La Manga Club's reputation as a destination of international renown for extreme sports enthusiasts has been confirmed after Spain's flagship resort was chosen to host the first event of the 2014 XTERRA Series in Europe.

A world-class field of 250 competitors including reigning world champion Rubén Ruzafa and Helena Erbenova, winner of the ladies' world championship in 2012, gathered at Europe's leading sports and leisure venue for the demanding cross triathlon event.

The wide range of challenging and varied terrain in and around La Manga Club made it the perfect location for the opening event of the 2014 XTERRA European Tour, with the series featuring a 1.5km open-water swim, 28km mountain-bike ride and 10km run, and organisers were quick to praise the venue.

XTERRA managing director Dave Nicholas said: “The location at La Manga Club resort is fantastic; the area in Murcia is Clint Eastwood spaghetti western wild. There are steep climbs, gnarly downhills, lots of power and rhythm riding, (finishing) with a run everyone loves.”

Two-time world champion Ruzafa and Czech Republic star Erbenova started the event as favourites but the chances of an upset were increased beforehand when organisers were forced to postpone the swim around the Mar Menor coastline in favour of an additional 4.5km run because of unfavourable sea conditions.

But the pair quickly overcame the late change of schedule to show their class and take victory in the men's and ladies' competitions, with Ruzafa covering the demanding course around La Manga Club in a time of two hours 37 minutes and 32 seconds and Erbenova finishing in two hours 59 minutes and 51 seconds.

Albert Soley and Xavier Jové took second and third to complete a clean sweep on the podium for the home nation in the men's event, with Spain's Mercé Tusell and Katrin Müller from Germany taking the minor places behind Erbenova.

La Manga Club is an ideal venue for fitness training at any time of year with extensive facilities, including a large comprehensively equipped gym and 25-metre indoor pool.

The nearby Mar Menor and Mediterranean Sea allow open-water swimming and the surrounding areas provide various routes and terrain for running and cycling in beautiful unspoilt Mediterranean countryside, with expert advice available on the best course to use and a wide range of high-performance bikes available for hire through the independent activity centre on resort.

La Manga Club boasts unrivalled facilities as a sport and leisure venue including three 18-hole championship golf courses, a 28-court tennis centre and a 2,000sqm spa and fitness centre. It also offers the choice of a five-star hotel, four-star serviced apartments and townhouses and more than 20 bars and restaurants.

For more information or to book call 00 34 968 17 5577, email reservas@lamangaclub.com or visit www.lamangaclub.com. 

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For more information on La Manga Club or images contact Pete Simm on 01730 711920 or email petes@theazaleagroup.com 

La Manga Club – www.lamangaclub.com – is an unrivalled sports and leisure paradise which sits between the low hills that separate the Mediterranean from the Mar Menor Sea, just 20 minutes from Murcia airport and an hour from Alicante.

Set out over an area of some 560 hectares (approx. 1,400 acres), it enjoys a mild year-round Mediterranean climate and offers visitors a prestigious five-star hotel, luxury vacation apartments and extensive sports facilities, including three championship golf courses, a 28-court tennis centre and eight grass sports pitches. The resort is also home to innumerable leisure facilities, such as the 2,000m2 Spa La Manga Club with its 13 luxurious treatment rooms, comprehensive fitness centre and 25m indoor swimming pool; meeting, banqueting and incentive facilities, and more than 20 restaurants and bars.

As well as hosting both Davis and Fed Cup tennis matches, La Manga Club has signed a long-term deal to be the overseas training resort of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) until 2016. It has also staged the Spanish Open golf championship and regularly attracts professional and international football teams to the first-class year-round training facilities which are also used by rugby and cricket sides.

As a result of more than 40 years of continued investment, innovation and commitment to excellence, La Manga Club is widely recognised as Spain's flagship resort and as one of the finest sports and lifestyle destinations in the world. Evidence of this is provided by its numerous awards and accolades.

La Manga Club was the proud recipient of a 2013 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel website, for the facilities and service on offer at its five-star Hotel Principe Felipe. The resort has long been a staunch supporter of women's golf, being the official overseas resort partner of the English Women's Golf Association for three years as well as hosting the Ladies European Tour (LET) Qualifying School from 2009-12. La Manga Club is also the venue for the Ladies Murcia Open, an LET Access Series event, and regularly hosts top women's amateur events and teams.