Xterra

SNOWBASIN -- Max King traveled to Ogden with a clear purpose, and delivered in style on Sunday at the Xterra Trail Run National Championship at Snowbasin Resort.

King, the three-time defending Xterra national champion and current world mountain running champion, made it four in a row with a nearly 4-minute win over fellow Bend, Ore., runner Mario Mendoza.

SNOWBASIN -- Dan Hugo killed the bike. And then the bike killed him.

The South African native who was ranked eighth in the U.S. Pro Series coming into Saturday's Xterra USA Championship had a huge day, swimming the 1,500 meters in 21:28, biking 18 miles in the second-fastest time of the day in 1:22:56, and running 6.2 miles in 40:26. But his big day came to an end just short of the finish line when Nicolas Lebrun passed him with just over a mile to go.

"I didn't know he was coming," said Hugo. "I knew I was really struggling with the run, and suddenly he was 10 seconds behind me. He came out of left field. In hindsight, if I could have gone with him on the uphill, it was literally downhill to the finish."

 SNOWBASIN -- Lance Armstrong denied he’s receiving training help from a banned Italian doctor or his son, but maintains “those guys are my friends and that’s not going to change.”

Armstrong spoke Saturday at the XTERRA USA Championship — an off-road triathlon, where he finished fifth — in the wake of allegations that appeared in Italian media this week. The report by Corriere della Sera cited the work of unidentified Swiss and Italian investigators and said that Dr. Michele Ferrari was at the center of a widespread doping ring.

Corriere said Armstrong made payments to Ferrari through a now liquidated company but did not say when.

Ferrari, who was barred for life by the Italian Cycling Federation under a 2002 ruling, was Armstrong’s adviser for years but the seven-time Tour de France winner severed their professional relationship in 2004. Earlier this year, Armstrong acknowledged occasionally meeting with Ferarri socially.

OGDEN -- Utah has put on its best dress for today's Xterra USA Championship.

With perfect fall weather expected for the entire weekend of racing in Ogden Valley, the buzz at Friday's Xterra Expo and Kids Zone Challenge at the city's Amphitheater Park was for cycling legend Lance Armstrong, entered in his first triathlon in 22 years.

OGDEN -- It's like going to Disneyland.

Except the only rides are self-propelled.

And the restrooms are outhouses.

At 15 years old, Mckay Hunt is a ball of potential energy. He's a jet, gathering speed on the runway, rumbling with power, getting ready to take off.

And this Saturday, he's scheduled for takeoff at 9 a.m. at Pineview's Port Ramp Marina in the Xterra USA Nationals, as he vies for a national age group championship and a spot at Xterra Worlds.

SALT LAKE CITY — Six days after celebrating his 40th birthday, seven-time Tour de France champ Lance Armstrong will be back on the bike competing in the XTERRA USA Championship at Snowbasin Ski Resort in Utah.

Armstrong confirmed Thursday he will compete Sept. 24 in the XTERRA course that covers a 1-mile swim, 20-mile mountain bike ride and 6-mile trail run.

He scouted the course for three hours last week with the past president of the foundation that sponsors the XTERRA championship, and has tweeted four-time XTERRA world champion Conrad Stoltz about it.