XTERRA Pan Am Tour in Victoria, B.C. this Sunday

Press Release / 06.07.2018

Following a month-long break the XTERRA Pan America Tour jumps back into action this Sunday with the first of two races in Canada.

XTERRA Victoria, held on an island on Canada's west coast at Durrance Lake in British Columbia, is the eighth of 12 races on the Pan Am Tour.

The men's elite race is highlighted by 2015 XTERRA World Champ Josiah Middaugh, who will be up against current tour leader Kieran McPherson and a cast of strong Americans that includes Sam Long, Branden Rakita, Will Kelsay, and Ian King, plus Kiwi Alex Roberts and Aussie Jake Stollery.

Middaugh won the last two races at Oak Mountain and the Dominican Republic and is looking to win the next two here in Victoria and back on his home course at XTERRA Beaver Creek on July 21 in Avon, Colorado in an effort to get within striking distance of McPherson by the time the championship race in Utah takes place on September 15.

McPherson, who has gone all-in this year, has a big lead with 429 points – the result of wins at XTERRA Brazil and Argentina, runner-up showings at Chile and Uruguay, and top five placings in Samana and Oak Mountain.

Karsten Madsen, who is currently in second-place in points (377), won this race last year, and lives in Victoria, will not be on the start list as he’ll be in Denmark chasing after the ITU Cross Tri World Championship crown on July 10. He will be back for the showdown at Beaver Creek.

Rakita sits in third through seven events with 297 points, and Middaugh is currently 4th with 242.

The women’s tour standings are a whole lot closer at the top as Fabiola Corona and Kelli Montgomery are tied for first with 299 points, with Kara LaPoint close behind with 284.

All three are on the start line in Victoria, however, the favorite has to be Julie Baker who finished second to only Lesley Paterson at XTERRA Oak Mountain in May.

“This is my first time to Victoria so I'm not really sure what to expect,” said Baker, a full-time soil scientist.  “ I've been doing some good training but I'm not doing much of a taper for this race so we'll see how it goes.”

Also back in the mix is Allison Baca, who won XTERRA Chile to open the season but was injured soon after, and Jessie Koltz, who finished in the top five at Oak Mountain.