Cayetano, 12 Pinoys vie in Xterra world triathlon

MANILA, Philippines - An intrepid roster of Filipino triathletes, led by Sen. Pia Cayetano, Belle Grandinetti, Robert Anthony Lizares and Levi Nayahangan, will slug it out with some of the world’s best in the XTERRA World Championship, the world’s premier off-road triathlon firing off tomorrow in Maui, Hawaii.

Cayetano and company, which includes Retzel Orquiza, Felipe Sajulga, Robin Salandanan, Noel Salvador, Jerry Santos, Michael Sarrosa, Manuel Trabasas, Ricardo Paulo Yusay, and Rafael Zamora, gained berths in XTERRA Maui in the inaugural XTERRA Philippines in Cebu last March.

Four-time world champion and XTERRA legend Conrad Stoltz will return to defend his title but the South African faces a tougher challenge this time from a slew of rivals, including seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, who placed fifth in the XTERRA USA Championship in Utah last Sept., his first triathlon race in over 20 years.

However, American Shonny Vanlandingham, who ruled the distaff side last year, will not see action this year due to an injury although she assured to compete in XTERRA Philippines on March 18, 2012 in Liloan, Cebu where she is also the defending champion.

Philippine residents Christopher Allison and Reanna Cranbourne will also compete in the Maui triathlon, which combines 1.5km rough water swim, 29.5km mountain bike and 9.8km run.

At the Maui world championship course, athletes must climb steep and technical mountain trails on mountain bikes and traverse fallen trees and step over sharp shore rocks in the run, making XTERRA an all-out off-road adventure.