Posts Tagged ‘xterra italy’

XTERRA Italy 2014

Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 Swim exit BlueSeventy

When I planned my racing calendar this year, I decided to only do races I enjoy.  Fun, technical, challenging, well designed, adrenaline filled and true to the XTERRA nature I fell in love with 13 years ago.  I dont necessarily pick races to suit my strengths, (like this one with its 1600m of climbing on bike and 550m of climbing on run) but I like real mountain biking, real trail running, and preferably an interesting destination. That's why I'm still passionate about racing. When I'm having fun, I enjoy doing my job and I'm fast. Unfortunately the XTERRA Italy course changed from last year, and the fun factor was replaced with a "either you can, or you cant" attitude. Not the best way to attract newcomers to the sport, and not the reason I do this. While I'm on the topic: I'm writing this blog at the location of my next race. (Location withheld to protect the innocent.) Even though the course suits me relatively well, I'm quite disappointed with the seemingly hours of boring gravel road, dangerous down hills (only 30 seconds of it)- obviously not meant for mountain biking-  avoidance of single track, and a no-imagination run course. All this when we're riding right through thousands of hectares of stunning pine forests – perfect single track terrain. Maybe I'm a quality course snob, but the poor quality of many XTERRA courses is frustrating and confirms my dreams of sometime soon building a phenomenal course(s) which would redefine the sport. Fun for the hard core athletes, yet accessable to beginners & kids.  Think XTERRA / Urban Rage / Tough Mudder, with a lot of Caveman sprinkled on top…. Anyway, back to Italy:   Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 Swim

Got out the swim with Kiwi Braden Curry and someone else. About 30" behind Roger Serrano the Bearded Beast.

Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 T1

Hoping for rain because that's the tyre I've got. Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 Secialized

Early on we did a fun loop through the old town of Scanno. Probably my favourite part of the race- narrow cobbled alleys, down century old stairs, Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 Scanno town cobbles

Watch out for fellow competitors, super slippery cobbles, and maybe an opening door… Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 Scanno town old lasy

Past old ladies in traditional black, where today they watch a different world go by…   Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 Specialized Epic Suunto Clif Bar Hoka Oakley

Get off the brakes and bring some speed- faster is easier. After the fun and games of whizzing through town we climbed. And Climbed. And CLIMBED. As you can see below on my Suunto Movescount file, the 1st climb was 700m in one go – 43min for me. Mostly steep, gravelly,  jeep track. I dont mind climbing, but then the down hill must be good. Unfortunately this year it plunged almost straight down the ski slope. In dry training conditions I glazed my brake rotors its so steep.  Yet, going slowly due to the rain, it took me less than 8 minutes to get down. Not a good "Yahooooo!!" rating. (Divide Suffering time by Fun time to get Yahooooo rating: 43/8 = 5.3 Yahooooos) Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 Suunto Movescount file

Click here for full interactive Movescount file. Braden and I climbed together, but when Ruben Ruzafa caught us, Braden went with him and I couldnt respond. My legs were heavy and HR low- an indication that my legs werent rested enough, and I was paying the price for too much pre riding. As can bee seen in "Bar Chart and Curve" section, my avs HR was only 146. I spent only 1hr36 (of 2hr55) going Very Hard (between 146-163),  39min going Hard (127-146) and 16min below 126HR. When fit and rested I can do 3hrs at 155hr avs. As we summited, the rain started coming down in huge drops, and the ski slope instantly became an ice rink. The Yahoooo factor went up. Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 Specialized Epic Muddy hair pin

Loved the Command Post, (now available at your Specialized dealer) dropped the saddle, and the big knobblies on the front Ground Control 2.3 tyre came nicely into play. Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 Specialized Epic Suunto Muddy hair pin & scanno town

In less than 5 minutes, I was in the village down theeeeere. Straight down the ski run in the back ground.  Some sections through the trees were real slippery, the trick was finding traction on the leaves and not in the mucked up "trail". Please dont do this on a under normal conditions on a normal MTB trail. But these were mostly goat trails and I didnt want to make unnecessary cartwheels and have to fix my bike with a piece of wood like this guy…

Hand made handlebar fix XTERRA Italy 2014

It was tough tough times for the age groupers! This guy broke his handlebar, found a stick to make a ThereIfixedIt.com #Cavemanstyle plan. Classic! Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 T2

