XTERRA Off-Road Triathlons: July ‘24

When the XTERRA World Championship descends on the foothills of the Brenta Dolomites this September, it will bring with it all the weight and anticipation expected of any trilogy event. In just two years, this venue has seen athletes come together from more countries than ever before, the level of off-road triathlon reach unprecedented heights, and produced some of the most iconic moments in the history of the sport. Now, the stage is set for a climactic third chapter.

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Already, 52 countries will be represented on the starting line, with 15 qualifying races in 9 countries still to go. When the XTERRA Youth Championship debuts the day after the Full Distance race, 18 nationalities (and counting) will be represented across the three Youth categories. Both World Champions will be looking to complete their hat trick, the next World Cup Champions will be crowned, and every athlete taking on the 43.5K championship course will be celebrated for earning their place to compete in off-road triathlon’s pinnacle event.

July will see 7 of the remaining 15 qualifying races play out, with two of XTERRA’s oldest races and a unique 2024 debut race all contributing to who will be on that starting line in Molveno come September 28.

The racing this month begins in the country that boasts more current World Champions than any other. Of the 28 reigning elite and age division champions, an impressive 14 reigning champs hail from France. This should come as no surprise as the nation is renowned for producing some of the world’s best trail sport athletes and is home to one of XTERRA’s oldest races. Debuting in 2006, XTERRA France has played a crucial role in producing some of the world’s top off-road triathletes, with the custom-built bike park and one of the loudest finish lines on the World Tour contributing to the event’s must-race-once reputation.

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XTERRA France has a signature festival feel to it, with more than 2,000 athletes and thousands more spectators descending on the small village of Xonrupt for the two-day event. The custom-built bike park, constructed from over 1,200 pallets of wood just days before the event, serves as the centrepiece of the race village and the central viewing point for arguably the loudest crowd in off-road triathlon.

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Not only one of the oldest and loudest races on the World Tour, but one of the longest, too. The Full Distance begins in the chilly yet beautifully clear water of Lake Xonrupt Longemer, where temperatures through the week will determine whether wetsuits will be required. A 1.5K single-loop swim gets the race started, with the real work awaiting on the return to dry land.

The bike course is where the work begins, with a massive 40K ride demanded from those taking on the Full Distance. It’s the longest bike section of the World Tour races, but also comes with all the highlights a keen cross-triathlete could ask for: power climbs to test strength, technical sections to test skill, fast descents to test nerves, and plenty of singletrack through the quintessential French woodlands. Two loops of 20K complete the mid-section of the race, with 600m of elevation to get through in each loop.

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The climbs and descents continue into the final section of the race, with 2 loops and a total of 320m of elevation contributing to the 10K run through the Vosges forest. With some steep ascents and highly technical descents, weather can play a big part in just how challenging this course can be.

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58 World Championship slots will be available for those finishing towards the top of their division, with many undoubtedly eyeing becoming a 2024 age division XTERRA World Champion.

The first of three triathlons happening in the Great White North this month, XTERRA Victoria takes full advantage of the clear waters of Durrance Lake and the internationally recognized trails of Mt. Work Mountain Bike Park to put on a two-day trail festival that should be on every off-road triathlete’s bucket list. The event takes place on Vancouver Island, one of the world's best outdoor playgrounds, with more mountain biking and running trails than any athlete could ask for.

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The Full Distance race begins with a two-lap, 1.5K swim in the calm lake waters of Durrance Lake. Expect water temperatures to be around 21 degrees, with all but one race in the history of the event being wetsuit legal. Through the first transition is where the real fun starts, with Canada being synonymous with some of the best mountain biking in the world and Victoria being no exception. The two-lap, 24K bike loop predominantly makes use of the renowned trails of Mt. Work Park (commonly known as ‘The Dump’), offering a variety of double and singletrack trails with a mix of climbs, descents, and plenty of fast, flowing trails. The final 9.2K run does a loop of the lake before climbing into the Partridge Hills. There are a number of short, steep climbs, most notably ‘The Beast,’ but make it to the top and you’re rewarded with mostly fun, flowing singletrack trails.

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The two-day trail festival on Vancouver Island also has plenty on offer for those not ready to take on the Full Distance Tri. There is a Sprint Triathlon that will serve as a qualifier for the Youth World Championship, a Sprint Duathlon, a Half Marathon offering slots to the Trail Run World Champs, as well as a 5K and 10K trail run for those keen on shorter distances.

