Ruzafa, Duffy Win Xterra Usa Championship

Press Release / 23.09.2014

Ruben Ruzafa, 25, from Spain and Flora Duffy, 27, from Bermuda captured the 2014 XTERRA USA Championship off-road triathlon on a beautiful blue sky day at Snowbasin Resort today. Ruzafa, the current and two-time XTERRA World Champion, finished in 2:21:47, less than one-minute ahead of runner-up and 2012 USA Champ Josiah Middaugh of Colorado who crossed in 2:22:32.

The difference was the bike where Ruzafa, a former national team rider in Spain, posted the fastest split of the day in 1:18:01, two-minutes faster than that of Middaugh who had the second-best bike time at 1:20:00.  Even though Middaugh ran one-minute faster, it wasn’t enough to reel in Ruzafa. “It was tough.  I couldn’t stay with him on the bike,” said Middaugh.  “I needed to match him but he doesn’t have any weakness on the bike.  You give him 10 seconds and it blows up to a minute real fast.” Middaugh still won the XTERRA U.S. Pro Series for the second straight year and was the XTERRA National Champ (top American) for the 10th time.

For Ruzafa, it’s his eight straight win of the 2014 season.  He won seven straight in Europe to capture the XTERRA European Tour Championship and also won the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship.  The last time he didn’t win was here in Utah last year, when he crossed the line in 3rd place behind Leo Chacon of Costa Rica and Middaugh. “This race was important to me because last year was really hard,” said Ruzafa.  “I wanted to come back and do well here and happy that I did.  I came here two weeks early and studied the bike course, memorized all the turns so I could go as fast as I could.  I really like Utah, the people and the mountain.”

Eighteen-year-old rookie pro Mauricio Mendez from Mexico City finished in third, with South Africans Bradley Weiss and Dan Hugo taking 4th and 5th. “It’s a dream come true, I’m so happy,” said Mendez.  “I know there is a lot more work to do but I’m still proving to myself that I can do more than I think.”

The day started with Ben Allen leading the way in the swim with Mendez right behind, but at the four-mile mark after the first big climb through Wheeler Canyon Mendez got gobbled up by Ruzafa and Middaugh and when Brad Weiss and Dan Hugo came by Mendez jumped on board for the ride.  By the bike-to-run transition it was Ruzafa, two minutes to Middaugh, then five minutes later Weiss and Mendez 3rd and 4th.  The speedy Mendez quickly moved into third and stayed there through the finish.

The 6-thru-10 spots were filled with breakthrough performances highlighted by Brad Zoller’s best XTERRA in 6th, then Cody Waite, Craig Evans, Chris Ganter, and Alex Modestou.

PRO MEN      

Pl    Name    Age    Hometown    Time    Points
1    Ruben Ruzafa    30    Malaga, Spain    2:21:47    100
2    Josiah Middaugh    34    Vail, Colorado    2:22:43    90
3    Mauricio Mendez    18    Mexico City, Mexico    2:28:55    82
4    Bradley Weiss    25    Somerset West, South Africa    2:29:31    75
5    Dan Hugo    28    Stellenbosch, South Africa    2:32:06    69
6    Brad Zoller    37    Vail, Colorado    2:33:47    63
7    Cody Waite    36    Lakewood, Colorado    2:33:59    58
8    Craig Evans    36    Hendersonville, Tennessee    2:34:14    53
9    Chris Ganter    36    Boise, Idaho    2:34:42    49
10    Alex Modestou    28    Durham, North Carolina    2:35:46    45
Also: Branden Rakita (41), Ryan Ignatz (37), Ben Allen (34), John O'Neill (31), Adam Wirth (28), Ryan Petry, Jeff Smith, Rory Downie, Andy Lee, Louis Tafuto    

DUFFY DOMINANT AGAIN

In her first full season racing XTERRA Flora Duffy has been dominant.  She won all three regional championships and now the USA Championship.

She posted the fastest swim (coming out of the water third overall behind only Ben Allen and Mauricio Mendez), had the fastest bike split (1:32:36) and the second-best run behind eventual runner-up Barbara Riveros from Chile to take the tape in 2:38:18, more than six-minutes in front of Riveros.