Coming in with Carloni (FRA), behind a flying Ruzafa. Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 wood run

The run was really challenging -technical, super hilly, scenic & fun. Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 Hoka One One Huaka run stairs

Stunning sections through Scanno. Loving the new Hoka Huaka racers. Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014

and surrounding hills. Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 Scanno town

Save some energy for the views. Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 Hoka One One Huaka

The rain didnt dampen the crowd's spirits. Braden Curry is a hard core mountain man, and came steaming past me up the last climb to get 2nd behind Ruzafa. Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 podium

3rd for Caveman, 1st Ruzafa (ESP), 2nd Curry (NZ)  Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 Liezel Stoltz PrincessHotstuff! Still trying to shake the cold she pickup that day- running around in the rain, cheering, taking photos and giving splits at every oppertunity. Conrad Stoltz Liezel Stoltz Braden Curry

Eating lamb sosaties with Kiwis in Italy?!? Sam and Braden Curry & kids. Check out Bradens' adventure race, RedBull Defiance in NZ. Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy 2014 Ezechiel & family

Made many new friends (& touched up my French) here with Ezechiel and family from France. conrad stoltz Xterra Italy 2014 bike wash

A super tough race for the age groupers. Bike wash on the swim course – not so much sympathy for the bike after a long day 🙂 Liezel Stoltz #PrincessHotstuff Fiat 500

Ciao Italia! Grazie mille!!! Guten tag Deutchland und Austria for Specialized Germanic Dealer Event

Caveman at XTERRA Abruzzo, Italy 2013. Video

Caveman wins in mountain region of Scanno at XTERRA Italy

Conrad Stoltz XTERRA Italy Abruzzo bike course down stairs, Specialized Epic

XTERRA Italy has the most amazing course! Parts through the old mountain town of Scanno.

conrad stoltz caveman xterra italy scanno abruzzo finish Specialized Suunto Hoka oakley

To the tune of "eye of the tiger" (thanks DJ Jack!) Caveman wins XTERRA Italy by 4 minutes.

Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy Scanno podium Specialized Hoka Suunto Oakley

XTERRA Italy made is debut in the idyllic mountain town of Scanno, in the province of Abruzzo. In terms of the culture and Italian country side experiance, it was a real treat for Liezel and I. In terms of racing, it was a truely wonderful experience. A well rounded, tough course and exceptionally well presented by Wolf Hardt and his crew.

conrad stoltz liezel stoltz caveman xterra italy abruzzo scanno finish hoka stinson

Love it when a plan comes together… My 3rd win in a row in my new Hoka One One Stinson shoes.

Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy Scanno Podium in lake nico lebrun jim thijs nico pfitzenmaier

The top 6 trying to wash off the mud. (and climbing tears) L-R Jim Thijs (BEL), Francois Carloni (FRA), Nico Pfitzenmaier(GER- actually ZAR!), Caveman (ZAR), Nico Lebrun (FRA), Oliver Shaw (NZ)

 Conrad Stoltz Caveman XTERRA Italy Scanno ski lift

This Nico Lebrun designed course is filled with nightmarish altitude gain and peril…

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Cavegirl on the way!!!
Liezel and I are happy to announce our baby girl on the way! We are 23 weeks in, #PrincessHotstuff is fit and trim, and for me, time is not moving fast enough!  Due date 15-5-15. Suuuuper excited prix viagra en pharmacie! With these genes, she’ll be shooting hoops while wheelie-ing at the age of 3. […]
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Caveman wins in mountain region of Scanno at XTERRA Italy

Caveman wins in mountain region of Scanno at XTERRA Italy
XTERRA Italy has the most amazing course! Parts through the old mountain town of Scanno. To the tune of "eye of the tiger" (thanks DJ Jack!) Caveman wins XTERRA Italy by 4 minutes. XTERRA Italy made is debut in the idyllic mountain town of Scanno, in the province of Abruzzo. In terms of the culture […]
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#aeroiseverything #soisfattyres #dittohorsepower ITU Cross Triathlon Worlds 2013 Long version Cross Tri Worlds Highlights. (Short version- 2.40) Racing through the dunes, stairs and sidewalks of Holland proved a fertile ground for innovative equipment choices.  From the video you can get a feel for the course- but the real test was the long sections of deep, […]
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