XTERRA World Champs 2025: One Last Dance Beneath the Dolomites

When the world’s best off-road triathletes descend on the small mountain village of Molveno this September, it will carry a weight only ever felt once before in the 29-year history of XTERRA. Next season, athletes taking to the sport’s biggest stage will explore an entirely new terrain for just the third time since its inception. But first, on September 28 and 29 this year, the world will witness one last dance beneath the Brenta Dolomites before Molveno passes the torch, the honour, and the spirit of XTERRA’s greatest day to the welcoming community of Ruidoso, New Mexico, USA.

‍

Few places on the planet match the raw beauty of Molveno. Few races bring such an unpredictable and exciting mix of the elements. And few chapters in XTERRA history have carried the weight of following in the footsteps of something as great as Maui — the place where it all began.

For 25 years, the XTERRA World Championship stayed right where the sport was born, on the island of Maui. What started with just 123 pioneers on the start line in 1996 became the heart and home of off-road triathlon for a quarter of century. So when the decision was made to move the World Championship for the first time, Molveno didn’t just inherit a race. It inherited a legacy.

‍

But like the Dolomites themselves, Molveno rose to the challenge. The tiny village three hours north of Milan has delivered three mighty years of off-road triathlon at the highest level, forging new legacies, welcoming the rise of a Youth World Championship, and offering a terrain that produced some of the most recognisable and inspirational imagery in a sport already steeped in mud, sweat, and challenge. For three incredible years, the community of Molveno has embraced the event wholeheartedly, setting the stage for stories to be written, memories to be made, and the spirit born in Maui to live on.

‍

Now, before XTERRA Worlds returns to its continental home, athletes across every division, from 14 years of age through to 75-plus, will line up on the shores of Lago di Molveno one final time. Ready to take on the waters and trails of one of Italy’s most spectacular natural arenas together. Ready to once again demonstrate the power of the human spirit. Ready to become part of a story 29 years in the making.

The XTERRA World Championship is where the global off-road triathlon season ends, and where the dream begins for over a thousand of the world’s most aspirational athletes. After a season that stretched across oceans, lakes, mountains, valleys, and ridgelines, this is where the world comes to race.

‍

In 2025, more than 50 XTERRA World Tour events across 25 countries gave athletes the chance to qualify for the sport’s biggest stage. Across five continents, from the tropical jungles of Asia Pacific to the high-altitude climbs of the Americas and the unpredictable terrain across Europe, every course offered something different. Some tested speed. Others tested patience. All demanded courage. With each stop came a new community of hosts, new stories, and a new group of qualifiers adding to the most diverse field of the season. A global gathering with a shared passion for off-road adventure, now bound for the trails of Molveno.

Among them, the sport’s next generation. Now in its second year, the XTERRA Youth Tour was built with care to mirror the World Tour’s structure and spirit, giving athletes aged 14 to 19 the chance to compete on natural terrain the world over and be a part of the off-road community. With 300 qualifiers from more than 20 countries this season, the Youth World Championship is no longer a new addition, but a proud expression of what XTERRA stands for: community, challenge, and the future of the sport.

‍

By the time race week begins in Molveno, over 1,000 athletes from 50+ nations will see their colours represented across 15 divisions. They will arrive from as far afield as Canada, Argentina, New Zealand, and Japan, each bringing their own reason for being here. Some return to defend a title. Others arrive chasing it for the first time. Every athlete on the start line has earned their place, and every division, from junior through elite, will crown a World Champion.

If Maui laid the foundation in the first 25 years, Molveno has echoed it loud and clear: in this sport, nature always has its say.

‍

On the debut year of Molveno, rain hit on race morning, turning dry dirt trails into slick mud and forcing riders to dig deep for grip and control. In 2023, it looked like history might repeat itself. But the sun rose, the ground dried, and the course flipped in a matter of hours. Then came 2024. A sudden cold snap swept through the Dolomites days before the race and did not leave, delivering the coldest XTERRA World Championship in history. One course. Three years. Three entirely different battles. That is the beauty of the sport and the World Championship. No two races are the same, and the test is whatever lies in front of you on the day.

‍

In Molveno, the challenge unfolds in distinct sections, beginning with a cold plunge into the glassy blue of Lake Molveno. The water is crisp and bound to spike the heart rate as the World Championship begins. Athletes take to the water in waves, each one creating a washing machine of white splashes and flashing elbows. The leaders break away, packs begin to form, and the shape of the race starts to emerge.

Out of the water, the course rises quickly. The 32K bike route is split into two laps. Within the first 10K, riders hit the highest point of the course, climbing over 500 metres per loop on a mix of gravel, roots, and stone. This is where the power riders will make their move, pushing hard on the climbs while others opt to conserve their energy for what’s still to come. 

‍

Past the highest point, athletes switch gears and drop into the signature trails of the Paganella Bike Park and the long descent back into the village begins. The trails of this section flick between flow and tech, with smooth bike park berms one minute and loose rocks or slick switchbacks the next.

Dirt then gives way to cobblestone streets as the course takes riders through the town of Molveno and into the race village setup that has been a defining part of the Italian era. Making the race as much a part of the village as the spectators themselves, athletes finish the bike section directly in front of the thousands of fans as they weave through a series of wooden berms and bridges and transition to the final stage of the race.

‍

The run is a two-lap, 10K trail loop with 288 metres of climbing and a mix of fire road and forest singletrack. Beginning with a short section through the heart of the race village, athletes quickly disappear into the forest that surrounds the lake. The elevation is by no means evenly spaced, with some steep climbs having been the deciding factor for both pros and amateurs alike in years prior. A second stretch through the race village provides a much-needed boost as fans send runners back into the forest for the final 5K. 

