Mairhofer and Forissier Top Oak Mountain at 2024 XTERRA World Cup, Felder and Middaugh Crowned Inaugural XTERRA North American Champions

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PELHAM, ALABAMA, USA – The 2024 XTERRA World Cup progressed to its third stop, doubling as the inaugural XTERRA North American Championship and featuring the season's first Short Track race over the weekend of May 18-19, 2024, on the award-winning trails of Oak Mountain State Park.

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Sandra Mairhofer (ITA) clinched victory in the Full Distance race, securing the maximum 100 points and advancing in the overall standings. In the men's race, Felix Forissier (FRA) notched his second victory of the 2024 XTERRA World Cup. Additionally, the event featured the inauguration of the XTERRA North American Championship, with Sullivan Middaugh (USA) and Amanda Felder (USA) emerging as the first-ever titleholders. This race served dual purposes, allocating World Cup points for elites and deciding regional championship titles for both elite professionals and age-group competitors from the region.

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Qualification for the Short Track race was highly competitive making up the fast-paced, made-for-TV format that was available live and currently on replay for a worldwide viewing audience. Solenne Billouin (FRA) claimed Short Track victory in the women’s contest while Arthur Serrières (FRA) won in the men’s race.

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Course Breakdown

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The XTERRA World Cup challenge commenced with a 1.5-kilometer swim in Double Oak Lake, split into two 750-meter loops featuring an Australian exit. The event progressed under warm, calm weather conditions with temperatures peaking in the high 20s Celsius (around 68-86°F), setting a demanding pace from the start. Athletes then transitioned to a grueling 33-kilometer mountain bike route through Oak Mountain State Park’s diverse trail network, which is renowned for its blend of scenic vistas and technical demands, including 1,650 feet of elevation gain.

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The race concluded with a 10-kilometer run around the lake on tight, hard-packed trails, culminating in a sprint to the bustling finish line at the race village. U.S. athletes offered insights into the course's unique challenges. Sullivan Middaugh remarked, "The bike course is pretty technical and helps sharpen mountain bike skills early in the season." Eric Lagerstrom shared, "The style of trail in Oak Mountain is very similar to the style that I've always ridden in Oregon. Purpose-built for mountain biking, some flowing descents, some roots, I just love it." Suzie Snyder commented on the overall experience, "I love the (usually) non-wetsuit swim, and the mountain bike course is the most natural singletrack we race on which is fun and challenging."

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Women’s Race Recap

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Swim Segment

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Aneta Grabmüller (CZE) and Kamille Larocque (CAN) led the charge out of the water side by side, effectively setting a brisk pace for the start of the race on land. Amanda Felder (USA) strategically positioned herself just behind them, conserving energy while keeping the leaders within reach. Following closely, a small chase pack led by Emma Ducreux (FRA) emerged approximately 55 seconds behind the leaders. Not far behind, a critical group containing some of the World Cup’s top contenders—including Sandra Mairhofer (ITA), Solenne Billouin (FRA), and Marta Menditto (ITA)—made their exit, closely tailed by the 2023 World Cup winner, Alizée Paties (FRA), who clung to the rear of this group, signaling a potentially dramatic bike segment to come.

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Top 5 Fastest Swim Results

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1. Aneta Grabmüller, CZE: 22:02

2. Kamille Larocque, FRA: 22:02

3. Amanda Felder, USA: 22:05

4. Emma Ducreux, FRA: 22:59

5. Amanda Presgraves, USA: 23:01

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Bold Breakaways in the Bike Segment

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Aneta Grabmüller and Amanda Felder held the lead up to the 5K mark, distancing themselves from Kamille Larocque, who fell back into a substantial chase group driven by Suzie Snyder. Sandra Mairhofer and Solenne Billouin, not far behind, closed the gap significantly through the challenging, twisty singletrack. Meanwhile, Alizée Paties struggled initially due to traffic from her slower swim but began to find her rhythm as the race progressed.

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Disaster struck for Billouin when she punctured her tire at the same spot as the previous year. Despite the setback, she managed to continue riding on a foam insert. Doug Hall, former XTERRA elite, livestream commentator and XTERRA EMEA General Manager, remarked, "This was seriously impressive, inserts are really meant for emergencies and may get you home, riding this course on just the insert is a serious move and amazing that she held it upright and together." This incident opened the door for Mairhofer, who seized the opportunity to dominate the technical segments of the course, building a nearly three-minute lead by the 25K mark.

