Huntsville » According to three-time XTERRA world champion and former Olympic triathlete Conrad Stoltz, racing is "in his blood."

The events of this year, however, weighed heavily in the mind of the veteran triathlete heading into the grueling 1.5-kilometer swim, 30-kilometer mountain bike ride and 10k trail run that comprised XTERRA USA Championship Triathlon at Snowbasin Resort on Saturday.

Still, as Stoltz slapped his bike on the rack, stripped off his helmet and efficiently slipped on his running shoes for the final leg of the race -- a 10k trail run on the upper paths of the resort -- he held a commanding a 90-second lead over his nearest competitor, Nicholas "Nico" Lebrun of France.

Stoltz knew the margin was too narrow.

Five miles into the final leg, Lebrun passed Stoltz and cruised to his first-ever XTERRA USA championships victory, sticking out his tongue for the cameras as he crossed the tape in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 57 seconds.

"I had a lot of confidence today," said Lebrun. "I lost a lot of ground [to Stoltz] on the bike downhill, but I knew I just had to be strong. It was a perfect finish for me."

Stoltz followed less than a minute later, mildly disappointed in his inability to repeat as US champion but grateful to have crossed the line at all.

Earlier this year, the 35-year-old from South Africa suffered a severe, tendon-revealing cut to his

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foot that limited his training and resulted in two subsequent surgeries.

More importantly, he knew anything below a third-place finish would cost him a third consecutive -- and seventh overall -- XTERRA USA series title.

"I was worried about what was going on behind me. This hilly course didn't favor me, either," said Stoltz. "I wasn't able to prepare as well as I would liked, so to win the series despite all of my difficulties -- I'm just so relieved."

On the women's side, three-time XTERRA world champion Melanie McQuaid of Canada earned her fourth consecutive XTERRA U.S. title, completing the course in 2 hours, 48 minutes, just over a minute ahead of second-place finisher Shonny Vanlandingham of Durango, Colo., who was slowed by flat tires on three separate occasions.

"You just have to work with what you've got," said McQuaid, who spent a week in Utah prior to the race to adjust to the altitude. "I'll take it."

Professional athletes weren't the only ones allowed to tackle the mountain, however. The XTERRA off-road triathlon -- a 750-meter swim, 19-kilometer mountain bike and 5k trail run -- was available to locals and amateurs who did not qualify for the full triathlon as well as relay teams of two to three racers.

On the short course, 23-year-old Nik Fisher of Eden took home the top local men's prize while Sarah Jarvis of Provo nabbed the women's trophy.

Ogden mayor Matthew Godfrey also completed the short course in support of the event's first year in Utah -- which championship winner Stoltz called "the new adventure sports capital of the world."

"It was fun to get out and compete in this beautiful canyon and use your body to conquer the mountain and conquer yourself," said Godfrey, a former track star at both Weber High School and Weber State. "We all really pushed for this [event] and there is no better way to support it than to participate."