XTERRA Midwest Cup to Stoltz, McQuaid
Conrad Stoltz and Melanie McQuaid are now two for two in XTERRA Cup racing with their wins in Michigan today. The 2 XTERRA stars had also captured the opening round in Las Vegas, Nevada earlier this month.
The XTERRA athletes in Fort Custer State Park were greeted the day prior to the race by 30 degree temperatures and ice in the shallow water. But the race morning brought a brighter sky and more moderate temperatures.
First out of the water for the men were Craig Evans, Conrad Stoltz and Seth Wealing. Stoltz was able to shake almost all of his competitors on the bike, but fellow South African Dan Hugo. "I kept looking back and Dan was still there and even closing a bit" Stoltz said after the race. "Then he suddenly was gone and I thought he hit a tree." It actually turned out that Hugo had lost a contact lens and had trouble with his depth perception. After one lap on the bike, Hugo was still close to Conrad despite his impairment and Josiah Middaugh had moved into third place. Mike Vine had pulled up into fourth and Nico Lebrun was also within striking distance. Coming into T2, Hugo was still second but Middaugh and Mike Vine were hot on his heals.
On the run Vine was able to put a bit of a gap on Middaugh to take 2nd, but no one was going to take the title from Stoltz. Hugo came across the line in 4th and Lebrun was 5th.
On the women’s side, McQuaid came out of the water 90 seconds behind Christine Jeffrey, but a fast transition and wicked pace on the bike put her into the lead before too long. Jeffrey was still in second position at the end of the bike segment, but Renata Bucher was not that far behind. Shonny Vanlandingham had moved herself all the way into 4th but the fastest women’s bike split belonged to Jen Smith.
Out on the running trails Melanie McQuaid headed toward her second XTERRA Cup title of 2009 and crossed the line 3 minutes up on her closest competitor. Jeffrey battled Bucher in the first half of the run but in the end Bucher proved to be too strong. Jeffrey though held on to third.
XTERRA Midwest Cup
Augusta, MI / May 17
Top Pro men
1. Conrad Stoltz (RSA) 2:03:16 $1,800
2. Mike Vine (CAN) 2:04:13 $1,250
3. Josiah Middaugh (USA) 2:04:27 $800
4. Dan Hugo (RSA) 2:05:27 $500
5. Nico Lebrun (FRA) 2:06:00 $400
6. Seth Wealing (USA) 2:06:31 $300
7. Brian Smith (USA) 2:08:20 $200
8. Branden Rakita (USA) 2:10:10
9. Craig Evans (USA) 2:10:20
10. Ryan Decook (USA) 2:13:09
Top Pro women
1. Melanie McQuaid (CAN) 2:20:26 $1,800
2. Renata Bucher (SWI) 2:23:23 $1,250
3. Christine Jeffrey (CAN) 2:24:21 $800
4. Shonny Vanlandingham (USA) 2:25:05 $500
5. Jenny Smith (NZL) 2:26:29 $400
6. Jari Kirkland (USA) 2:38:08
7. Emma Garrard (USA) 2:42:42
8. Alexandra Borrelly (FRA) 2:43:17
9. Erin Kummer (USA) 2:46:13
