View From The Top: Eneko Llanos

Thirty-two year-old Eneko Llanos joined a select group of athletes when he became a three-time XTERRA World Champion. The native of Vitoria-Gasteviz in Spain’s Basque country is a two-time Olympian (‘oo and ’04) and former ITU Long Course World Champion. Since his last Olympics in 2004, Llanos has moved his focus to Ironman racing where he has become one of the world’s best. In 2008, he finished 2nd at the Ironman World Championships. This past October, Llanos was favored to win in Kona. However, it was not to be as he struggled to a 14th place finish. He would arrive to Maui dejected but determined to win the Hawaii Double again. After a strong swim, he found himself among the leaders on the bike and would eventually run away from runner-up Nico Lebrun to become the first athlete in the history of XTERRA to win after racing Ironman Hawaii.

Three-time XTERRA World Champion

XS: Why do you race XTERRA? You’ve made a career racing ITU and Ironman and do very well. What is the attraction to racing XTERRA?

EL: I like racing offroad. I like riding my mountain bike and running on trails, so when I first finished an XTERRA I knew this kind of racing was one of my favorites. Apart from that I like the atmosphere at XTERRA races, it is fun.

XS: Looking at your career, which result or accomplishment means the most to you?  

EL: It is hard to pick only one, but my win in 2007 at Ironman Lanzarote is very special for me.

 

Eneko Llanos's XTERRA-winning BH Trail Hunter

XS: Can you talk a little bit about your bike set-up in Maui? I think you were the only one there riding a BH.

EL: I was riding the new BH Trail Hunter. It is a full carbon full-suspension bike. I had a great feeling with this bike, it is light and gives a lot of traction on the climbs and is very fast and stable on the downhills. I honestly think it is the best I could have for Maui.

XS: For you, what is the hardest part of the Maui course?

EL: Not to have a flat or broken bike. I have had two broken tires and a broken chain in the past, this bike course is hard for the bikes.

 

 

XS: What were your training sessions between Kona and Maui?   

EL: I just tried to recover from the Ironman, so not much training during those days and a lot of time on the beach and eating good food.

XS: During the year, do you do any XTERRA specific training or is it mostly Ironman training?   

EL: I like to ride my mountain bike once every week or every two weeks. I do it for fun when I am tired of my road bike, but apart from that nothing really specific for XTERRA.

XS: What is your race calendar for 2010? Will you race any of the XTERRA Europe races?

EL: I am working on my racing schedule right now. I will race in Kona and Maui again for sure, the rest I still have to decide.

Favorite color? Blue
Favorite food? Vegetarian food
Favorite drink? Carrot juice
Favorite movie? The Big Blue
Favorite book? Flow
Favorite race? My city triathlon, Vitoria-Gasteiz
Favorite sport other than triathlon? Surf
Favorite place to vacation? Canary islands and the Pyrenees

Website: http://www.enekollanos.com/index.html

Sponsors: Spiuk, AVIA, BH Bikes, Basque Team, Hed, S.V.C., Sailfish, Mule Bar, Polar, Ascentium, Bulletvan

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