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PRACHATICE, CZECH REPUBLIC — The 2024 XTERRA European Championship, held on August 10, doubled as Stop #6 of the XTERRA World Cup Series. Loanne Duvoisin (CHE) and Arthur Serrières (FRA) triumphed in the Full Distance Race, each securing 100 points toward their series totals.
The championship weekend concluded with the XTERRA Short Track Race on August 11, delivering spectator-friendly action that was broadcast live for a global audience and is currently available on replay. Felix Forissier (FRA) and Solenne Billouin (FRA) each garnered 75 points, solidifying their leads in the 2024 XTERRA World Cup standings.
The three-day event featured six races, including the Full Distance Triathlon offering a €30,000 Elite Prize Purse and 58 qualifying spots for the upcoming 2024 XTERRA World Championship in Trentino, Italy, scheduled for September 28. Additionally, the Youth Sprint and Super Sprint Triathlons were crucial qualifying events within the XTERRA Youth Tour, providing entry into the XTERRA Youth World Championship, also heldnext month during the XTERRA World Championship.
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Swim (1.5K): The Full Distance Race initiated at Ktišský Lake, with a water temperature of 23.5°C. The segment included three 500-meter laps with Australian exit transitions in between.
Bike (33K): The MTB bike course featured a 33K route with a climb through dense forests to the peak of Libín, a descent along the medieval Golden Salt Path, and technical singletrack sections leading back to Prachatice.
Run (10.5K): The run segment consisted of two 5.25K laps under sunny skies with the temperature peaking at 26°C, through cobblestone paths and forested trails with natural obstacles and varying elevations, concluding in Prachatice’s Great Square.
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Michele Bonacina (ITA) took an early lead in the swim, closely followed by Jan Chrzanowski (POL), with Felix Forissier (FRA) keeping pace and securing a 45-second lead over main rivals. A significant chase pack, including Arthur Serrières (FRA), Maxim Chané (FRA), and Sebastian Neef (DEU), was 40 seconds behind. Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (DNK), known for his strength on the bike, began the MTB segment with a 2 minute and 30-second deficit.
Top 5 Men’s Swim Splits
1. Michele Bonacina (ITA) - 20:31
2. Jan Chrzanowski (POL) - 20:40
3. Felix Forissier (FRA) - 20:42
3. Emile Billaut (FRA) - 20:57
4. Robin Schüßler (DEU) - 21:05
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In the early bike segment, Forissier surged ahead, distancing Chrzanowski and Bonacina. Serrières and Maxim Chané (FRA) worked together but couldn’t close the gap. As the race progressed, Forissier led solo up the major climb, while Sloth Nielsen aggressively moved up from behind. By the transition, Forissier maintained a 2-minute lead, with Bonacina, Serrières, and Sloth Nielsen forming a close chase group.
Top 5 Men’s Bike Splits
1. Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (DNK) - 1:30:01
2. Felix Forissier (FRA) - 1:30:33
3. Sébastien Carabin (BEL) - 1:31:12
4. Arthur Serrières (FRA) - 1:31:57
5. Michele Bonacina (ITA) - 1:32:42
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During the run, Forissier led but was closely pursued by Serrières, Sloth Nielsen, and Bonacina. Sloth Nielsen was particularly challenged, having accumulated three 30-second penalties throughout the race. Serrières, a four-time XTERRA Czech champion renowned for his strategic come-from-behind victories, overtook Sloth Nielsen, focusing on catching Forissier.
At the 6K mark on one of the course's most challenging sections, Serrières made a decisive move, overtaking Forissier who could not respond due to fatigue from earlier efforts. In the last 4K, Serrières showcased a masterful performance, pacing himself to win his fourth XTERRA European Championship title and the latest stop of the XTERRA World Cup. Sloth Nielsen, after serving his accumulated penalties, inadvertently helped Forissier secure second place and retain the Leaders Jersey.
Top 5 Men’s Run Splits
1. Arthur Serrières (FRA) - (0:41:38)
2. Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (DNK) - 0:42:43 (Including 90 secs.penalty)
3. Sébastien Carabin (BEL) - 0:43:44
4. Felix Forissier (FRA) - 0:44:19
5. Sebastian Neef (DEU) - 0:45:46
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1. Arthur Serrières (FRA): "I'm super happy. It was a super tough race. Felix rode super fast at the beginning, and I had to manage myself and push really deep on the run. I'm quite happy to take my fifth win here at XTERRA Czech and my fourth European Championship title."
2. Felix Forissier (FRA): "I lost so much energy in the last part of the bike and really paid for it on the run. Amazing swim, though! I started in the second pack, managed to push a lot, and exited the water around 40 or 45 seconds ahead of Serrières. He passed me at the start of the second lap. I was too tired; I pushed too hard on the bike, and on the run, I had a lot of cramps."
3. Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (DNK): "I'm not really excited because of the penalties, but that's the game. I showed good shape, but I need to check the rules more carefully for the next races. I didn't know about the strict rules here; one penalty was for late check-in, another for having my race suit open, and a third for racking my bike incorrectly."