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At the same checkpoint, Billouin barely maintained a 10-second lead over Paties, who used her superior technical skills to climb into third place. Grabmüller and Felder, now working together, followed closely, navigating the downhill sections adeptly. As the course straightened out, Billouin faced the task of securing her position with Paties close behind. Mairhofer reached Transition 2 first, with Paties overtaking Billouin but only managing to extend her lead to 10 seconds as they switched to running shoes.

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Top 5 Bike Splits

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1. Sandra Mairhofer, ITA: 1:33:06

2. Alizée Paties, FRA: 1:36:14

3. Solenne Billouin, FRA: 1:36:59

4. Suzie Snyder, USA: 1:39:18

5. Marta Menditto, ITA: 1:39:22

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Relentless Run Segment

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Mairhofer surged ahead with a substantial lead, maintaining a fierce pace initially unaware of the developments behind her. Midway through the run, upon seeing her competitors during an out-and-back section, Mairhofer adjusted her strategy. Realizing the significant gap she had created, she slightly eased her pace, conserving energy for the upcoming Short Track race on Sunday while still managing to finish the race looking fresh after 2 hours and 43 minutes.

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Billouin, freed from the constraints of her damaged bike, caught up to and passed Paties, who was visibly struggling with the heat and humidity. Billouin’s strong performance not only secured her second place, finishing nearly 2 minutes and 30 seconds behind Mairhofer, but also placed her 43 seconds ahead of Paties who finished third. 

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Meanwhile, Marta Menditto (ITA) emerged as a standout performer on the run, rapidly moving up the ranks. Her aggressive pace in the first 5 kilometers allowed her to overtake several competitors including Aneta Grabmüller, Amanda Felder, and Suzie Snyder, ultimately earning her a commendable fourth place. American Amanda Felder, despite the competition, did enough during the run to clinch the North American title.

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Top 5 Women's Run Splits

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1. Solenne Billouin, FRA: 43:44

2. Anna Zehnder, SUI: 44:22

3. Alizée Paties, FRA: 44:53

4. Marta Menditto, ITA: 44:55

5. Sandra Mairhofer, ITA: 45:04

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The Battle of Billouin vs. Mairhofer

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Billouin's tire puncture dramatically shifted the dynamics of the race, providing Mairhofer with a significant advantage. Despite the setback, Billouin managed to maintain competitiveness, which may have crucially saved her World Cup overall campaign.

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Billouin reflected on the day, noting, "The race didn't really go to plan. I wasn't afraid to push at first in the swim, and I'm happy about that." Despite the puncture on the bike that made it "very tough for the legs," she stayed in the race, covering 15 to 20 kilometers in that condition. "It was difficult to stay focused," she admitted. Even when caught by Alizee Paties, she tried to "stay focused and in my own headspace." Her philosophy of racing shone through in her determination to finish and collect as many points as possible, stating, "You have to finish anyway and take all the points you can. It's part of what keeps me focused on racing."

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On the other side, Mairhofer shared her experience, "We did the swim together, and I had a strong bike. It’s not really my kind of course here, but I’m happy to take the win." Her aggressive strategy on the course was evident as she recounted, "I was able to push hard on the uphills and downhills. After I passed Solenne on the downhill, I pushed hard to extend the gap between us." Her efforts to secure the lead were relentless, "Me and Solenne were riding together, but once I passed her, I pushed really hard to maintain my lead."

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The battle between Billouin and Mairhofer promises to be a captivating saga in the races to come. Billouin's ability to overcome challenges and Mairhofer's strength on the course suggest that when both athletes are fit and free of mechanicals, it will indeed be a battle for the ages.

