Alistair Brownlee wins XTERRA triathlon debut in heroic fashion
Alistair Brownlee wins XTERRA triathlon debut in heroic fashion at Weston Park House in Staffordshire this Saturday 13th May.
The long-awaited return of XTERRA triathlon to the shores of the UK after an absence of 8 years had the off-road community chomping at the bit.
A number of the biggest players in off-road tri threw their hat in the ring and were about to find out what it was like to take on one of the greatest on-road triathletes of all time Alistair Brownlee
The event combined a 1.5K lake swim with a 27K custom-designed bike course, and an 11K run that runs through the historic grounds of Weston Park
Alistair a two times Olympic Gold Medallist is no stranger to off-road having grown up competing in fell races and mixing up gravel racing alongside his long-distance racing.
Nonetheless, Alistair was going up against some off-road triathlon’s premier elite racers including Maxim Chané (FRA) the reigning XTERRA Short Track series champion who came fourth at the World Triathlon Cross Championships the previous weekend.
And it was to be an entertaining battle between Brownlee and the Frenchman. Alistair led Chane out of the water with the Frenchman just edging the bike leg. All even as the pair headed in the final leg of the 11k trail run.
Throughout his triathlon career Brownlee has been renowned for his running ability and this proved the case as he crossed the finishing line some 46 seconds ahead of the Frenchman.
Fellow Brit Morgan Rhodes rounded out the podium in a distant third, more than eight minutes behind Brownlee.
