Favored pros confident in Tagaman

It’s time for the pros to test road racing on Saipan as the 2012 Tagaman Triatlon kicks off tomorrow.

Leading the list of pros doing the 2-kilometer swim, 60-km bike, and 15-km run are XTERRA Saipan men’s champion Ben Allen and women’s Top 2 finishers Renata Bucher and Jacqui Slack. The three are favored in the weekend race with Aussie Allen going up against fellow pro Cedric Lassonde of France, Americans Will Kelsay and Brendan Rakita, and Japan’s Takahiro Ogasawara. Bucher and Slack will be facing anew Austria’s Carina Wasle and Saipan’s very own, Mieko Carey.

“My background is in road triathlon so this is the kind of racing I feel more comfortable with,” said Slack, who is hoping to avoid another bridesmaid finish this weekend after placing runner-up to Bucher in XTERRA Guam, the Philippines, and Saipan. “I think I have a good chance of winning, however Renata, Carina and Mieko are all very strong athletes, so I think it will be a good race.”

Before starting her first full season in off-road triathlon this year, the United Kingdom bet had joined the British Triathlon Super Series, French Grand Prix, ITU European and World Cups, and ITU World Series events.

“I’m much more confident in my ability to bike and run well on the road,” Slack said.

The 29-year-old triathlete is also a force to be reckoned with in the water as shown in her swim victories over Bucher in XTERRA Philippines, Guam, and Saipan) and the longer Tagaman swim will be her advantage over the Swiss bet, who last won the oldest triathlon race in Western Pacific in 2009.

Bucher finished only third behind Korean Dan Bi Hong and Shonny Vanlandingham and fell to fourth last year, behind U.S. pro Suzie Snyder, Carey, and Wasle. The 34-year-old Bucher did last year’s Tagaman on a loaned bike, but this year brought her own.

“I have my road bike with me this year, so that’s an advantage. I am also pacing myself well and not feeling pressured after I won XTERRA Saipan,” Bucher said.

“This week I am already training for XTERRA Las Vegas (April 14). My good friend Allan Collinson from Australia is always telling me to really take care of my energy level and see my body as a car. My body can be a Ferrari or it can be an old Volvo, but both cars need to be fueled up with the right gas to keep going. I’m sleeping a lot, taking care of my nutrition, and getting enough time to recover. I am excited for Tagaman,” Bucher added.

A win in Tagaman will give Bucher the PIC Doubles women’s title, which will be determined by combining the times of triathletes in XTERRA and Tagaman. Bucher posted 2:54:56 in XTERRA and has about 10 minutes lead against Slack (3:04:46).

The battle for the PIC Double men’s crown is a close one with Allen timing in at 2:31:05, just over three minutes ahead of Lassonde (2:34:58).

Although off-road triathlon suits his style, Allen is no stranger to road racing.

“I started racing ITU Olympic distance triathlons for Australia in World Cups and Continental Championships. I enjoyed the aggressive style of racing but wanted more adventure and found XTERRA perfectly suited to my racing style,” said Allen, who sees the racing conditions as another foe in tomorrow’s race beside Lassonde and company.

“Toughest foes for this weekend other than fellow competitors, will be the conditions on race day. Strong winds and an undulating bike course, with some steep climbs are going to make racing tough for everyone,” said Allen, who is talking about the up and downhill roads toward the Bird Island Lookout and Suicide Cliff.

The first-timer in Tagaman hopes to complete the longer race under the three-hour mark. Last year, men’s champion Sam Gardner timed in at 3:05:43, failing to surpass his 2:59:23 second in 2010.