Julie Dibens To Race Xterra Mountain Champs Saturday

After nearly two years of sitting on the sidelines, former Xterra world champion and 70.3 world champion Julie Dibens will return to triathlon at this weekend’s Xterra Mountain Championship at the Beaver Creek Resort in Avon, Colo. Dibens battled injuries throughout 2011 before ultimately pulling out of the Ironman World Championship that year. She spent 2012 and the early part of 2013 recovering from surgery to correct the foot injury that had plagued her since 2004, as well as a knee injury. Dibens was part of an elite group that competed in May’s Amgen Tour Of California Women’s Time Trial.

“I’m not 100% by any means, and this is definitely a ‘test the waters’ kind of thing, and mentally something that I want to do for me,” Dibens said in a press release from Xterra. “I’m not run ‘training’ but I’m running, and this is huge for me! I have no expectations, just pumped to feel able to race again and woke up this morning feeling like a kid the week leading up to Christmas.”

On why she chose this race to come back to triathlon she said, “Pretty simple really. I used Xterra to kick start the second phase of my triathlon career back in 2007 as I switched from ITU to other triathlon events. Even though I have never considered myself a true Xterra athlete, Xterra gave me the confidence to go out there and try new things, and was a big part in shaping the athlete I am today. After a rough few years on the sidelines I think it’s a great way to hopefully kick start the third phase of my career as an athlete. I have no idea what this athlete will look like, but I’m excited to get back on the start line and see what lies ahead.”

RELATED: Julie Dibens Completes Tour Of California Women’s TT

Dibens’ will face some tough Xterra veterans. Follow the action on Twitter on Saturday at @Xterraoffroad. See the start lists below:

Xterra Mountain Championship Elite Women
Rank – Men – Age, Hometown
2 – Shonny Vanlandingham – 44, Durango, Colorado
4 – Suzie Snyder – 31, Fredericksburg, Virginia
5 – Brandi Heisterman – 37, Squamish, B.C., Canada
6 – Danelle Kabush – 37, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
8 – Caroline Colonna – 48, Taos, New Mexico
9 – Emma Garrard – 30, Park City, Utah
11 – Kelley Cullen – 32, New Castle, Colorado
12 – Jaime Brede – 36, Breckenridge, Colorado
14 – Tamara Donelson – 37, Edwards, Colorado
NR – Julie Dibens – 38, Boulder, Colorado
NR – Flora Duffy – 25, Boulder, Colorado
NR - Tammy Jacques – 46, Steamboat Springs, Colo.
NR – Jari Kirkland – 37, Crested Butte, Colorado
NR – Heidi Rentz – 29, Moab, Utah

Xterra Mountain Championship Elite Men
Rank – Men – Age, Hometown
1 – Craig Evans – 35, Hendersonville, Tennessee
2 – Josiah Middaugh – 33, Vail, Colorado
3 – Branden Rakita – 32, Colorado Springs, Colorado
4 – Dan Hugo – 27, Stellenbosch, South Africa
5 – Nick Fisher – 27, Ogden, Utah
6 – Will  Kelsay – 31, Boulder, Colorado
7 – Ryan Ignatz – 34, Boulder, Colorado
8 – Bradley Weiss – 24, Cape Town, South Africa
9 – Matt Mangen – 30, Ivins, Utah
10 – Andy Lee – 41, Lakeway, Texas
11 – Jason Michalak – 35, Lakewood, Colorado
13 – Cody Waite – 34, Lakewood, Colorado
17 – Chris Ganter – 34, Boise, Idaho
21 – Will Ross – 23, Anchorage, Alaska
23 – Brad Zoller – 35, Palatine, Illinois
NR – Tom Goth – 28, Salt Lake City, Utah
NR – Ben Hoffman – 29, Boulder, Colorado
NR – Kyle Leto – 25, Walnut Creek, California
NR – Joshua Merrick – 31, Alamosa, Colorado
NR – Patrick Valentine – 27, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Note: Rank indicates their position in Xterra U.S. Pro Series standings (after 3), NR = not ranked.

PHOTOS: Julie Dibens On The Bike

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