Over on the east side of Canada, XTERRA Québec will be celebrating its 10th edition of the event as one of 7 stops on the XTERRA World Cup series. The event has an incredible history behind it, manually building just 6K of trail from scratch for the first edition of the race before slowly expanding into what is now known as Empire 47 - a world-renowned trail network with over 75K of perfectly curated trails shaped purely for mountain bike bliss. This year, organisers will once again draw on that extensive trail network to deliver a Full Distance Off-Road Triathlon worthy of not only the hundreds of age division athletes ready to take on the challenge, but also the largest number of pro athletes the race has seen in its decade-long history.

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Starting in the magnificent Lac Delage, athletes will dive headfirst into the chilly lake waters to take on the two-loop, 1.5K swim. Water temperatures usually sit around 22 degrees, with conditions on the day determining whether wetsuits will be allowed or not.

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The bike course is constantly tweaked and adapted every year, with XTERRA Québec and Empire 47 working together to create the best bike loop possible in the sport of off-road tri. For the 2024 edition of the Full Distance race, athletes will take on a two-loop, 31K ride complete with well-groomed climbs, technical sections, fast descents, and loads of singletrack with plenty of flow.

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The final section of the race will be a fast one, with the majority of the 11K trail run taking place on trails designed for two wheels. The run opens with an almost 1.5K false flat that will set a fast pace for those chasing results and slots. From there, the real climbing begins as athletes make their way to the highest point of the run loop on winding singletrack to get the bulk of the 190m of elevation behind them before a fast scramble down to begin the second loop.

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At stake for the pros will be the $20,000 prize purse and the crucial World Cup series points, while 58 World Championship slots will be up for grabs for top-performing age division athletes.

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Not only a World Cup destination, XTERRA Québec also holds the honour of having one of the most action-packed schedules on the Americas Tour with a total of 14 races in just three days. Alongside the Full Distance Triathlon, the event will include three other triathlon distances, three duathlon distances, an open water swim, a night swimrun, three trail run races, and the fan-favourite Short Track race.

From the team behind the notorious XTERRA Czech comes the newest location to be added to the XTERRA World Tour. Taking place in the historically rich township of Banská Štiavnica, XTERRA Slovakia marks the first step towards bringing top-tier off-road triathlon experiences to the growing triathlon community in Eastern Europe, while also providing travelling athletes with the chance to experience the vibrant culture of the area.

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Once a bustling mining town, Banská Štiavnica has evolved into a historical treasure, encircled by rugged hills, over 50K of marked mountain biking trails, and countless pristine lakes. A UNESCO-listed site filled with wonderful architecture, authentic restaurants, cafés and bars, and with no shortage of accommodation options to choose from, the location embodies almost every element of the XTERRA DNA.

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The Full Distance race is an A-B course, with athletes transported to Kolpašské Lake for the start. The lake was built in 1730 as a water energy source for mining but now boasts pristine water quality throughout the year with average water temperatures of 20-23 degrees in July, meaning wetsuit decisions will be made on the day. The race will begin in deep waters, with athletes taking on a 2-loop, 1.5K swim with no halfway exit.

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The 32K bike section begins with a 16K ride back to the town, taking on fast and flat trails and gravel sections before climbing up to the iconic Kalvária at the top of the mountain. From the Kalvária, the course sends athletes into two technical 8K loops that will head out to the lake of Cervena Studna and back through the race village set up in the main town square for an energy boost from cheering fans.

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The 2-loop, 10K run begins in the town square, taking athletes 600m through the old town centre before hitting the first big climb along a mix of old cobblestone paths and single track that winds between historical houses and gardens. Conquer the climb, and the flow and tech sections begin as athletes descend through smooth gravel roads to Klinger Lake and back into the town square.

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The inaugural event will offer 28 World Championship slots to local and travelling athletes taking on the challenge. There will also be a Sprint Triathlon held on the same day as the Full Distance Tri for athletes aged 16-19 to earn their slots to the first-ever XTERRA Youth World Championship set to be held in Italy this September.