The last kilometre flattens as it curls back toward the beach. This is where the next set of XTERRA World Champions will earn their place. Not just for going fast, but for rising to whatever the day brings.

In the men’s race, three names stand tall. All are proven winners. All bring their own story. And all have what it takes to leave Molveno as a World Champion.

Arthur Serrières, FRA

Arthur Serrières will always be synonymous with the Italian era. Three years, three wins. If he claims a fourth in 2025, he will join Conrad Stoltz as only the second male athlete in XTERRA history to reach that milestone.

‍

Patient, calculated, and fully committed to the process, Serrières races with absolute precision. Everything is intentional. His confidence never wavers. And when the time is right, he strikes. Each of his World Championship titles has been sealed on the run. The rest of the field knows it all too well, when Arthur Serrières is behind, he is not beaten. He is hunting.

Felix Forissier, FRA

Felix Forissier needs no introduction to those following the XTERRA World Cup. For two seasons straight, he’s been nearly unstoppable, except at the one race that matters most.

‍

Explosive from the gun, relentless throughout, and technically sharp in all disciplines, Forissier is a triple-threat athlete who never drifts from the front. Twice he has arrived in Molveno as a favourite. Twice he’s finished second to Serrières. But after another season of dominant performances, he’ll undoubtedly be holding nothing back as he looks to end the season as a potential World Cup winner and world Champion.

Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen, DNK

Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen is the wildcard with fire in his belly. A passionate disruptor, he thrives in the toughest battles. Never ashamed of being slower in the water, he simply got faster everywhere else.

‍

After time away from the sport to explore other challenges, the Dane returned with more speed than ever and claimed the European Championship title just one month out from XTERRA Worlds. Now a proud uncle and racing with renewed energy, he arrives in Molveno with confidence high. Bronze in 2024 was a breakthrough. In 2025, he will be chasing the top step.

In the women’s elite race, three names stand as clear favourites. But with more unknowns in the mix, the battle is far harder to predict.

Solenne Billouin, FRA

Solenne Billouin has built her legacy on this course. In 2022, she went from relatively unknown to World Champion with a breakout performance on these trails. Since then, she’s become an unstoppable force, returning to Molveno twice more to defend her crown and write her name in XTERRA history.

‍

After stepping away from the sport earlier this season and also suffering an injury, she returned at the European Champs in Germany to claim the only major title missing from her record. A fourth win would put her alongside six-time World Champion Flora Duffy, making her just the second woman in history to claim four titles, and well on her way to becoming one of the greatest to ever do it.

Loanne Duvoisin, CHE

Loanne Duvoisin enters as the dark horse with only one XTERRA race this season. Now a full-time road triathlete, she brings elite-level power and speed after training with the Swiss national team, but also years of off-road experience. That combination saw her win the 2024 XTERRA European Championship in her only XTERRA start of the season last year.

‍

This year, she returned to Germany to do the same. After looking strong through the swim and bike, a mechanical cost her the race. But if her bike and body hold up in Molveno, the former European Champion could deliver an upset, and bring a title home for the roadies.

Marta Menditto, ITA

Marta Menditto enters as the 2025 XTERRA World Cup champion, and the athlete with the potential to complete one of the most special stories in XTERRA history.

‍

Known as the “XTERRA Kid,” Menditto has followed her dream since discovering the sport at a young age and has quietly climbed the ranks season by season. This year has already been her best yet after carving out an unassailable lead that will see her crowned as the 2025 World Cup winner after the final Short Track race in Molveno. But if the Italian were to also win the final XTERRA World Championship held on home soil, it would be more than a breakthrough. It would be a fairytale. XTERRA Kid to XTERRA Champion.

The XTERRA World Championship is a full week of racing, recon, and connection starting Monday September 22. 

Monday to Wednesday: Community Rides, Runs, and Swims

The week begins with open course access, guided rides and runs, and group swim clinics in Lake Molveno. Spectators are welcome to get trackside as the world’s best test their lines, reconnect with the trails, and shake off the nerves. It’s a chance to warm up the body, settle the mind, and share the trails before the race begins.

Thursday: World Cup Short Track Finale

Race action kicks off in the heart of the XTERRA village with the final Short Track race of the 2025 World Cup. Thirty of the fastest men and women on the planet. One last chance to score points. And a course designed for the fans, with condensed loops that cut straight through the village. Get trackside at 14:00 CET or watch live on YouTube starting at 13:55 CET.

Friday: Meet the Pros

Friday brings a moment of calm before the storm. The official press conference gives athletes a chance to share their thoughts ahead of the big day, while fans can get to know the pros in an open Q&A. It’s insight, access, and a little bit of nerves, all in one place.

Saturday: 2025 XTERRA World Championship

The big dance. Livestream coverage begins at 09:45 CET. The elite men start at 10:00, with the elite women following at 10:03. Age group racing begins at 11:15, with more than 1,000 athletes from over 50 countries chasing their own finish line stories. Every division will crown a World Champion.

Sunday: 2025 XTERRA Youth World Championship

Sunday belongs to the next generation. A totla of 300 young athletes from more than 20 countries will race on world-class terrain as the Youth World Championship takes centre stage. The Youth A Super Sprint livestream begins at 10:20 CET, with the race starting at 10:30. Youth B and Junior athletes go off at 12:30, with coverage beginning at 12:20.

It all comes down to this. One last dance beneath the Dolomites before the torch is passed to Ruidoso and the story continues 7,000 feet above sea level on the trails of New Mexico.

‍

If you can’t be there in person, all races will be livestreamed for free on the XTERRA YouTube channel. For behind-the-scenes action throughout the week, follow XTERRA Europe on Instagram.

‍

What an era it’s been, but the show is far from over. The countdown to the 2025 XTERRA World Championship starts now.