XTERRA Off-Road Triathlons: August ‘24

The last of the regional championship battles of the year and arguably the single most coveted title outside of the World Championship. Europe has long been a hotbed of XTERRA’s top talent, with 15 of the top 20 highest ranked men and women in the world hailing from the region. It is a title that is hard-fought and worn as a badge of honour, and those in contention will be counting down the days for the next battle to begin.

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In 2023, it was Belgium that set the stage for the reigning champs to earn their crowns. This year, the river currents, cobblestone streets, and forest trails of Naumr will give way to the lake waters, slick singletrack, and the iconic village square of Prachatice as the Czech Republic braces to host the European Champs for the third time in its double-decade history.

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The Euro Champs has long been described as a dress rehearsal for the World Championship, with the pinnacle event taking place just a month and a half later this year. Yet it won’t only be in Czech where the battles will be blazing this month, with off-road triathletes in 8 separate countries going head to head to earn their slots to the big dance.

Located in the scenic Pacific Northwest, XTERRA Portland will get the month started with a single-day, 5-race festival of XTERRA racing at Hagg Lake. The event combines the natural beauty of the area with a challenging course that is perfect for both elite athletes and beginners. With summer just about reaching its peak, athletes can expect sunny weather, lush green landscapes, and limited humidity - all combining to set the stage for a big day on the trails.

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The Full Distance race begins with a 2-loop, 1K swim in Hagg Lake, exiting the water halfway before diving back in for the second lap. With water temperatures around 22°C, participants can choose whether to wear a wetsuit, making it a comfortable swim for all skill levels and the ideal spot for a post-race dip.

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The 27K mountain bike course is the highlight of XTERRA Portland, featuring a 6K small loop followed by a larger 21K loop, both circling Hagg Lake. The trail winds through the lush forests of the Oregon Coast Range, offering continuous lake views and a mix of fast sections and technical challenges that increase in difficulty with speed. 

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The race finished with an out-and-back 8K run course that takes competitors back onto the Hagg Lake Trail. The trail offers a mix of gentle inclines and descents, making for a fast run before diving across the finish line on the infamous inflatable slip 'n slide.

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XTERRA Portland packs a lot into a single day, with athletes and spectators able to camp at Hagg Lake the night before the race to fully soak in the festival atmosphere. The event also features a Sprint and Super Sprint Triathlon that offer slots to the XTERRA Youth World Championship, as well as the always popular Kids Splash Pedal Dash + Slide.

The oldest race on the XTERRA circuit and the biggest race of the EMEA Tour, the European Championship is set to return to the Czech Republic. The team behind XTERRA Czech have continuously raised the bar for over 20 years, rightfully earning a reputation of being one of the biggest bucket-list races on the global circuit. 

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The Championship race begins in the waters of Ktišský Lake, with athletes taking on a 3-lap, 1.5K swim with a short exit from the water between laps. The water, with its unique bronze colour from the peat bottom, is clean and warm, ranging from 19 to 23°C. 

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The 33K bike course is a point-to-point challenge from Ktiš to Prachatice, featuring a mix of fast fire roads, technical trails, and flowy sections. Athletes will climb over 950 metres in elevation, starting with a journey through deep forests and up to the highest peak, Libín. A technical descent then leads to the mediaeval Golden Salt Path, a historic trade route. The final stretch above Prachatice is the most technical, with steep climbs and tight singletrack taking riders into the town's Renaissance streets.

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The final 10K run starts in Prachatice’s Renaissance town square, leading athletes through narrow cobblestone paths and onto the hills of Černá Hora. This course features two 5K loops, each with a healthy amount of steep, technical singletrack. Athletes will pass through the bustling Great Square twice, both to the sound of screaming spectators. The finish line is in front of the Statue of Justice, where the 2024 class of XTERRA European Champions will be crowned.

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XTERRA Czech is renowned for its legendary afterparty and vibrant festival atmosphere. The town square hosts a lively food and music festival, offering local cuisine, live shows, and a special edition of XTERRA Beer. As the official host of Stop #6 of the XTERRA World Cup, there will also be the livestreamed Short Track race, as well Sprint and Super Sprint Triathlons for young athletes to earn their slot to race with the Worlds best at the XTERRA Youth Championship.

XTERRA Ardennes takes athletes deep into the heart of the Belgian Ardennes at the stunning Gileppe Dam. Known for its dramatic landscapes and dense forests, this region is a haven for trail sport enthusiasts and offers a perfect backdrop for XTERRA racing. With Long Distance, Full Distance, and Sprint Triathlons open to both mountain and gravel bikes, plus kids' races, XTERRA Ardennes is the ideal way for any multisport enthusiast to experience all the region has to offer.

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The headline feature of XTERRA Ardennes is the Long Distance Triathlon, which is where top performing athletes can earn their World Championship slots.

