As the old saying goes, “Where there’s a will there’s a way,” and XTERRA elites from around the world are showing a tremendous amount of will to find a way to get themselves to the most remote island chain on earth to compete in the XTERRA World Championship off-road triathlon on December 5.
After missing out on 2020 due to the pandemic, 50 of the fastest off-roaders from 20 countries across the globe are doggedly working their way through COVID-19 related travel complexities to get to Maui, home of the $100,000 showdown since 1996.
The men’s elite field features every World Champs winner since 2013 with Ruben Ruzafa from Spain (2013+2014), Josiah Middaugh from the U.S. (2015), Mauricio Mendez from Mexico (2016), Rom Akerson of Costa Rica (2018).
There are a lot of men with blazing speed and mountain bike skills on the start list who want to join that exclusive club, including 2021 ITU Cross Tri World Champion Arthur Serrieres from France, Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Hayden Wilde from New Zealand, fellow Olympian Irving Perez and 2017 ITU Cross Tri World Champion Francisco Serrano from Mexico, plus American road speedsters Seth Rider and Eric Lagerstrom.
On the women’s side there is Flora Duffy from Bermuda, the five-time XTERRA World Champion who is having arguably the greatest triathlon season of all-time.
She is the undisputed favorite, however, races are won in real-life, not on paper, and Loanne Duvoisin from Switzerland just found her top form while winning the ITU Cross Tri World Title in Spain, Eleonora Peroncini from Italy won an ITU Cross Tri World title of her own in 2019, Michelle Flipo from Mexico was second in Maui three years ago, and Suzie Snyder has been the top American woman in Maui four straight times.
Elite Men
2 - Arthur Serrieres FRA
3 - Ruben Ruzafa ESP
5 - Josiah Middaugh USA
6 - Karel Dusek CZE
7 - Maxim Chane FRA
8 - Xavier Dafflon SUI
9 - Geert Lauryssen BEL
10 - Rom Akerson CRC
11 - Branden Rakita USA
12 - Taylor Charlton AUS
14 - Andy Lee GBR
15 - Samuel Jud SUI
16 - Florian Bogge GER
17 - Sebastien Carabin BEL
18 - Brice Daubord FRA
19 - Austin Hindman USA
20 - Eric Lagerstrom USA
21 - Mauricio Mendez MEX
22 - Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen DEN
23 - Keller Norland USA
24 - Edward Oingerang GUM
25 - Irving Perez MEX
26 - Daniel Reyes, VEN
27 - Seth Rider USA
28 - Hans Ryham USA
29 - Francisco Serrano MEX
30 - Drew Shellenberger USA
31 - Darr Smith USA
33 - Jimmy Sosinski USA
34 - Brian Summers USA
35 - Hayden Wilde NZL
Elite Women
51 - Flora Duffy BER
52 - Suzie Snyder USA
53 - Alizee Paties FRA
55 - Carina Wasle AUT
56 - Amanda Felder USA
57 - Katie Button CAN
61 - Loanne Duvoisin SUI
62 - Michelle Flipo MEX
64 - Melanie McQuaid CAN
65 - Irena Ossola USA
66 - Eleonora Peroncini ITA
67 - Chelsea Raymond CAN
68 - Brandi Swicegood USA