{"id":20463,"date":"2015-02-22T16:45:00","date_gmt":"2015-02-22T16:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/2015\/02\/22\/marais-duffy-crowned-totalsports-xterra-south-african-champs-r2093\/"},"modified":"2023-02-08T11:15:49","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T11:15:49","slug":"marais-duffy-crowned-totalsports-xterra-south-african-champs-r2093","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/marais-duffy-crowned-totalsports-xterra-south-african-champs-r2093\/","title":{"rendered":"Marais, Duffy crowned Totalsports XTERRA South African champs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tension was rife in Grabouw on Sunday, 22 February 2015 when close to 800 eager sports enthusiasts lined up to partake in the multisport event of the year, the TOTALSPORTS XTERRA South African Championship presented by REHIDRAT\u00ae SPORT.<\/p>\n

Forming part of the XTERRA World Tour, competitors stood the chance to qualify for the world championship final in Hawaii later this year.<\/p>\n

South African XTERRA Warrior Stuart Marais claimed victory in the men\u2019s race completing the event in an astounding combined time of 02 hours 32 minutes 47 seconds, while reigning XTERRA World Champion and Totalsports XTERRA South African Champion Flora Duffy of Bermuda secured the women\u2019s champion title in an impressive combined time of 02 hours 45 minutes 27 seconds.<\/p>\n

\"ccs-62657-0-89737700-1424623438.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

South African XTERRA Warrior Stuart Marais claimed victory in the men\u2019s race completing the event in an astounding combined time of 02 hours 32 minutes 47 seconds, while reigning XTERRA World Champion and Totalsports XTERRA South African Champion Flora Duffy of Bermuda secured the women\u2019s champion title in an impressive combined time of 02 hours 45 minutes 27 seconds. \/\/ Photo credit: Volume Photography.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI knew the others needed to get a gap on me going into the mountain bike leg, so my game plan was to go hard in the swim,\u201d said Marais. \u201cOn the mountain bike I caught the leaders on the first climb. Coming into transition I had a 1 \u00bd minute lead on Brad going into the run. I could enjoy the first part of the run, when I got to the river crossing I put in some effort and then enjoyed it to the finish. It\u2019s as if the course was tailor-made for me, from hard climbs to free flowing single track. This is the only XTERRA that I will take part in this year, so this is a phenomenal win for me. I am really chuffed and grateful\u201d. Bradley Weiss came in second, while Roger Serrano of Spain finished third. Unfortunately four times XTERRA World Champion Conrad Stoltz had to sit out due to illness.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m completely blown way,\u201d said Duffy. \u201cHaving raced the past two weekends, I was actually tired coming into today\u2019s race. I had a great swim, but at the start of the mountain bike my legs just weren\u2019t there. I\u2019m always told that I don\u2019t have to feel good in order to go fast. I just kept reminding myself of that. The run was tough, but this time round Dan was out on the route giving me splits, that was nice. Winning here today is really special as South Africa has become my second home. It was here that I first got into the sport of XTERRA\u201d. Mari Rabie came in second, while Carina Wasle finished third.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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