XTERRA Off-Road Triathlons: April '24

The 2024 season is heating up and shifting gears with the first of the regional championships already laying claim to their titles and crowns at the 2024 APAC Championship in Kenting, Taiwan. 

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In a highly competitive field of off-road triathletes from multiple countries within the Asia-Pacific region and further abroad, it was Kieran McPherson who crossed first for the region, claiming the APAC Champion title for a second year in a row to keep the crown in New Zealand. 

In the Women’s race, it was rising-talent Hannah-Lee Young who would prove to be the region’s fastest. It’s the first regional champs victory for the Aussie athlete, who not only has the honour of adding the APAC Champion title to her accolades, but also has the honour of keeping the crown in Australia after taking the title from fellow countrywoman Maeve Kennedy. 

The 2024 class of APAC Champs may have already laid their claim to a title, but there is still plenty of racing to come this season. Check out the next 9 World Championship qualifying races below as the World Tour gathers momentum and heads towards the biggest race of them all in Italy this September.

XTERRA Malta has always been one of the top-choice destination races in a sport that specialises in bucket-list destinations. Known for getting more than 300 days of sun per year, the small archipelago in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast combines almost everything an off-road triathlete could ask for - from crystal clear ocean waters to fast-running trails to a finish line on the beach shore and an abundance of good food that comes part and parcel with the Mediterranean. 

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Over and above the perks of the location, a total of 28 World Championship slots will be at stake for those taking on the Full Distance Tri. 

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The race begins on the postcard shoreline of Golden Beach with a 2-lap 1.5K swim in usually flat waters, however under the right conditions a good swell can develop. Onto the bike, athletes will need to be prepared to take on some very rocky sections as the race makes its way along the cliff tops of the island. But with sections of ancient hunting paths, access tracks, and a small amount of gravel, the bike course offers a surprising amount of variety for a small island. Those able to carry speed and pedal through the difficult sections (while keeping their bike in one piece) will make good gains to set themselves up for the final section. The run opens with a brutal start, taking athletes straight from the beach and directly up to the cliff tops. Rocky uneven terrain over classic Mediterranean rock makes for a technical run, but the views are some of the best on the EMEA Tour. A fast descent to the finish line on the beach makes for an epic end to a tough day of racing, and some well-deserved mediterranean cuisine. 

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The 2-day event will also feature a Sprint Distance Triathlon (500m swim, 10K bike, 6K run) that will provide Youth World Championship slots to those in the Junior and Youth B category, along with a 6K Trail Run, Kids Duathlon, and Kids Adventure Races.

For those coming from an MTB background, Rotorua likely needs little introduction. The 200+ kilometres of perfectly curated and maintained trails that weave between the towering redwoods and lush foliage of the Whakarewarewa Forest have seen the small town grow into an MTB mecca, hosting a stop on the renowned Crankworx World Tour just days ago. Add to those trails the pristine waters of Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) that sits nestled within the forest and it’s no surprise that after 20 years the XTERRA Rotorua Festival still has the off-road community asking for more. 

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The Full-Distance Tri offers 28 qualifying slots to the XTERRA World Championship, with slots also available for the first-ever Youth World Championship for youngsters taking on the Sprint Distance. 

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The Full Distance race begins with an open water swim in the clear blue waters of Lake Tikitapu to separate the pack ahead of a bike section that is almost entirely singletrack, so getting ahead early can be a key factor. The race heads almost directly from the water into the forest, with a thick jungle wall on either side and the canopy of treetops above making the 26K bike loop feel like a roller coaster ride on 2 wheels. The trails are well-worn and made for bikers, with plenty of fast descents, jumps and no shortage of tight corners that will favour those who know how to properly rail a berm and carry speed. There are also a number of sections that offer a choice of 2 lines, with those brave enough to take the difficult option rewarded with a few seconds saved. The 11K run is 2 loops around Lake Tikitapu, offering fast, hard-packed trails throughout and some of the best lake and mountain views along the way. 

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Living up to its name, the XTERRA Rotorua Festival has figured out the perfect formula of how to get 7 races to take place almost simultaneously in the same venue in a single day to create the kind of atmosphere that does these trails justice. Alongside the Full distance and Sprint Distance Triathlons, there is also a Duathlon, a 26K MTB race, and 21K, 11K, and 5K trail runs. 

XTERRA Puerto Rico is braced to rejoin the World Tour in 2024 with a new location and a brand new challenge for those taking on the inaugural event in the seaside town of Cabo Rojo. The area is home to multiple natural reserves and a large network of trails that serve as the perfect arena for the latest addition to the Americas Tour. 

