New Zealand triathlete Nicky Samuels has today won the XTERRA World Championship Off-Road Triathlon on Maui in Hawaii.
 XTERRA world champion Nicky Samuels(Photo: XTERRA / Nils Nilsen; click to enlarge) |
After a busy triathlon campaign on the ITU circuit this season, the world number 14 ITU triathlete took out the title on the back of a superb mountain bike ride, that despite not spending much time on that discipline in training.
"I was second out of the water but took the lead in the first couple of kilometres on the bike and was able to concentrate and get into my work. It was a tough day on a tough course but I thought if I come off the bike with a reasonable lead then I might possibly win.
"I haven't done much mountain biking through and as a result I was getting cramp in my hamstrings while on the run, which wasn't pleasant to say the least! But I had a good time buffer so was okay to cruise the last couple of kilometres in the run for a great day and a great result."
 Nicky Samuels(Photo: XTERRA / Nils Nilsen; click to enlarge) |
Samuels beat a top class field dominated by American's and including many off-road experts but including fellow ITU athlete Barbara Riveros (Chile). Second place went to two time defending champion Lesley Patterson (USA) but she was no match for the Kiwi today, with Samuels able to ease home despite struggling with those hamstrings in the final kilometres on the tough and undulating trail run.
Samuels becomes the second New Zealander to win a Pro division, after Hamish Carter took out the men's XTERRA world title in 2006.
Results XTERRA World Championship Off-Road Triathlon
Maui, Hawaii
Pro Women
1. Nicky Samuels NZL 2:57:49
2. Lesley Patterson USA 3:00:15
3. Flora Duffy USA 3:00:20
4. Barbara Riveros CHI 3:01:44
5. Emma Garrard USA 3:01:50
