XTERRA France – Nouvelle Aquitaine switched it up for the fourth and final stop of the XTERRA Short Track season on the weekend of August 28-29. The new format from off-road event specialist XTERRA involved two stages; athletes first had to qualify in the full distance the day before.
The first stage of the Short Track involved a 400m swim in the Lac de Cadie, followed by an all-out 1.5km run. After the short but sweet stage in the morning, elite athletes then got ready to attack again – with a 7km bike and 1.8km run around the village of Pujols in the afternoon.
Ideal weather conditions with blue skies set the stage for the women’s race, who were ready to race amongst the old churches and vineyards of the Bordeaux region. Michelle Flipo (MEX) was quick to take the lead on the two lap swim. Flippo lost some time on the bike leg, but stayed strong on the run to win her first ever Short Track event, after also winning the full distance race the day before. Morgane Riou took second, with Alizée Paties finishing third.
In the men’s race, Arthur Serrieres (FRA) won his first Short Track of the season. His French counterpart, Arthur Forissier took second, with Spanish athlete Ruben Ruzafa rounded out the podium.
