It is not everyday that you get the opportunity to meet, never mind race against the hero that inspired you as a kid. I was in the fortunate position to do exactly that this weekend at the South African Xterra held in Eligin, Grabouw.

Conrad Stoltz............ I have memories of me as a little aspiring triathlete sitting at our dinner table staring at this lean, mean triathlete absolutely captivated by the stories he was telling of his racing in Europe. I must have been 10 years old. I can't exactly remember and Conrad was back from Europe (I think France?)and having dinner at our house. I always knew of some awesome South African triathlete racing somewhere else, but to finally meet him was a mayor wow. I was inspired...later that year I wrote down in my yearbook that mum made us fill in each year that I wantto be a Professional Triathlete when I grow up.I think that was the first time Conrad made me think "I want to be able to do that".

If any of you would like to know what a sample of the diet of a Caveman coupled with being the current world XTerra champion is, well then please read on!!

The Caveman on a pint of the black stuff!

Caveman's New Potatoes with garlic and honey

Ingredients:
Dig up a few handfuls of New Potatoes from the vegetable patch.  (about one double handful per hungry cave-person)

Conrad starts his season is style  (courtesy Rich Cruise)

By Conrad:

The people who keep count says it’s my 6th XTERRA West win in 7 years (the other year I was injured)

Report by Conrad Stoltz:

This puppy has been specially built for me by the engineers at Specialized. (thanks Jason!) To save weight, the BB has been replaced with a large diameter shell to fit the Specialized Carbon road cranks. (Which I’m running 2×9) And most of the paint has been left off. In my opinion, the silver looks a lot faster than the green and brown on the standard bike. (the stock bike weighs in at 28lbs). This one weighs in just below 25lbs (11.3kg) (give or take- will update) vs my 26 inch Carbon Epic 23.7lb. (10.7kg) Nice.

The only tires I have are The Captain (S Works front 580g and Control rear. (a sturdier casing and few more g heavier)) They grip really well in loose and light mud, but looking forward to the release of the Fast Trak LK- which rolls really well.

Report taken from www.XTerraplanet.com

PELHAM, AL – Conrad “The Caveman” Stoltz overcame a flat tire and the hard charging Dan Hugo to win the men’s race while mountain bike phenom Shonny Vanlandingham pulled off the first big win of her XTERRA career to take the women’s XTERRA Southeast Championship at Oak Mountain State Park in Shelby County today.

A great blue heron was soaring over the warm 80-degree waters of scenic Double Oak Lake as the cannon blast signaling the start of the race stirred up the tranquil setting and sent hundreds of racers on a sweltering hot journey along one of the best trails in the country. The temperatures were in the mid-90’s but with the heat index if felt like 100.

(report from www.xterraplanet.com)

Father’s Day couldn’t have gone any better for Josiah Middaugh from Vail, Colorado as the 29-year-old turned in a brilliant bike and gutsy run to chase down South African Dan Hugo in the last mile to become the first American since Michael Tobin in 2000 to win the XTERRA East Championship on the epic trails of the James River Park System in Richmond today.

Middaugh, with a winning time of 2:02:51 – just 24-seconds ahead of Hugo, has been the top American in the XTERRA U.S. Pro Series for three of the last four years but this is just his second XTERRA championship race victory, and first since winning the Mountain crown in 2004.

“This one is for all the Father’s out there,” said Middaugh, who has two and four-year-old boys, to an appreciative crowd at the awards ceremony.

Triathlete Magazine July 2008

Conrad "The Caveman" Stoltz is into a big year as he attempts to take both European and USA XTerra Triathlon Series. To date Conrad has never raced in the European Series, but that changed this past weekend, with Conrad racing in Xterra Wales. Second position was a great start ..... Conrad's report is below. 

Conrad testing tires in Stellenbosch in March 

Conrad's report: 

Wow, what a race.

It rained the whole time, (I think) the course was super scenic - green and lush (because of the rain) and thankfully the trail drained well and the mud as quite watery. (Instead of sticky)

The "Caveman" Stoltz and of course the rest of the South African crew have heard me talk of Kelly and Roche's exploits on numerous occasions!!! I suppose that's an understatement!!! Anyway, on the "Caveman's" trip to his next Xterra in France guess who he bumped into ..........

The current World XTerra Champ, Conrad Stoltz, meets the 1987 Tour De France Champion, Irishman Stephen Roche ...... respect!

The XTerra European Series did not go to plan for Big C (Aka "The Caveman" / Tarzan ... shall I go on!!!!!!!!), but he did finish it in style. Fresh off a second place finish at the French XTerra Race, the king of the jungle proposed to his girlfriend Amber high up in the Alps.

For more on the story visit Conrad's webpage www.conradstoltz.com

Congratulations ............ There will be a few Savanna's in the Bosch!