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Those on the start line will be in contention for the 28 World Championship slots, with youngsters able to get their slots to the Youth World Championship held on the same day.

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Another postcard start, the Full Distance race begins at Combate Beach where athletes will take on a 2-loop, 1.5K swim in the crystal-clear ocean waters Puerto Rico is known for. From there, the race leads into a 29K bike course that connects multiple sections of the large trail network that has developed around Cabo Rojo. Athletes familiar with the trails will recognise names such as Juliana Downhill, Californication, Camino Vacas, and Cuesta Pedro as they move through the varied sections of the bike loop. The finish is a fast one, with hard-pack trail and very little elevation allowing athletes to completely empty the tanks in the final 10K of the race. 

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XTERRA Puerto Rico is set to showcase just how much this venue has to offer, with races available for all ages and abilities throughout the 2 days. There will also be a 21K Half Trail Marathon for runners looking to claim their World Champs slots, as well as a 10K Trail Run, a Swim Run, a Gravel and MTB race, and a Duathlon.

Just one week after XTERRA Puerto Rico, local and travelling athletes at XTERRA Chile will take to the line for the southernmost stop on the Americas Tour, and their chance to punch their ticket to XTERRA Worlds from the 28 slots available. The 2-day event takes place on the stunning coastline of Chile with the beauty of the Zapallar region as the backdrop to the 4 races set for the 2024 event.

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The Full Distance race begins on the shoreline of Papudo, a popular resort surrounded by parks and mountains and a network of trails that weave between them. Two 750m laps complete the swim before heading into a completely new bike section designed to elevate the race this year. The single-loop course takes riders through the spectacular sandstone formations with plenty of impressive climbs and fast descents to keep the adrenaline pumping throughout the 26K. The single-loop 10K trail run delivers no shortage of views as it winds along the coastline and over the finish. 

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This year the trail running community will also be out in force, getting their share of the trails, views, and potentially a Trail Run World Champs slot via the 16K Half Marathon. But for those keen to keep it just to the water, the event will also feature a 1.5K Open Water Swim.

When XTERRA Portugal gets underway in Golegã this month, the event will be ringing in a decade of off-road triathlon racing in the country’s horse capital, and ten years as a prominent feature on the EMEA Tour. Taking place at the start of the European summer, the event has long been used as a season-opener for some of the best in the sport as they look to shake the rust of the off-season on a course that will test the full spectrum of skills in the arsenal. 

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Nobody has seen more success on this course than Ruben ‘The Boss’ Ruzafa, who took the tape 5 consecutive times in a row, starting with the first edition of the race back in 2015. Also notatable is the fact that in 2022 the race was won by both current World Champions, Arthur Serrières and Solenne Billouin, before it would finally be 2 local heroes to take the crown when Francois Vie and Beatriz Ferreira crossed first in 2023. 

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Truly a course that will test all athletes, the Full Distance begins with 1.5K technical swim in the narrow body of water that wraps around Golegã, with an Australian exit half way that crosses over a floating pontoon that will later serve as a bridge for the run course. The 35K bike course is a proper adventure through the iconic cork tree forest the area is known for. The lap is relentless with tough, steep uphills and short downhills over a loose pebble-base soil that can sometimes make traction difficult to come by. The multiple tight sections of singletrack are interspersed with flat-out fast fire roads to keep the race interesting throughout the full 35K of riding. Onto the run, the 2-loop, figure of 8 course takes athletes through the flat and fast fields on the edge of town. There are, however, a fair amount of bumps within the fields that will require some technical footing at speed, as well as a river crossing that requires jumping off the road bridge before climbing back out via a rope on the other side. 

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28 World Championship slots will be at stake for those who perform best in their division. The event also doubles as the National Youth Cross Triathlon Championship, with opportunities for those in the Junior, Youth A, and Youth B categories to earn their slot to the first-ever Youth World Championship this year. 

April brings no less than 4 stops on the Americas Tour, and no shortage of qualification opportunities for those looking to compete at the third and final XTERRA World Championship to be held beneath the Dolomites in Molveno, Italy in September this year. 28 slots will be available for those taking on the Full Distance Race, while the Sprint Distance will provide youngsters in the Junior, Youth A, and Youth B the opportunity to share the stage with the world’s best in Molveno. 

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The Full Distance begins with an open water swim in the waters of Lake Travis before heading into a 24K bike loop that includes plenty of short climbs, limestone drops, and tight turns. The course is designed to keep athletes on their toes, with hardly any flat sections at all. An 8K trail run completes the race, with a course that winds along the shore of the lake. 