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Top 10 Women's Full Distance Results 

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1. Sandra Mairhofer, ITA: 2:43:57

2. Solenne Billouin, FRA: 2:46:31

3. Alizée Paties, FRA: 2:47:12

4. Marta Menditto, ITA: 2:50:26

5. Amanda Felder, USA: 2:52:08

6. Aneta Grabmüller, CZE: 2:52:42

7. Suzie Snyder, USA: 2:53:14

8. Anna Zehnder, CHE: 2:55:18

9. Elizabeth Orchard, NZL: 2:59:27

10. Emma Ducreux, FRA: 3:02:04

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Full Results Available Here

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Men’s Race Recap

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Swim Segment Surge

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The men’s race saw Nicholas Harvey (CAN) and Eric Lagerstrom (USA) leading the pack out of the water, showcasing a narrow lead over the competition. A significant chase group, led by Steve Croucher (USA) and including notables like Maxim Chané (FRA), Felix Forissier (FRA), Michele Bonacina (ITA), and Arthur Serrières (FRA), followed closely. Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (DNK), performing better than usual, was just 90 seconds behind. 

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Top 5 Fastest Swim Splits

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1. Nicolas Harvey, CAN: 19:50

2. Eric Lagerstrom, USA: 19:52

3. Steve Croucher, USA: 20:25

4. Maxim Chané, FRA: 20:26

5. Felix Forissier, FRA: 20:27

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Blazing Bike Segment

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Lagerstrom initially took the lead during the transition, but Felix Forissier quickly closed the gap. By the 5K mark, the race’s favorites, including Lagerstrom, Harvey, Felix Forissier, Bonacina, and Serrières, had moved to the front. The dynamic on the trails changed as Théo Dupras (FRA) and Sloth Nielsen aggressively ascended the first major climb, joining forces and catching up to Sullivan Middaugh (USA) and Chané. This group surged across the course, eventually overtaking earlier leaders and setting a blistering pace. The battle intensified on the last downhill, with Théo Dupras leading into T2.

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Top 5 Fastest Bike Splits

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1. Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen, DNK: 1:21:24

2. Théo Dupras, FRA: 1:21:30

3. Sullivan Middaugh, USA: 1:22:42

4. Felix Forissier, FRA: 1:23:16

5. Arthur Serrières, FRA: 1:23:24

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Fierce Trail Run Finale

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The run segment turned into a battlefield with Felix Forissier pushing hard right out of T2 to regain the lead from Dupras. Sloth Nielsen gave chase but had to moderate his pace to avoid burnout. By the 5K mark, Forissier maintained a 30 second lead over Sloth Nielsen. Arthur Serrières, not far behind, closed the gap to just 4 seconds from Sloth Nielsen at the midpoint. A slip in the last 2K caused Sloth Nielsen to fall, allowing Serrières to move into second place. With reduced pressure, Felix Forissier extended his lead to 50 seconds by the finish line, with Serrières and Sloth Nielsen following.

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Top 5 Fastest Run Splits

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1. Felix Forissier, FRA: 35:55

2. Arthur Serrières, FRA: 36:14

3. Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen, DNK: 37:23

4. Marin Gautier, FRA: 38:00

5. Sullivan Middaugh, USA: 38:16

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Tales from the Top 3 Men

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1st Place: Felix Forissier (FRA)

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Felix Forissier recounted the challenges of the race, emphasizing the intensity on the bike segment. "It was a really tough race. They pushed a lot on the bike, so I just tried to make a fast transition and do the best I could. I'm pretty happy with my race," he said. As he emerged from the water, Felix saw the leaders just ahead and quickly set his strategy. "I saw the leaders at the end of the water, and the first man [Nicolas Harvey] was not far away. I just wanted to start my race and control the difficulty. It wasn’t an easy race, but I managed my pace for the first five kilometers," he explained. In a decisive move towards the end, Felix pushed himself to the limits: "For the last five kilometers, I gave it all I had. I didn't manage my pace after that, but I’m happy to take care of it one more time."

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2nd Place: Arthur Serrières (FRA)

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Arthur Serrières shared mixed feelings about his performance, citing health and training concerns. "I feel quite okay, but I'm a little bit disappointed because I need results right now. I'm searching for my shape. I was a little bit sick today, probably because my immunity is a bit low from training too much," he reflected. Despite these challenges, Arthur noted improvement and strategic play during the race. "Finishing second here is a huge improvement compared to last year. I went three minutes faster on the same track, so I'm quite okay with that," he said. Discussing his tactics against Felix, Arthur detailed, "Felix pushed on a big climb, and I just tried to stay 10 meters away from him. On the top of the climb, we tried to ride together, but I ended up about 100 meters behind Felix. I thought maybe I could catch him, but he is in really good shape at the beginning of this season," Arthur added. Looking forward, he remains optimistic about his seasonal progression. "My strategy might be different from Felix's. I'm always better at the end of the season, and I'm pretty sure I will be improving. My level is very high, but my shape is not at the top right now, unlike Felix, who seems to be in really good shape."