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The race begins with a 1-loop, 1.9K swim in the clear waters of the Gileppe Dam, featuring a mass start with wetsuits being mandatory. Back onto dry land, participants transition to a 74K bike ride through the beautiful Ardennes terrain. The bike course is 100% gravel-friendly and open to both mountain and gravel bikes, with a total elevation gain of over 1,000 metres. The race then finishes with a 16K trail run, consisting of two 8K loops. Athlete’s will take on lush forest trails with a total elevation of 190+ metres and a cut off time of 9 hours to complete the entire race.

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In addition to the Long Distance Triathlon, XTERRA Ardennes offers a Sprint Triathlon, which serves as a qualifying race for the XTERRA Youth World Championship, and a gravel-bike-friendly Full Distance Triathlon for those looking to get in on the adventure through the Ardennes.

Since its debut in 2006, XTERRA Germany has grown to become one of the biggest spectacles on the EMEA Tour, with the notorious wooden berm over the lake waters serving as just one of the many recognizable icons of the race. Taking place in the Zittauer Gebirge Nature Park in southeastern Germany, the organising team spends nearly a week turning an empty space into a monstrous race village that buzzes with festival atmosphere throughout the event. 

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The Full-Distance race kicks off with a 1.5K swim in the Olbersdorfer See, featuring a triangular course with two laps of 750 metres and an Australian exit halfway. 

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Onto the bike, athletes will then head into a single-loop, 37K ride through the rugged trails of Zittauer Gebirge. With over 1,000 metres of elevation gain, riders will face big climbs and fast descents through a mix of technical singletrack and open fire roads. 

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The final leg of the race is a 10K trail run, consisting of two loops with over 190 metres of elevation gain. Athletes will need to get through a mix of forest trails and open paths before ascending to the top of a hill where the iconic finishers’ bell awaits. 

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XTERRA Germany is all about the festival atmosphere, with the event spanning two days and offering a range of activities for participants and spectators alike. The competition attracts nearly a thousand elite and age-group athletes, each competing for the €15,000 elite prize purse and 58 coveted slots for the XTERRA World Championship.

XTERRA Japan takes place in the picturesque Katashina Village, a paradise for nature lovers and trail sport enthusiasts. Nestled in the heart of Japan, this region is celebrated for its untouched landscapes, diverse wildlife, and the largest high-rise wetland on Honshu, known as Oze. Combining incredible trails with soothing hot springs and no shortage of unique local cuisine, XTERRA Japan Marunuma is a must-race for those who know the perks of taking the path less travelled. 

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Much like all the other XTERRA events taking place in Japan, Marunuma packs in a lot. The 2-day festival has no less than 10 races, with everybody given the chance to get in on the action.

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Serving as the headline act of the event, the Full Distance race begins with a 1.5K swim in the clear waters of Lake Marunuma. Athletes then transition to two wheels to take on the 25K of technical singletrack and rolling hills that wind through and around Katashina Village. The final leg of the race is a 10K trail run through the lush forests and scenic landscapes of Katashina. The course is designed to highlight the natural beauty of the region, with its diverse flora setting the stage for an incredible race and the top performing athletes awarded with World Championship slots.

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Alongside the Full Distance race, the event also offers a variety of inclusive races to suit all ages and abilities, including a Long Distance Triathlon that takes participants on a 2K swim, 60K bike ride, and 20K run through the breathtaking Japanese landscape. In addition, there are two shorter distance triathlons, two duathlons, and three trail runs of varying distances for everyone to get involved in the action and experience the unique trails of the region.

Coming off the back of XTERRA Quebec in July, the cross-tri community in the Great White North now heads to Quebec's Eastern Townships for the equally anticipated XTERRA Bromont. Held at the Olympic Equestrian Park (OEP) and surrounded by the mountainous terrain the area is known for, the 2-day festival includes a massive 13 races spread across the weekend, with 28 World Championship slots at stake for those taking on the headline race.

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The Full Distance Triathlon begins with a swim in the stunning Lake Bromont. The 1.5K swim features two loops, with athletes exiting the water for a short beach run before diving back in. The first transition takes place right on the beach for athletes to seamlessly head into the bike trails.

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The 30K ride offers a mix of intermediate singletrack and flowy trails, challenging riders with significant elevation gains. Each 15K loop includes approximately 450 metres of climbing, with the ascent to Pic du Chevreuil serving the biggest climb of the course and the ideal place for power riders to make their move. Once at the top, a rapid 3K descent takes riders back to the OEP to start a second loop or transition to the run.

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The run course consists of two 5.3-kilometer loops with a total elevation gain of 250 metres. Runners will need to take on the grassy terrain of the OEP before heading through the technical singletrack trails and accessible climbs of Mount Oak. The course combines beauty and challenge in equal measure, culminating in a return to the OEP to cross the finish line. 

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Bromont is a renowned resort town, with plenty of accommodation and food options for differing budgets. The event weekend features no less than 13 races, including Sprint and Super Sprint Triathlons that serve as qualifiers for the XTERRA Youth World Championship, a 20K Half Marathon trail run with slots for the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship, various trail runs and duathlons, and gravel-friendly triathlon races. If the growing number of XTERRA races in the country should tell you anything, it’s that Canada has trails for days, and the cross-tri community is on the rise.

