It’s the biggest event in XTERRA history, with off-road racers from around the world looking to claim the first ever World Championship title on European soil. But as the season heats up, the coveted qualifying slots needed for a place on the starting line won’t come easy.
The XTERRA World Championship makes its European debut October 1, 2022, in Trentino, Italy.
It’s the hottest ticket in off-road triathlon, and exclusive to only those who qualify.
There is no longer an at-large pool barring a few new exemptions that have been put in place, but there are still a number of opportunities to earn that prestigious spot on the starting line at Lake Molveno.
The first and sure-fire way to qualify for the 2022 World Championship is to win your age group at any XTERRA World Championship qualifying event. But with 36 events in 22 countries to choose from, the hardest part might be choosing the challenge.
Qualifying races span the entire season, from February through September, giving athletes multiple opportunities to take gold and reserve the right to punch their ticket to Trentino.
Some of the bigger races, like the XTERRA U.S. and European Championships, offer twice the number of slots and new this year across all events, every age group division that has at least 10 finishers in it will receive an extra qualifying spot. Plus, slots roll down to the top five or top 10 in each division depending on the race, so there are more opportunities than one might think
Here’s the full list of qualifying events leading up to the Trentino along with the amount of qualifying slots available at each event, but expect competition to only get tougher as the season progresses.
Feb 26 - XTERRA Iceman - Arizona, USA - 26 slots
Mar 26-27 - XTERRA Taiwan - Kenting, TWN - 51 slots
Apr 9-10 - XTERRA Argentina - San Juan, ARG - 26 slots
Apr 9-10 - XTERRA Malta - Golden Bay, MLT - 26 slots
Apr 16-17 - XTERRA Greece - Vouliagmeni, GRC - 26 slots
Apr 23-24 - XTERRA ATX - Austin, USA - 26 slots
May 7-8 - XTERRA Brazil - Ilhabela, BRA - 51 slots
May 21-22 - XTERRA Portugal - Golegã, PRT - 26 slots
Jun 2-3 - XTERRA France - Xonrupt Longemer, FRA - 51 slots
Jun 4-5 - XTERRA Lake Garda - Toscolano-Maderno, ITA - 51 slots
Jun 11 - XTERRA Belgium - Namur, BEL - 26 slots
Jun 11-12 - XTERRA Cameron Park - Waco, USA - 26 slots
Jun 11-12 - XTERRA Whistler - Whistler, CAN - 26 slots
Jun 18-19 - XTERRA Prague - Džbán, CZE - 26 slots
Jun 18 - XTERRA Lory - Bellvue, USA - 26 slots
Jun 25 - XTERRA Switzerland - Vallée de Joux, CHE - 26 slots
Jul 9-10 - XTERRA Magnolia Hill - Navasota, USA - 26 slots
Jul 9-10 - XTERRA Quebec - Quebec City, CAN - 26 slots
Jul 9-10 - XTERRA Victoria - Victoria, CAN - 26 slots
Jul 10 - XTERRA EX2 - Flintstone, USA - 26 slots
Jul 16-17 - XTERRA Lake Scanno - Abruzzo, ITA - 51 slots
Jul 16-17 - XTERRA USA Championship - Avon, USA - 51 slots
Jul 23 - XTERRA DINO North Indiana - South Bend, USA - 26 slots
Jul 23 - XTERRA Conquer the Crater - Sudbury, CAN - 26 slots
Jul 30-31 - XTERRA Super Besse - Massif Central, FRA - 26 slots
Aug 6 - XTERRA Portland - Gaston, USA - 26 slots
Aug 7 - XTERRA Nouvelle-Aquitaine - Lac de la Cadie, FRA - 26 slots
Aug 12-14 - XTERRA European Championship - Prachatice, CZE - 51 slots
Aug 13 - XTERRA Ardennes Trophy - Lac de la Gileppe, BEL - 26 slots
Aug 19-20 - XTERRA Germany - Zittau, DEU - 51 slots
Aug 21 - XTERRA Lake Tahoe - Incline Village, USA - 26 slots
Sep 2-3 - XTERRA Sumava - Lipno, CZE - 26 slots
Sep 3-4 - XTERRA Dominican Republic - Samana, DOM- 26 slots
Sep 10-11 - XTERRA Netherlands - Ameland Island, NLD - 26 slots
Sep 18 - XTERRA Japan - Marunuma, JPN - 26 slots
Sep 25 - XTERRA Laguna Beach - Laguna Beach, USA - 26 slots
As per tradition, the reigning 2021 XTERRA World Champions have been invited back to defend their title, and NEW this year, to honor the most active XTERRA athletes around the world, legacy spots will be awarded to those who have raced more than 15 events over the last five years.
Also new is the formation of an XTERRA World Championship committee to consider geographic, media, influencer, and discretionary exemptions on a case-by-case basis.
As the first ever European XTERRA World Championship, you can guarantee that this will be a huge weekend for any XTERRA fan. The tone was already set when the XTERRA Trentino Dolomiti Paganella off-road triathlon was named the 2021 Event of the Year. And now with a deep pool of European talent fired up to be crowned as the XTERRA World Champion on home turf, expect nothing to be held back in a dramatic showdown beneath the Dolomites.
And to top it all off, the biggest weekend of the year will finish with the fourth and final round of the blistering XTERRA Short Track series, with the thousands in attendance and the thousands tuning in via live stream turning the heat up on the fastest and fiercest race of the season.
Nothing is ever guaranteed on race day. But one thing that can be assured is that those who make it to Trentino will be part of an epic chapter in off-road racing history.
For more detailed information on qualification criteria, see the official qualification rules and criteria.