Hugo and McQuaid in Idaho
At the XTERRA Northwest Cup just north of Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho Dan Hugo took the men's title and broke the winning streak of Conrad Stoltz. Melanie McQuaid though kept her streak alive and took the women's title.
The lead pack coming out of the water included Hugo, Stoltz, Craig Evans and Seth Wealing and the race was about to start in earnest. Hugo and Stoltz rode together for the first third of the bike section, but an unfortunate bad puncture by Stoltz forced him to let the younger South African go. Hugo was not challenged by anyone else and came back into T2 with a very solid lead.
“It was a great day, I had good legs,” said Hugo. “The bike was super fast, magically fast and furious." Branden Rakita meanwhile had moved into second place heading into the run, and he was followed by Lebrun, Wealing, Evans, and Stoltz was another minute back.
Lebrun managed the fastest run of the day and caught Rakita for second, and Wealing's fast run gave him third place. But no one could touch Hugo today and he won the race with 4 minutes to spare. Rakita held on for fourth and Stoltz ran past Evans to finish fifth.
"It sure did help that Josiah (Middaugh) and Mike (Vine) weren't here and Conrad got a puncture, but it's a great start and I'm super excited," said Hugo after the event.
As predicted, Christine Jeffrey had another monster swim and lead McQuaid by 3 minutes heading onto the bike course. Jeffrey rode hard during the first half of the bike but McQuaid poured it on during the second half. McQuaid was still down by 90 seconds after 11 miles but was up by 4 minutes after 22 miles.
Danelle Kabush had a super fast run and moved all the way into second, but McQuaid had crossed the line almost 2 minutes prior. Jeffrey hung on to 3rd place and to make it an all-Canadian top three.
XTERRA Northwest Cup
Farragut State Park, ID / June 6
Top 10 pro men
1. Dan Hugo (RSA) 2:25:32 $1,800
2. Nico Lebrun (FRA) 2:29:38 $1,250
3. Seth Wealing (USA) 2:31:20 $800
4. Branden Rakita (USA) 2:33:19 $500
5. Conrad Stoltz (RSA) 2:34:03 $400
6. Craig Evans (USA) 2:36:13 $300
7. Ryan Ignatz (USA) 2:36:20 $200
8. Jasper Blake (CAN) 2:37:42
9. Cody Waite (USA) 2:38:16
10. Brendan Halpin (USA) 2:40:29
Top 10 pro women
1. Melanie McQuaid (CAN) 2:51:10 $1,800
2. Danelle Kabush (CAN) 2:52:50 $1,250
3. Christine Jeffrey (CAN) 2:55:46 $800
4. Jenny Tobin (USA) 2:57:53 $500
5. Emma Garrard (USA) 2:59:05 $400
6. Rebecca Dussault (USA) 3:05:22 $300
7. Tracy Thelen (USA) 3:07:21 $200
8. Erin Kummer (USA) 3:11:27
9. Alexendra Borrelly (FRA) 3:13:27
10. Jennifer Luebke (USA) 3:14:54
