XTERRA Argentina Elite Race Preview
Reigning XTERRA Argentina and Pan American Tour Champion Kieran McPherson gets started on his title defense for both those crowns this Saturday, March 23, in San Juan.
“I’ve had a good off-season of training in the snow and cold of Colorado this time, so adjustments in training and schedules had to be made,” said McPherson, who traditionally trained in summertime conditions in the months of December thru February back in his home country of New Zealand. “I think it’s worked out okay, though, as I’m swimming, riding, and running faster than I ever have.”
Last year at this race the speedy McPherson entered T2 at the same time as two-time Olympian and 2017 Argentina winner Gonzalo Tellechea then ran away with it, taking home his first of three World Tour wins on the year. He also won XTERRA Brazil and XTERRA Victoria.
McPherson parlayed his success in 2018 into a bevy of sponsorships with Norco bicycles, RAD, Brooks, Maxxis, and a new apparel sponsor CCN. He arrived in San Juan earlier in the week and has spent his time “training, checking out the local hotspots, adjusting to the time and weather changes.”
The Kiwi looks to be the most formidable of challengers to XTERRA World Champ Rom Akerson, but others of note include his fellow countryman Alex Roberts, three-time XTERRA Brazil Champ Felipe Moletta, Rafael Juriti (who finished 7th in the Pan Am Tour standings last year), American Will Ross, new British XTERRA elite Alex Rhodes, and local pros Maxi Morales, Lucas Mendez, and Alejandro Bulacio.
In the women’s elite race, it’s Argentina vs. Brazil in a matchup featuring Erika Simon against long-time Brazilian elite Laura Mira Dias.
XTERRA Argentina is the first of 10 races on the 2019 XTERRA Pan American Tour, where elites count their best six scores to determine who wins the Tour.
Learn more at xterraplanet.com/argentina.
All-Time XTERRA Argentina Elite Winners
Year - Men/Women
2007 - Oscar Galindez/Maria Soldedad
2016 - Josiah Middaugh/Myriam Guillot-Boisset
2017 - Gonzalo Tellechea/Suzie Snyder
2018 - Kieran McPherson/Fabiola Corona