Australia

The biggest stage in off-road triathlon has opened with an all-new test for XTERRA’s fastest, launching the chase for the 2025 World Cup title in the crystal-clear waters of Geographe Bay before tearing through the rapid, rowdy trails of Meelup Regional Park.

The fastest start to the pro series yet, the Short Track race kicked off the season-long battle for series points for the first time. Next, the Full Distance race will deliver the first real endurance test, with the results from both races deciding who leaves Australia at the top of the leaderboard.

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The start list features an exciting mix of global stars and local talent, with a strong European contingent of World Champions and World Cup race winners balancing the transition from winter training to an entirely new terrain—all while facing a fresh group of local athletes racing on home soil.

Athletes To Watch

Top contenders, local favorites and the full start list.

Solenne Billouin

FRA

Coming off a big training camp in Australia, the reigning World Champ and 2024 World Cup winner will be the name to beat in the opening stop.

Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen

DNK

A specialist rider ready to use the bike course to his advantage, the Dane will be eager to add more World Cup race wins to his collection.

Alizee Paties

FRA

The 2023 World Cup winner will be looking to start her campaign strong, using her well-rounded skill set to her advantage on a fast, aggressive course.

Arthur Forissier

FRA

A proven World Cup race winner and Short Track specialist, the Frenchman will be a major threat on Australia’s tight and fast-paced circuit.

Aneta Grabmuller

CZE

A dominant force in the water, the Czech swimmer will look to break away early and hold off the chasing pack—something she has mastered in the pro series.

Kieran Mcpherson

NZL

A hard-charging Kiwi with a strong bike leg, the reigning APAC Men’s Champion will look to capitalise on the fast, technical terrain to make his mark.

Hannah Lee Young

AUS

The reigning APAC Women’s Champion thrives on tough courses and will look to carry her regional dominance onto the World Cup stage in front of a home crowd.

Benjamin Forbes

AUS

An Aussie MTB specialist racing on home soil, Forbes will be a serious threat on the bike as he looks to bounce back from a stellar Worlds performance marred by a DSQ.

Elizabeth Orchard

NZL

A past winner on this course, the Kiwi powerhouse will start with the confidence of having already conquered the trails of Meelup Regional Park.

Michele Bonacina

ITA

A swim specialist with an increasingly strong bike leg, the Italian will aim to lead out of the water and control the pace early as he looks to start strong.

Tom Fisher

AUS

A strong all-rounder with home-course advantage, the Australian will be looking to make waves in the season opener against the World Cup’s best.

Full Distance & SHort Track Start List

Men Women

Men

Points

Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen

DNK

Arthur Forissier

FRA

Michele Bonacina

ITA

Kieran Mcpherson

NZL

Sebastian Neef

DEU

Federico Spinazze

ITA

Tom Fisher

AUS

Scott Anderson

DEU

Francois Carloni

FRA

Quirijn Waaijenberg

NLD

Benjamin Forbes

AUS

Boris Janata

SVK

Takehiro Irokawa

JPN

Samuel Mcnaughton

AUS

Women

Points

Solenne Billouin

FRA

Alizee Paties

FRA

Aneta Grabmuller

CZE

Marta Menditto

ITA

Maeve Kennedy

AUS

Elizabeth Orchard

NZL

Lorena Erl

DEU

Romane Cizeron

FRA

Hannah Lee Young

AUS

Lucie Van Der Schalk

AUS

Louise Fox

GBR

Short Track Results

Times, splits and points from the opening race of the series.

Sloth Nielsen and Billouin Take Short Track Honours

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Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen opened his campaign with a dominant win in the fast-format race, his swim and run now seemingly matching the strength of his bike. Meanwhile, Billouin made a surprise move to the top of the podium after a near-flawless performance from Paties was overturned after the finish, leaving her with a DSQ. The Dane and the Frenchwoman walk away with the lion’s share of points—and their names at the top of the leaderboard heading into the Full Distance race.

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Men's SHORT Track Results (Top 5)

Athlete

Time

Swim

Bike

Run

Prize Money

Points

Total

Rank

Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen

Times:

37:22

Swim:

06:19

Bike:

18:37

Run:

11:09

$900

Points:

Total:

Rank:

Kieran Mcpherson

Times:

38:00

Swim:

06:21

Bike:

18:47

Run:

11:41

$700

Points:

Total:

Rank:

Federico Spinazze

Times:

38:15

Swim:

05:52

Bike:

18:59

Run:

12:09

$500

Points:

Total:

Rank:

Arthur Forissier

Times:

38:27

Swim:

06:17

Bike:

19:36

Run:

11:29

$250

Points:

Total:

Rank:

Michele Bonacina

Times:

38:49

Swim:

05:45

Bike:

19:21

Run:

12:36

$150

Points:

Total:

Rank:

WOMen's Short Track Results (Top 5)

Athlete

Time

Swim

Bike

Run

Prize Money

Points

Total

Rank

Solenne Billouin

Times:

42:42

Swim:

06:41

Bike:

21:11

Run:

13:31

$900

Points:

Total:

Rank:

Maeve Kennedy

Times:

43:33

Swim:

06:47

Bike:

21:58

Run:

13:23

$700

Points:

Total:

Rank:

Marta Menditto

Times:

44:09

Swim:

06:49

Bike:

21:55

Run:

13:59

$500

Points:

Total:

Rank:

Aneta Grabmuller

Times:

44:53

Swim:

06:14

Bike:

21:46

Run:

15:33

$250

Points:

Total:

Rank:

Hannah Lee Young

Times:

45:43

Swim:

07:19

Bike:

22:53

Run:

14:10

$150

Points:

Total:

Rank:

Race Preview

A blistering start to an all-new series

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If the goal was to raise the game and take XTERRA elite racing to the next level, the start list alone for this opening race would say mission accomplished. This will, by a long way, be the single most competitive race to ever take place in the APAC region or almost anywhere outside of an XTERRA World Championship. Both reigning champs will be there. Every elite man and woman in the top five of the XTERRA World Rankings will be there. No less than 10 of the top 15 2022 male World Championship finishers will be there, and 10 of the top 20 females. It’s all the biggest names in off-road tri right now and not a single one of them is racing in familiar territory. And this is just the opening race.

WORLD CUP Series Info

The XTERRA World Cup is the world's premier off-road triathlon pro series, where the sport’s top elites go head-to-head in a condensed circuit of Full Distance and Short Track races. A points-based battle where every turn, climb, and descent matters, each race is a fight for a share of the series prize purse and the pursuit of becoming the next XTERRA World Cup Champion.

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The 2025 World Cup will feature eight stops and 11 races across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. With no joker rule in play, every race counts toward the overall standings. Full Distance races award series points to the top 30 finishers, with the winner claiming 100 points. Short Track races are invitation-only, featuring the top 30 qualifiers, with the winner earning the maximum 75 points.

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The Short Track showdown in Trentino, Italy, will serve as the series finale, where the next XTERRA World Cup Champions will be crowned ahead of the 2025 XTERRA World Championship.

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Sloth Nielsen and Billouin Take Short Track Honours

A blistering start to an all-new series

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