Ringing in 20 years of XTERRA racing, XTERRA EX2 heads back to the picture-perfect Rocky Gap State Park for the single-day event that has kept off-road triathletes coming back for more for two straight decades. With its picturesque beauty, fantastic amenities, large clear mountain lake, and challenging trail network, the park offers the perfect mix of ingredients for an XTERRA off-road event. Just a 2.5-hour drive from the Washington and Baltimore metro areas, athletes can build an entire race-cation around the event with camping, a Jack Nicklaus golf course, pristine beaches, fishing, and endless trails all in close proximity.

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The Full Distance Triathlon starts in the beautiful Lake Habeeb with a 1,200m swim separated by a 50m beach run between the two laps. The water is warm, usually hovering around 26 degrees in July, with wetsuits being legal on just one occasion in the 20-year history of the event.

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The bike course is a two-lap course with over 300m of elevation across the 21.5K. Be prepared for a moderate amount of climbing, but overall it is the bike section that is the fan-favourite part of the race. Expect twisty lakeside single track, wide fire roads, smooth grassy sections, and a few rock gardens with consistent views of the lake and park along the way.

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The race finishes with a single-loop trail run of 9K with a total elevation gain of roughly 800m. The course is mostly single track and double track through the forest with three significant climbs to test who left enough gas in the tank and who didn’t.

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Those who paced their race right and top their division will be in contention for the 28 World Championship slots available. For those not keen on going the Full Distance, there is also a Duathlon held the same day, open to both relay teams and individuals.

The second race this year in the host country of the 2024 XTERRA World Championship mixes beauty and brutality in equal measures. XTERRA Lake Scanno combines all the charm of the village and the 'heart-shaped lake' with one of the EMEA Tour’s toughest races. Steep climbs to the high points of Abruzzo National Park followed by demanding downhills by bike and on foot are met with some of the finest cuisine and architecture rich in history to deliver the signature XTERRA race experience.

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As the host country of the XTERRA World Championship, a total of 58 World Championship slots will be at stake, with both Super Sprint and Sprint Triathlons taking place on the same day for young and aspiring off-road triathletes to earn their slot to the XTERRA Youth World Championship.

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The Full Distance swim offers athletes the chance to dive into the famous waters of Lake Scanno for a two-lap 1.5K swim with an Australian exit along the wooden bridge that is sure to be lined with fans and local supporters.

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Strength, skills, and sheer bravery will all be put to the test when athletes pass through the first transition and take off on the bike. The two-loop course totals 30K of riding with over 500m of elevation gain. Trails range from smooth-riding singletrack to rocky technical sections and finish with the infamous Scanno stairs as athletes return into the village.

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Much like the bike course, the run will have athletes earning every inch of their post-race pizza through tough climbs, challenging descents, and technical terrain that will demand careful footing at times. But once the lake is back in view, athletes will know they’re close to conquering one of the most famously tough courses in EMEA.

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The opening day of the two-day event is entirely dedicated to off-road triathlon, with the Full Distance, Sprint, and Super Sprint Triathlons all taking place on the same day. Day two is dedicated to XTERRA’s future stars, with multiple kids' races scheduled for 9-14 year olds.

The most important and distinguishing feature of XTERRA Conquer the Crater is that 100% of all proceeds raised by the event support the Northern Cancer Foundation's Miles Against Cancer Fund, dedicated to improving the survival rate and quality of life of children and their families impacted by paediatric cancer in Northeastern Ontario. It’s an incredible event for an incredible cause, with eight races spread across the weekend for everybody to get involved.

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All the courses make use of the double-track crusher dust ski trails and challenging singletrack hiking trails of Kivi Park, where athletes will be taken across iconic vistas of the Canadian Shield, showcasing the region’s famous rock, pine forests, and unique geography that once inspired NASA to send their astronauts here for training.

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The Full Distance Triathlon will serve as the headline race of the weekend, where athletes will compete for the 28 World Championship slots. The course includes a two-loop, 1.5K swim, a 24K ride, and a 9K trail run. However, the Full Distance Triathlon will not be the only race dishing out championship slots. There will also be a Sprint Triathlon for youth athletes aged 16-19 to earn slots in the XTERRA Youth World Championship, as well as a Trail Marathon and Half Marathon for trail runners to earn their place at the Trail Run World Championship in Maine, USA. For those just looking to join in the action and spend time with the XTERRA Community, there are also Full and Sprint Duathlons, as well as shorter trail run options for both adults and young ones.