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Shooting for Hat Trick
 By winning the XTERRA Saipan, Ben Allen (Aus) and Renata Bucher (Swi) made it three-in-a-row in the western Pacific and show a promising start to the 2012 XTERRA racing season.
To capture this third XTERRA titles in as many weeks, Allen was pushed hard by Olivier Marceau (Swi) who has won in Saipan 4 times. He finishes less than a minute behind the Aussie.
Like the 2 last previous stage the podium is completed by Cedric Lassonde (Fra) who started the run course with the leaders. Unfortunately a missed left turn early on the run, didn't allow him to show that his fastest bike and run splits were not fortuity.
 On the women side, the gap between Bucher and the other competitors remains always wide. In Saipan, the Swiss Miss of XTERRA wins her 24th XTERRA Championship race and keeps the same race strategy to win. She posted the fastest bike split to come back on Jacqui Slack (Eng) who led the swim course and then ensure a good race pace on the run to enjoy the finish 10 minutes in front of the Slack and Wasle (Aut)
XTERRA Saipan 2012 results
1. Ben Allen (Aus) 15'51'' - 1h25'33'' - 48'25'' - 2h31'05''
2. Olivier Marceau (Swi) 17'07'' - 1h24'19'' - 48'57'' - 2h31'44''
3. Cédric Lassonde (Fra) 18'41'' - 1h22'28'' - 51'51'' - 2h34'58''
4. Takahiro Ogasawara (Jap) 19'34'' - 1h27'31'' - 56'12'' - 2h45'01''
5. Graham Wadsworth (Eng) 20'22'' - 1h29'21'' - 55'16'' - 2h46'28''
1. Renata Bucher (Swi) 20'23'' - 1h34'12'' - 58'37'' - 2h54'56''
2. Jacqui Slack (Eng) 18'10'' - 1h40'43'' - 1h04'08'' - 3h04'46''
3. Carina Wasle (Aut) 20'57'' - 1h47'11'' - 55'54'' - 3h05'53''''
Next stage, New Zealand for the last leg of the XTERRA World Tour Pacific on April 14th.
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Discrete and talented athlete, Ronny Dietz (Ger) decided to end his pro athlete career. Vice European Champion XTERRA 2011, Dietz has concluded his last season with a seventh place at the XTERRA World, finishing behind his eternal rival in Europe, Olivier Marceau (Swi). The German had also finished fourth on the XTERRA France 2011. Ronny now works full time for his sponsor Elements and continues to stay fit ..... for a possible comeback?