“It was a lot of fun, but it was hard.  I never felt particularly stressed with my breathing but my legs were shot,” said Duffy, a two-time Olympian. “I was intimidated by this course, but apparently it suits me. The water was warm, but swimming at altitude is hard. I was redlining the entire swim trying to stay on feet.” Duffy, who finished third at XTERRA Worlds last year, said the pro series title was just the first part of the plan. “After Las Vegas in April I made it a goal of mine to win the series, so it’s pretty cool to do that. Now it’s time to get to work and be faster for Maui.”

Riveros, who wasn’t even sure if she’d make the starting line after crashing at the ITU Grand Finale in Edmonton three weeks ago, flatted towards the end of the bike – came into transition in third – but was able to chase down two-time World Champ Lesley Paterson for second. “I’m pretty happy to finish, especially here. I’m very grateful.  Beautiful venue, beautiful people,” said Riveros, who was also 2nd at this race last year.  “I heard I was 53 seconds back halfway through the last downhill when I got a flat.  I hit a rock but my tire didn’t explode for a while.  It was kind of sketchy, I was happy to make it out okay.”

For Paterson, the defending USA Champion who’s been sidelined all season with injury, just getting back into the mix was a win. “I’m truly back (pointing to blood seeping through the tip of her running shoes),” said Paterson.  “My feet were killing me, I’m just not used to it.  It all came back to me, like ‘Oh, yeah, this is what it feels like.’  But it feels awesome, so much fun just to be out there with those girls, they’re awesome and we were giving each other shouts out there.  I was bummed Barbara got a puncture on the bike but on the run she ran past me like I was standing still so I guess it all worked out.”

“Today it was great to see Lesley back racing and up here on the podium,” said Duffy at the awards ceremony.  “She’s an athlete I really respect and someone I think singlehandedly raised the bar for XTERRA racing on the women’s side. It’ll be exciting to watch the comeback and I hope to have many more battles with her in the future.” Emma Garrard from Park City, Utah finished fourth and the National Champ (top American in the Series) for the second straight year, and Chantell Widney placed 5th.

The race combined a 1.5km swim in the 67-degree waters of Pineview Reservoir with a 28km mountain bike that climbed 3,400-feet up to Sardine Peak and back down to Snowbasin Resort, then finished with a 6.1-mile trail run that had another 600-feet of climbing.  Altitude is 4,900-feet at Pineview, 7,300-feet at top of Sardine, and 6,400-feet at T2 and the finish.

PRO WOMEN    

Pl    Name    Age    Hometown    Time    Points
1    Flora Duffy     27    Boulder, Colorado (Bermuda)    2:38:18    100
2    Barbara Riveros    27    La Pintana, Chile    2:44:28    90
3    Lesley Paterson    33    San Diego, CA (Scotland)    2:46:24    82
4    Emma Garrard    31    Park City, Utah    2:48:10    75
5    Chantell Widney    34    Edmonton, Alberta, Canada    2:50:10    69
6    Suzie Snyder    32    Fredericksburg, Virginia    2:52:04    63
7    Carina Wasle    29    Kundl, Austria    2:52:53    58
8    Danelle Kabush    38    Calgary, Canada    2:53:32    53
9    Sara Schuler    33    Boulder, Colorado      2:55:57    49
10    Shonny Vanlandingham    45    Durango, Colorado    3:01:40    45

Also: Genevieve Evans (41), Maia Ignatz (37), Kim Baugh (34), Susan Sloan (31), Kara LaPoint (28), Catherine Sterling, Jaime Brede, Debby Sullivan, Caroline Colonna, Amelia McCracken, Rebecca Blatt

MIDDAUGH, DUFFY WIN XTERRA U.S. PRO SERIES

Josiah Middaugh and Flora Duffy capped off remarkable seasons on XTERRA's U.S. pro circuit. Duffy went undefeated, while Middaugh's only blemish was his runner-up performance today. They each received a check for $10,000 for taking the series title.

In the race for second Brad Weiss’ 4th place finish today was enough to secure his 2nd place standing in the overall – by one point!  Weiss finished with 322 points, Mendez with 321. 

In the women’s chase Emma Garrard’s 4th place finish also secured her 2nd place standing for the Series. Middaugh and Garrard took home the honors of XTERRA USA National Champions for having the best seasons of American's on the tour.

