When we talk about the best in the world, we’re not kidding, just look at the women’s field.

Flora Duffy, the reigning and two-time XTERRA World Champion, just beat Olympic gold-medalist Gwen Jorgensen on her way to capturing the ITU World Triathlon Series Championship.

Barbara Riveros, a two-time runner-up in Maui, finished 5th at the Rio Olympics ahead of Duffy.  And Lesley Paterson, a two-time World Champ herself, could just be the grittiest triathlete on the planet.

“Those three women have taken the elite women’s field to a whole new level these past few years,” said XTERRA World Tour managing director Dave Nicholas.  “They’re not just fast, they’re fearless and they’re fighters.”

Seven of the top eight women from last year’s XTERRA World Championship are back in Maui, excluding only Emma Garrard (3rd last year) who is pregnant with her second child.

Myriam Guillot-Boisset, an adventure racing world champ, was fourth last year in Maui and took home two majors this year.  Lizzie Orchard, who was 5th last year, won three races and the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour title this year.

Helena Erbenova won five races on the XTERRA European Tour this season and Michelle Flipo won the big ones at XTERRA Switzerland and the XTERRA European Championship in Germany.

Suzie Snyder dominated the XTERRA Pan America Tour with five wins, Carina Wasle added the XTERRA La Reunion title to her trophy shelf, Jacqui Slack won in Malaysia, and Julie Baker pulled out a win in her rookie pro season at XTERRA Beaver Creek.

Just like in the men’s field, this group accounted for 25 of the 30 major championship titles on the World Tour this year.

2016 XTERRA World Championship Elite Women
Tentative as of 9.30.16
Sorted by bib #, based on finishing position in last year’s WC then alpha

Bib (2015 Pos) – Name (NAT)
61 (1) – Flora Duffy (BER)
62 (2) – Lesley Paterson (GBR)
63 (4) – Myriam Guillot-Boisset (FRA)
64 (5) – Lizzie Orchard (NZL)
65 (6) – Carina Wasle (AUT)
66 (7) – Helena Erbenova (CZE)
67 (8) – Jacqui Slack (GBR)
68 (12) – Maia Ignatz (USA)
69 (13) – Kara LaPoint (USA)
70 – Julie Baker (USA)
71 – Mieko Carey (JPN)
72 – Katharine Carter (CAN)
73 – Caroline Colonna (USA)
74 – Michelle Flipo (MEX)
75 – Melania Giraldi (BRA)
76 – Sarah Graves (USA)
77 – Isabella Ribeiro (BRA)
78 – Morgane Riou (FRA)
79 – Barbara Riveros (CHI)
80 – Suzie Snyder (USA)
81 – Jennifer Todd (USA)
82 – Joanna Brown (CAN)

XTERRA will cover the elite race with live streaming video online, on Facebook, and on twitter starting at 9 a.m. on October 23, 2016.

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