2012 XTERRA Saipan Championship course yesterday and admitted they are in for a rough race this Saturday.

“I had a pre-ride in the bike course and it was brutal. There are a lot of climbing and then down hill, you have to be very cautious to avoid crash,” Australia’s Ben Allen said.

Allen along with France’s Cedric Lassonde, United Kingdom’s Graham Wadsworth and Jacqui Slack, and the U.S’ Will Kelsay and Branden Rakita are debuting in XTERRA Tour’s Crown Jewel this weekend.

“It’s nice to be here. We heard so much about XTERRA Saipan and its history. We love to see those tunnels and other great portion of the course,” said Rakita, who was scheduled to join local bikers in a pre-ride of the bike course yesterday afternoon.

Lassonde did not join the pre-bike ride, but trekked the run trail, which he said is tough.

“It’s very difficult and technical. You throw in the heat to the equation and I guarantee this will be the toughest race this month,” said Lassonde, who had been to XTERRA Guam and Philippines early this month.

Wadsworth and Kelsay also raced in the Philippines and Guam and the back-to-back races gave them less recovery time.

“This will probably be the longest and hardest race for me this month, as I have only about a week to rest. But that’s the best thing, testing this tough and long race. I am really excited to compete in XTERRA Saipan,” the XTERRA European Tour No. 10-ranked Wadsworth said.

Though feeling a bit tired, Kelsay said racing in the heat in the Philippines and Guam prepared them for the last leg of XTERRA Tour Asia’s Triple Crown.

“This race will be interesting as after adjusting to the heat in Guam and the Philippines, we are starting to shape up a little better. We’re getting use to the tough race, we’re holding out,” the 2011 XTERRA Japan runner-up said.

Allen, who topped XTERRA Guam and Philippines, beating the returning Olivier Marceau, is positive of his chances in XTERRA Saipan despite two close wins against the latter.

“I am in good form, going into this weekend’s race. I am a bit tired, but still pretty confident as though it will be my first time here, I have been training in Australia for the past several months, while Olivier is coming from winter races in Europe. I am use to the heat and I know I will have a good race this Saturday,” said Allen, who led Marceau by less than four minutes in XTERRA Guam and less than three in the Philippines.

Allen and Bucher, who also topped the women’s division of the XTERRA Guam and Philippines, led a group of pros in an afternoon swim at the World War II Tanks in Susupe yesterday. Marceau missed the swim, as he was just expected to arrive on Saipan yesterday morning.

Before the swim, Bucher also had pre-ride on the bike course and she love what she saw on the trail and admitted she still have the legs to aim for the “Triple Crown.”

“The course was great, it’s a bit dry and I hope it will not rain before the race. I feel good going into the Saturday race and winning again on Saipan will mean a lot to me,” Bucher said.

Slack and Wasle will be the threats in Bucher’s bid for three straight wins this month and the two triathletes are hoping to get the breaks on Saipan this time.

Slack, who led Bucher in Guam early in the race before a wrong bike turn cost her precious minutes, is a strong swimmer and runner but admitted the hilly bike ride on Saipan will be a big challenge for her.

“I am a road triathlete and this year is my first full season in XTERRA. I had two races in Europe last year, but that was pretty different compared to the race here or in Guam. It will be pretty tough, but after riding the bike course I know I will enjoy the race and hopefully get a good result,” said Slack, who lost to Bucher last week only by about three minutes.

Wasle fell behind Slack and Bucher by about two hours and almost did not finish XTERRA Philippines. She had four flat tires, ran out of tubes, and eventually had to borrow a bike.

“Hopefully here there will be no mechanical problems. No flat tires please. It’s nice to be back on Saipan and I will try my best to have a better finish this year,” said Wasle, who came in at second behind Shonny Vanlandingham and beat Bucher last year.

Joining Bucher, Wasle, and Slack in the women’s pro field is Saipan’s Mieko Carey, who led a group to a pre-bike ride yesterday afternoon.