2014 XTERRA U.S. Pro Series Standings (Final)    
Pros count their best 3-of-4 regionals, plus USA 

PRO MEN      

Pl    Name    West    S'East    East    Mtn    USA    Totals
1    Josiah Middaugh    100    100    x82    100    90    390
2    Bradley Weiss    90    82    75    DNS    75    322
3    Mauricio Mendez    82    75    x63    82    82    321
4    Dan Hugo    58    63    100    DNS    69    290
5    Craig Evans    69    90    69    DNS    53    281
6    Branden Rakita    75    69    58    x53    41    243
7    Chris Ganter    53    x45    53    58    49    213
8    Ryan Ignatz    45    58    DNS    63    37    203
9    Alex Modestou    DNR    41    DNS    69    45    155
10    Ryan Petry    63    DNR    DNS    75    DNP    138
11    Brad Zoller    DNS    DNS    DNS    49    63    112
12    Jeff Smith    37    37    34    DNS    DNP    108
13    Cody Waite    DNS    DNS    DNS    45    58    103
14    Ruben Ruzafa    DNS    DNS    DNS    DNS    100    100
15    Karsten Madsen    DNF    49    49    DNS    DNR    98
16    Ben Hoffman    DNS    DNS    DNS    90    DNR    90
17    Ryan DeCook    31    DNR    45    DNS    DNR    76
18    Nick Fisher    DNP    53    DNS    DNS    DNR    53
19    Matt Lieto    49    DNR    DNS    DNS    DNR    49
20    Thomas Spannring    DNS    DNS    DNS    41    DNR    41
21    Justin Thomas    41    DNR    DNS    DNS    DNR    41
22    Takahiro Ogasawara    DNS    DNS    41    DNS    DNR    41
23    Alex Libin    DNS    DNS    DNS    37    DNR    37
24    Jean-Philippe Thibodeau    DNS    DNF    37    DNS    DNR    37
25    Joshua Merrick    DNS    DNS    DNS    34    DNR    34
26    Will Kelsay    34    DNR    DNS    DNS    DNR    34
27    Ben Allen    DNS    DNS    DNS    DNS    34    34
28    Gavin Anderson    DNS    DNS    DNS    31    DNR    31
29    Charlie Epperson    DNS    DNP    31    DNS    DNR    31
30    John O'Neill    DNS    DNS    DNS    DNS    31    31
31    Will Ross    28    DNR    DNS    DNS    DNR    28
32    Noah Wright    DNS    DNS    28    DNS    DNR    28
33    Adam Wirth    DNS    DNS    DNS    DNS    28    28

PRO WOMEN    

Pl    Name    West    S'East    East    Mtn    USA    Totals
1    Flora Duffy    100    100    100    DNS    100    400
2    Emma Garrard    x90    90    90    90    75    345
3    Chantell Widney    69    69    DNS    100    69    307
4    Suzie Snyder    75    82    82    x63    63    302
5    Shonny Vanlandingham    82    DNF    75    75    45    277
6    Danelle Kabush    63    63    DNS    82    53    261
7    Kara LaPoint    58    58    41    x28    28    185
8    Christine Jeffrey    DNR    75    69    41    DNS    185
9    Jaime Brede    49    49    DNS    69    DNP    167
10    Amelia McCracken    37    53    49    DNP    DNP    139
11    Sara Schuler    DNS    DNS    DNS    58    49    107
12    Debby Sullivan    45    DNR    58    DNP    DNP    103
13    Caroline Colonna    DNR    45    45    DNP    DNP    90
14    Barbara Riveros    DNS    DNS    DNS    DNS    90    90
15    Lesley Patersno    DNS    DNS    DNS    DNS    82    82
16    Rebecca Blatt    41    DNR    37    DNS    DNP    78
17    Maia Ignatz    DNS    DNS    DNS    37    37    74
18    Kim Baugh    DNS    DNS    DNS    34    34    68
19    Catherine Sterling    DNS    DNS    63    DNS    DNP    63
20    Carina Wasle    DNS    DNS    DNS    DNS    58    58
21    Katie Button    53    DNR    DNS    DNS    DNR    53
22    Mieko Carey    DNS    DNS    53    DNS    DNR    53
23    Rebecca Dussault    DNS    DNS    DNS    53    DNR    53
24    Kelley Cullen    DNS    DNS    DNS    49    DNR    49
25    Heidi Rentz    DNS    DNS    DNS    45    DNR    45
26    Genevieve Evans    DNS    DNS    DNS    DNS    41    41
27    Rachel Challis    DNS    DNS    DNS    31    DNR    31
28    Susan Sloan    DNS    DNS    DNS    DNS    31    31

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