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The trail run specialists will also be out looking for their Trail Run World Champs slot in the 21K Half Marathon, with those taking on the 10.5K Run and the Duathlon adding to the atmosphere in the 2-day festival in Pace Bend Park.

In 2023, XTERRA Australia rejoined the World Tour with a new venue, putting on a proper show in Dunsborough in the south west of the island. The event baked in all the signature flavours XTERRA is known for in a 2-day festival of off-road racing, and this year the team behind it all is looking to raise the bar even higher with more races to add to the festival feeling as the community braces for another round down in Dunsborough. 

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The Full Distance course is one of the most scenic and challenging on the World Tour, with a crystal clear ocean swim, technical MTB on flowing single track and a spectacular run along coastal trails designed to reward those who can handle themselves off-road.

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The swim begins in waist-deep water in Geographe Bay before launching into a 2-lap 1.5K swim that keeps athletes within 200m of the shoreline for fans and spectators watching on. The 30.2K bike course ranks as one of the best on the APAC Tour for those really able rail berms and handle features at speed. Comprising almost entirely of flowing, handbuilt singletrack trails, the ride is not too hilly but comes with enough vert and plenty of drops to keep the heart rate pumping. The race then finishes with a technical 10.5K run over a spectacular coastal course. Changed to a 2-loop run for 2024, the course is an engaging mix of single tracks, coastal rock hopping, bushland and ocean views.

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The event also has plenty of action for the young guns and groms to get involved, offering 28 World Champs slots to older, experienced racers, and the full spread of Youth World Champs slots for those in the Junior, Youth A, and Youth B Categories. 

Another cornerstone event of the EMEA Tour, XTERRA Greece Vouliagmeni is set to ring in its 11th year on the XTERRA circuit as stop #2 of the XTERRA World Cup. The quaint seaside town combines one of the best swims on the tour with fast and flowing trails that will set the stage for an epic race. And with the large majority of XTERRA’s biggest names heading to Vouliagmeni in search of those World Cup series points - an epic race it will be. 

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The Full Distance swim opens in some of the cleanest and most enticing waters of the World Tour as athletes take on a 2-loop, 1.5K swim in the Gulf of Vouliagmeni. The bike section is a well-designed 2-loop course that winds between the forests and land areas that lie between the suburbs. There is some good elevation to be found but it's all gradual, leading to a very fast bike course with no let up. The run opens at speed with 1,000m through town, but that soon turns into a very steep and technical climb that sets the tone for a difficult 11K run course.

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58 World Championships slots will be at stake in the Full Distance, with a Sprint Distance offering Junior, Youth A, and Youth B their ticket to the Youth World Champs in Italy. There will also be a Kids Triathlon, Full Distance Aquathlon, and a Sprint Distance Aquathlon to complete the 2-day event in Vouliagmeni.

The fourth and final stop on the Americas Tour in April heads to the majestic Wawayanda State Park, where the crystal clear lake waters and 65+ miles of trails provide the ideal setting for an XTERRA off-road event. Not only does the event serve as the kickoff race for the USA Triathlon Gravel/Off-Road Series, but for those in the Northeast, XTERRA New Jersey delivers an epic off-road tri experience with 28 World Championship slots for those looking to compete against the world's best later this year.

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The Full Distance race begins on the beachfront of the stunning Wawayanda Lake, renowned for its clarity and pristine beauty. The 1,000m swim is broken into 2 laps, with an Australian exit half way. Onto the bike, athletes will take on a 3-loop 39K (24 miles) course that offers a true Olympic distance off-road experience. The loop features a great mix of gravel roads, packed-dirt singletrack and a visit into the Heckling Woods. The singletrack sections are full of flow while the Heckling Woods section has plenty of off-camber turns that give an advantage to good bike handlers. Athletes will need to save some gas in the tank for the run as the 10K section has plenty of rocky goodness to dance through. The run course is more technical than the bike course and is 90% singletrack, taking runners deep into the forest before getting back to the beach for the finish of the race. 

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XTERRA New Jersey packs a missive 9 races into a 2-day festival of XTERRA racing, with on-site camping available on Friday and Saturday for those looking to stay close to the trails. The Sprint Distance race serves as a qualifier for the Youth World championship while those taking on the 42K Marathon and 21K Half Marathon will be in contention for slots to the Trail Run World Championship in Maine, USA this year. To see the full list of races available, check out the XTERRA New Jersey event page and register for your place on the startline in the Wawayanda State Park.