Weiss targets 3-peat as Xterra Albay unfolds

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Reigning Xterra world champion Bradley Weiss of South Africa braces for a tough challenge from an elite compact field on a demanding course in hot conditions as he launches his bid for a record Xterra Off-Road Triathlon three-peat today.

Weiss said the similarities in the terrain and hot weather in South Africa could work to his advantage over his rivals, most of whom, according to him, are not so used to racing in such demanding conditions.

“I think I race very well under hot, humid weather and they’re not,” Weiss told The STAR. “And I hope it’s going to be hot tomorrow. ”

Though weather forecast here is mostly sunny, thunderstorm in spots is also expected in the morning when the exacting 1.5km swim-28km mountain bike-8km trail run event, presented by the City of Legazpi and produced by Sunrise Events, Inc., is fired off starting at 7 a.m.

Though the South African ace stressed his readiness to take on his fellow Xterra athletes, he expects a stern challenge from his chief rivals, particularly in tackling the uphill tracks and sliding downhill of the course.

He reigned here back-to-back from 2015 and is all fired-up to make it three straight after the event took a break last year. His victory in Xterra Danao last April, when he outclassed practically the same field he is facing today, has also boosted his confidence to go for another Xterra feat in the event which drew 174 triathletes from 12 countries, including Canada, Guam, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, United Kingdom and the US.

But Sam Osborne, who placed second in Danao, and fellow Kiwi Olly Shaw, Japanese Akihiko Maeda and Takahiro Ogasawara and local ace Joseph Miller have also primed up for this tough endurance race, all eyeing no less than a top podium finish in the centerpiece men’s pro division of the event held as part of SEI’s decade-long staging of triathlon races in the country.