In 2019, the highlight of the XTERRA European Tour will be held on August 3rd when the Czech Republic hosts the XTERRA European Championship race in Prachatice. The 11th stop on the 15-stop XTERRA European Tour will dish out US$30,000 in prize money and 51 qualifying spots into the XTERRA Worlds for amateurs.
The main event features a point-to-point race format that begins with a 1500m swim in the warm waters of Kristanovicky Lake and continues with a challenging 35km mountain bike through Sumava National Park.
XTERRA adds that ‘Athletes will experience lovely views, punishing climbs, technical downhills, and gorgeous singletrack.’
The bike course finishes in the city centre of Prachatice, where ‘competitors are cheered on by hundreds of fans.’ Finally, the 10.5km run course will take place both in the city streets as well as the forest. It finishes next to the Statue of Justice on the Great Square of Prachatice, adding another dose of old European tradition.
This year, the XTERRA European Championship will also debut a new XTERRA ShortTrack format. This race is a chance for the top 20 men and top 15 women from the XTERRA European Championship race on Saturday to test their skills the following day on a short, fast, and dynamic course.
The ShortTrack race on Sunday, August 4th will consist of a 400m swim, which will take place in Kristanovicky Lake. The 14km bike course consists of three, 3.5km laps of a steep route full of obstacles. The run is only 4km and will consist of three, 1.3km laps.
Not only is this format new for athletes, but the organising team adds that ‘spectators will have an up-close and personal experience of XTERRA.’ The top male and female athletes will earn an additional US$5,000 in prize money. This year’s purse of US$25,000 for the top seven men and women combined with the money from the XTERRA ShortTrack provides a total purse of US$30,000.
Prachatice, the home of XTERRA Czech, is located in the south of the Czech Republic, just 30km from Austria and Germany. The city is also an easy drive from Prague, Munich and Linz airports. The cobblestone streets of the city centre in Pachatice will accommodate the over 700 expected athletes and the hundreds of fans who will watch the race.
As in 2018, XTERRA Czech will be a festival for the entire family and will include live music from some of the biggest pop stars in the Czech Republic. Additionally, the event will include a 5K trail run, a kids duathlon, an XTERRA Sprint (300m swim, 14K bike, 5K run), and relays. The organizers also put up a big screen TV in the main square to broadcast live coverage of the events.
XTERRA Czech was the site of the first-ever XTERRA European Championship in 2004; and 2019 marks the first year the race returns to its roots. It’s the oldest XTERRA in Europe still on the schedule and began under the leadership of Michael Pilousek Sr. Today, his son, a former XTERRA elite, is continuing his father’s tradition.
“It’s fitting that the European Championship returns to XTERRA Czech where it had its origin,” said Nico Lebrun, XTERRA Europe Director. “XTERRA Czech is the ultimate mix of wild racing in the woods of Sumava National Park and riding through the historical renaissance city of Prachatice, which makes it wonderful for both athletes and spectators.”
XTERRA made its debut in the Czech Republic among the castles of Hluboka nad Vltavou in 2002, moved to Spindleruv Mlyn in 2009, and then was held in the historic city of Prachatice in 2011 where it remained through 2015. After a two-year hiatus, the Pilousek family brought XTERRA back to Prachatice in 2018.