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3rd Place: Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (DNK)

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Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen expressed surprise at his swim performance and the challenges he faced on the course. "I was kind of surprised with my swim. I saw a lot of unusual faces in the water and wasn't sure if they were swimming the wrong way, but I kept it nice and easy," he recounted. Jens Emil navigated the field effectively, though not without hurdles. "I made my way through the field and felt a good flow. The guys were nice to let me come by, but I had to deal with some decisions, especially on the long stretch where Sullivan and I really pushed it," he explained. Despite a promising start, a mishap significantly affected his race outcome. "Unfortunately, I didn’t see the front pack, which was a bit of a bummer. If I had been in front going down that downhill, the race would have been even more exciting because they were a bit more on the brakes than I usually am," Jens Emil stated. Additionally, a transition error and a subsequent fall cost him crucial time. "Early on in the race, I fumbled my shoes out of the transition, which cost me 5 seconds. That opened up a gap I couldn't close. It was very close and fun, but after I tumbled on a root and had a faceplant, I couldn’t catch up again," he shared. 

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Top 10 Men's Full Distance Results

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1. Felix Forissier, FRA: 2:20:59

2. Arthur Serrières, FRA: 2:21:49

3. Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen, DNK: 2:22:32

4. Sullivan Middaugh, USA: 2:23:36

5. Maxim Chané, FRA: 2:25:00

6. Arthur Forissier, FRA: 2:26:49

7. Théo Dupras, FRA: 2:26:55

8. Kieran McPherson, NZL: 2:27:08

9. Eric Lagerstrom, USA: 2:28:12

10. Michele Bonacina, ITA: 2:29:28

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Full Results Available Here

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Felder and Middaugh Become Inaugural XTERRA North American Champions

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Amanda Felder (USA) and Sullivan Middaugh (USA) emerged as the inaugural XTERRA North American Championship Full Distance race winners. 

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Felder returned to XTERRA after a hiatus with a cautious yet determined approach. "I've been away from XTERRA for a year, so I played it a bit more conservatively than usual," she began, detailing her tactical start. As the race progressed, she found herself in a promising position, "I paced the bike conservatively to start, then Sandra [Mairhofer] and Solenne [Billouin] came by and I tried to stay with them." The run was where Felder truly excelled, feeling empowered to control her own pace, "It was great to run within myself and in control, being able to run my own race. Being in that position was fantastic." Her season's philosophy was clear as she aimed to enjoy the process more than before, "I'm trying to have fun this season, taking things less seriously than in the past. It was kind of unexpected, but I knew I was in good shape. I've done some mountain bike races this season, and having a championship at sea level really played to my favor."

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Sullivan Middaugh reveled in the challenge saying, "Off-road is my home, so I had tons of fun. We had a really good front group, but the front three gapped me by the end. I gave it my all on the downhill of the singletrack, but I knew the Europeans are really good at descending." As the race transitioned from bike to run, Middaugh acknowledged the intensity of his competitors, "They went out super hard. I tried to go with them but couldn’t keep up. By the time we hit the transition, the front three were already 15 seconds ahead." Reflecting on his overall performance, Middaugh expressed satisfaction and anticipation for future competitions, "I was actually pretty happy with my effort over the run and felt that it was solid for me today. It's amazing to have World Championship competition here. Getting that experience and seeing that level of competition early in the season excites me for what's to come."

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Billouin and Serrières Win First Short Track Race of the 2024 XTERRA World Cup

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In addition to the XTERRA North American Championship and the 2024 XTERRA World Cup Full Distance Race, the action-packed weekend concluded with the live-streamed Short Track race on Sunday at 9 am local time. Solenne Billouin (FRA) and Arthur Serrières (FRA) emerged victorious in this fast-paced event. The full results can be found at XTERRA’s official World Cup page while the race is available for replay here.