Top 10 Men's Full Distance Results
1. Arthur Serrières (FRA) - 2:36:55
2. Felix Forissier (FRA) - 2:37:38
3. Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (DNK) - 2:37:56
4. Michele Bonacina (ITA) - 2:42:06
5. Sebastian Neef (DEU) - 2:43:10
6. Sébastien Carabin (BEL) - 2:44:36
7. Maxim Chané (FRA) - 2:46:11
8. Xavier Dafflon (CHE) - 2:50:29
9. Dominik Wychera (AUT) - 2:53:34
10. Baptiste Fordoxcel (FRA) - 2:56:51
Complete Results Here.
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In the women's race, local favorite Aneta Grabmüller (CZE) led the field out of the water, immediately setting a brisk pace to capitalize on her familiarity with the home bike trails. 58 seconds behind Grabmuller, a significant chase pack emerged from the water, headed by Loanne Duvoisin (CHE) and including key contenders Alizée Paties (FRA) and Solenne Billouin (FRA). The group was tightly packed, closely monitoring each other's moves.
Top 5 Women’s Swim Splits
1. Aneta Grabmüller (CZE) - 22:49
2. Loanne Duvoisin (CHE) - 23:47
3. Alizée Paties (FRA) - 23:50
4. Solenne Billouin (FRA) - 23:52
5. Anna Zehnder (CHE) - 24:55
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In the bike segment, Grabmüller excelled, extending her lead to over two minutes on her home trails, even catching the tail end of the men’s elite field. Paties and Duvoisin initially worked together in pursuit, but the Swiss road triathlete making her first return to XTERRA racing in 2024, broke away on the major climb as Paties struggled to keep pace.
Sandra Mairhofer (ITA) and Solenne Billouin (FRA) fell further behind, with Billouin battling illness but aiming to complete the race for valuable World Cup points. Grabmüller continued her aggressive pace, maintaining her lead and arriving at T2 with a 2-minute and 24-second advantage. Duvoisin followed in second, while Paties held onto third.
Top 5 Women’s Bike Splits
1. Aneta Grabmüller (CZE) - 1:45:12
2. Loanne Duvoisin (CHE) - 1:46:39
3. Alizée Paties (FRA) - 1:47:17
4. Helena Karásková Erbenová (CZE) - 1:51:09
5. Sandra Mairhofer (ITA) - 1:51:13
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On the run, Grabmüller, who had been nursing an undisclosed Achilles injury, started tentatively. In contrast, Duvoisin attacked the first climb with vigor, quickly closing the gap. By the 6K mark, she had caught and passed Grabmüller at the same spot where Serrières had overtaken Forissier in the men’s race. Duvoisin went on to defend her European Championship title with a finish time of 3:02:40.
Grabmüller, cheered on by the crowd, finished in second place, after losing nearly 2 minutes and 25 seconds in the final 4K of the run. Paties finished third, crossing the line 1 minute and 30 seconds after Grabmüller.
Top 5 Women’s Run Splits
1. Lada Stalzerova (CZE) - 0:49:48
2. Loanne Duvoisin (CHE) - 0:49:59
3. Anna Zehnder (CHE) - 0:51:12
4. Jana Dubcová (CZE) - 0:52:46
5. Alizée Paties (FRA) - 0:53:08
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1. Loanne Duvoisin (CHE): "It's awesome to win a title again. It's never really easy and I'm really proud of my race. We [elite women] can all be pleased with how we raced today. I was quite good today, had some really quality training weeks which helped me push harder when needed. At one point, I realized, 'Okay, we have to go.' I pushed the pace on the hills, and though the first lap was tough, hearing I was close helped me push to close the gap and overtake."
2. Aneta Grabmüller (CZE): "I'm relieved that I managed the pressure and expectations in my hometown and hopefully made everyone happy and proud. Second place at the European Championships is my best XTERRA result ever. When Loanne caught up to me, I knew a two minute lead wouldn't be enough as she is a strong runner. It was tough, but I enjoyed the last part knowing my family was there supporting me."
3. Alizée Paties (FRA): "I'm not disappointed, even though I always aim to win. I feel my form improving each week, and I'm happy with how I performed across all three disciplines today. It was a good race for me and a solid preparation for the upcoming World Championship in Molveno."
Top 10 Women's Full Distance Results
1. Loanne Duvoisin (SUI) - 3:02:40
2. Aneta Grabmüller (CZE) - 3:05:06
3. Alizée Paties (FRA) - 3:06:44
4. Anna Zehnder (SUI) - 3:13:13
5. Sandra Mairhofer (ITA) - 3:13:36
6. Marta Menditto (ITA) - 3:15:46
7. Solenne Billouin (FRA) - 3:16:17
8. Helena Karásková Erbenová (CZE) - 3:16:42
9. Elizabeth Orchard (NZL) - 3:24:33
10. Kerri-Ann Upham (GBR) - 3:26:13
Complete Results Here.
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As the oldest event in the XTERRA World Tour, XTERRA Czech has been an evolving ground for the sport, with innovations like the made-for-TV Short Track Race that aired live on August 11. Felix Forissier (FRA) and Solenne Billouin (FRA) secured their positions atop the World Cup series standings in a pair of very closely contested races that can be viewed on replay here.
Short Track Race Results Here.
From August 9-11, 2024, Prachatice buzzed with festival vibes, complete with local cuisine, live music, and an afterparty, fueling a weekend full of triathlon events for all levels. The Elite Short Track race on August 11 featured top athletes in a fast-paced format. The event is available for replay on the XTERRA YouTube channel as part of the 2024 XTERRA World Cup coverage.
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