XTERRA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP * E.ON XTERRA CZECH 2004 * The First Ever XTERRA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP will take place in the Czech Republic

PRAGUE, March 18 (PROTEXT) - After a successful expansion of the XTERRA multisport throughout Europe, the XTERRA EUROPEAN TOUR 2003 took place last year as a series of European events which combine swimming, mountain biking and terrain running. These events were also part of the XTERRA Global Tour 2003, which was a qualification series for the XTERRA World Championship in Maui, Hawaii in 2003. The overwhelming response to this new sport in Europe has called for the organization of an XTERRA European Championship as early as this year. The XTERRA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP will also concurrently be E.ON XTERRA Czech 2004 as part of the World Championship qualifying series known as XTERRA GLOBAL TOUR. It is also a race where athletes will be able to earn points towards the XTERRA European Tour series. This prestigious race is to be held in Hluboka nad Vltavou, Czech Republic. Top professional XTERRA athletes will compete for 20,000 Euros in prize money. Some athletes, such as Olivier Marceu the 2000 World Champion Triathlete and Jan Rehula bronze medalist from the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, will participate in this event as their last preparation before the 2004 Athens Olympics. Other notable athletes such as current cross country skiing World Champion Martin Koukal plan to compete as well. The European Championship will also be an opportunity for amateur athletes from all over the world, in various age categories to compete against the worlds best. European athletes will vie for the title of European Champion in their respective age groups. Place, date and courses for the XTERRA European Championship Place: Czech Republic - Hluboka nad Vltavou Date: 26th June 2004 Course: 1 km swimming - 33 km MTB - 10 km run XTERRA European Championship - Categories Competition is split up into men and women: Elite-open, Age-groups 15-19 years old, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35- 39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60+ 3 person relay for the 'Hluboka nad Vltavou Trophy' Champion's titles and prize-money for the XTERRA European Championship The first European athlete in each category will be recognized as European Champion. Professional athletes will compete for 20,000 Euros in prize money (regardless of the athlete's citizenship) The top ten pro-men and seven pro-women will compete for the following prize money; For men: 1st - 3500, 2nd-2000, 3rd-1 500, 4th-1000, 5th-800, 6th-500, 7th- 400, 8th-300, 9th-200, 10th-100 Euros. For women: 1st - 3500, 2nd-2000, 3rd-1 500, 4th-1000, 5th-800, 6th-500, 7th- 400 Euros Public relations and media inquiries: Vitek Jirava - vitek@xterraeurope.com, phone: + 420 606 600 606 Contact: XTERRA European office Masarykova 35, Hluboka nad Vltavou, Czech Republic For more information: www.xterraeurope.com, www.xterra.cz, www.xterraplanet.com Subscribers please note that material bearing the slug "PROTEXT" is not part of CTK's news service and is not to be published under the "CTK" slug. Protext is a commercial service providing distribution of press releases from clients, who are identified in the text of Protext reports and who bear full responsibility for their contents. PROTEXT