Yet another event showcasing what Canada has to offer, XTERRA Sleeping Giant invites the country’s cross-tri community and those travelling from abroad deep into the heart of Canada’s great outdoors. Nestled at the head of Lake Superior, this event offers participants a chance to race in a region renowned for its stunning landscapes and world-class trails.

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The Full Distance Triathlon at XTERRA Sleeping Giant begins with a swim in the cool waters of Boulevard Lake. Athletes complete two loops in the 1.5K swim, with an Aussie exit halfway. The water temperature averages around 18°C, making wetsuits optional but recommended for comfort and speed.

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The 26K bike segment takes place in Kinsmen Park on the trails of the Shuniah Mines Bike Park. Known for hosting the Canadian Cross-Country Marathon Championships, this area offers a mix of singletrack trails with technical rocky and rooty sections. The course is mostly rated blue, with a few green and black trails, providing a fast and flowy ride with punchy climbs and exhilarating descents.

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The 10K run is a loop around Kinsmen Park, starting and ending with a rooty and grassy doubletrack section. Athletes will tackle a steady climb followed by a technical descent through the "Lower 2km" trail, with tight singletrack turns and a final climb back to the doubletrack. Spectators line the last kilometre for a loud finish to a long race.

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With a DJ, local vendors, and the Sleeping Giant Brewing Company on-site, the atmosphere is festive and welcoming. Participants can camp nearby or take advantage of hotel deals listed on the event's Instagram page. 

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In addition to the Full Distance Triathlon, XTERRA Sleeping Giant offers Sprint and Super Sprint Triathlons that serve as qualifying races for the XTERRA Youth World Championship, Duathlons, a 25K Trail Half Marathon for those looking to earn slots for the Trail Run World Championship, and various trail runs, catering to all ages and abilities.

By no means a new event but excited to debut an entirely new venue this year, XTERRA Costa Rica is braced and ready to show why the calm ocean waters and purpose-built mountain biking trails of Las Catalinas are almost tailor made for XTERRA racing. Showcasing just how good the trails are, the event will celebrate the new venue with 7 races held alongside the Full Distance Triathlon.

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The Full Distance race opens with a 1.5K swim in the warm, serene waters of Playa Danta, a protected bay known for its tranquil conditions, making wetsuits optional. The swim provides a refreshing start to the race, with participants navigating the loop surrounded by lush tropical scenery.

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The bike course spans 21K, weaving through singletrack trails within the forest reserve surrounding Las Catalinas. This section challenges riders with technical trails and significant elevation changes, rewarding them with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean from the cliffside paths. 

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The 9K trail run completes the triathlon, offering a varied and challenging experience along the coast and across stretches of white-sand beaches. Runners traverse trails that lead through lush forests and along the shoreline, ending on the cobblestone streets of Las Catalinas' charming city centre. 

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Las Catalinas, just 45 minutes from Liberia International Airport, is a car-free beach town that offers luxurious accommodations, from beachfront cottages to upscale hotels. With more than 20 miles of expertly crafted mountain biking trails and a unique setting that models an Italian village, the town is a perfect backdrop for this XTERRA event.

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The event will also include a Sprint Triathlon that serves as a qualifying race for the XTERRA Youth World Championship, a 31.5K trail run that serves as a qualifier for the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship, and additional trail runs of various distances. An open-water swim race and kids’ events ensure there is something for everyone. There will also be live music throughout the weekend and a pre-race pasta dinner to get the community together as the race celebrates its Las Catalinas debut.

Set against the serene backdrop of Lipno Lake and the rolling hills of the Šumava Mountains, XTERRA Šumava offers a unique Long Distance Triathlon that will serve as a World Championship qualifier. Known for its pristine nature and scenic landscapes, the Šumava region is a dream destination for trail sports fans, featuring endless gravel roads, winding forest trails, and the historic Schwarzenberg water channel. 

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The Long Distance Triathlon at XTERRA Šumava is the first of its kind in the Czech Republic, designed specifically for gravel bikes. This format ensures a fast and exciting race, with gravel bikes offering a speed advantage over traditional mountain bikes. 

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The event begins with a spectacular 2K swim in Lipno Lake, where athletes will jump off a ferry boat to start the race. The swim is a single loop that leads to the transition area in the quaint village of Blíži Lhota.

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The bike segment features a 70K course, where athletes will complete two 35K loops, exploring the diverse terrain and enjoying continuous views of the surrounding Šumava Mountains. 

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The race concludes with a 21K run, taking athletes through the heart of the Šumava National Park. The trails offer a mix of gradual inclines and flat sections, allowing speedsters to open the taps in the final leg of the race.

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XTERRA Šumava also includes a Full Distance triathlon, but due to the relatively easy level of the bike section, those looking to claim one of the 28 World Championship slots will need to be prepared for a big day out in the Long Distance race.