Osborne second in Xterra Europe

Xterra Rotorua. Sam Osborne. 16 April 2016 Daily Post Photograph by Stephen Parker

Rotorua multisport athlete Sam Osborne has been making people sit up and take notice in the European Xterra Series. The series finished in Denmark at the weekend, with Osborne coming agonisingly close to taking the overall title. Stuart Whitaker caught up with him as he reflected on his success.

How do you feel about coming second in the series? There was the possibility you could have won it, but are you pleased or disappointed with second?

I'm happy to come away with second in the European Tour. To get second to Ruben Ruzafa is an honour. Ruben has won five world titles. It was very close - only nine points between first and second. I needed to win here in Denmark to win the series. I gave everything I had, so I can't be disappointed.

Here in Europe the competition is world class with so much depth. You "toe the start line'' with the best. To make the podium is a real achievement.

Over here you are a one man band. It's all up to one person, me. You don't quite get the support these others guys have with mechanics, travel, product etc.

How did the final race pan out for you? How did you find the conditions?

Denmark was a really tough race, they had so much rain here that the course turned into an absolute mud bath, so it was an extremely physical ride. A few of the steep hills became unrideable and the downhills were just so slippery, it took so much to just keep the bike upright. But I enjoyed it, it adds another element to the racing and reinforces how important it is to have that wide range of skills.

The race for me? I put myself at the front out of the swim, the pace was on, right from the start in the bike leg. I was with (race winner, Mexican) Mauricio (Mendez) and we worked together for the first lap. Coming onto the second lap we had two come up from behind to form a group of four at the front.

Eventually we splintered at around 22km and those two went on to get a good lead off the bike.

Onto the run and I knew I just had to go for it. I went out of transition full gas and after 5km I had the gap down to 40sec and with 3km to go I had run myself into the lead. But Mauricio was also running well from behind and at 1km to go he caught me. There were a couple of surges but he just had that little more in his legs than me.

What are the similarities and differences between the European rounds and Xterra Rotorua?

All the races here in Europe are so different, that's why the European tour is so massive. To do well in it you have to be so well-rounded. A course like Italy has some ridiculously long and steep climbs in the run and bike, and yet the next week you go to Sweden and it's largely flat but with so many rocks and obstacles on the course.

We are so spoilt in Rotorua with the trails we have. They have so much flow and are so well built for bikes. In Europe, it's not like that, it's all natural stuff, a lot of rocks which we just don't have in Rotorua. A few of the courses here I've been out pre riding and thought 'wow this is so tough' and wonder how the age group field is going to get through it safely.

People have no idea how lucky we are to have Rotorua.

What's next on your agenda?

I'm back home this week to continue my preparation for Xterra World Champs in Maui and Cross Tri World Champs in Australia.

I'm also planning to do the New Zealand Road Relays for Lake City Athletic Club, they have been huge supporters of me so it'll mean a lot to get to run for them on a home course this year.