2024 Xterra World Championship Preview: A Battle of the Ages
The 28th XTERRA World Championship returns on September 28, uniting the worldâs best off-road triathletes for the pinnacle event of the 2024 season.Â
The village of Molveno with just over 1,000 inhabitants located beneath the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Brenta Dolomites in the northern Italian Alps welcomes over 1,000 athletes from more than 50 countries to compete for their shot at becoming XTERRA World Champions in their respective age group categories.Â
The four-day festival features the fast-paced Short Track Triathlon in the race village filled with spectators on Thursday, the World Championship Full Distance Race on Saturday and the first-ever XTERRA Youth World Championship on Sunday. All three events will air live and will also be available on replay. Fans are encouraged to visit XTERRAâs YouTube channel to set their notifications in order to view all three races.Â
Off-Roadâs Biggest Stage
The XTERRA World Championship takes place in Italy in its third consecutive year continuing the sportâs expansion beyond its origins in Maui, Hawaii dating back to 1996. The race village positioned alongside Lake Molveno, surrounded by the iconic peaks of the Dolomites offers an entryway into world renowned trails along with its own uniquely crafted MTB park filled with twists, jumps, and berms. The trail running terrain features flowy gravel along the lakeside, technical ascents and descents over roots and rocks with a dash to the finish line surrounded by scores of fans, family and friends who encompass the global XTERRA Community.
Saturdayâs World Championship awards Elite triathletes with a total prize purse of âŹ100,000 with an additional âŹ100,000 to be given out as part of the second annual XTERRA World Cup. 100 points are on the line during this race to finalize the 2024 XTERRA World Cup rankings. The finale in Italy marks the culmination of a competitive series across various terrains worldwide including stops in Taiwan, Greece, USA, Belgium, Canada, and the Czech Republic.Â
XTERRA has developed from an off-road sport combining swimming, mountain biking, and trail running into a global phenomenon with participants from 52 countries represented in this yearâs World Championship. Notable champions over its 28 year history include Conrad Stoltz (RSA), Lesley Paterson (GBR), Ned Overend (USA), Flora Duffy (BMU), and Jamie Whitmore (USA).
A Global Start Line
With the sport of cross-triathlon continuing to grow from strength to strength, the 2024 World Championship will see one of the most diverse start lists in recent history. Countries with an established XTERRA history are boasting larger contingents than ever before while multiple other countries will see their colors represented for the first time.
Out of the 52 nations represented at the 2024 XTERRA World Championship, France, the country with more reigning champions than any other, will once again have the biggest presence in the race while also sporting a 28% increase in competitors from 2023. The host nation follows as the second most represented country, with the Italian contingent growing by 60% in their third year as host. Other notable representations include Brazil, who has seen their participation increase by 1,000+%, Belgium at 139%, along with the Czech Republic and Germany who have both seen a 35% increase since last year. The effect of the 2024 debut races is also evident, with Colombia boasting a strong showing of 14 athletes this year. Countries who werenât present in the 2023 World Championship but will now see their flags represented in 2024 including Latvia, Tunisia, Kuwait, Norway, Guatemala, China, and Malaysia.Â
Of the 16 reigning World Champions from the menâs race, 6 are back to defend their titles, while 5 women return to defend theirs. Three of these World ChampionsâPetr Cmunt (CZE), Janet Soule (USA) and Lorenn Walker (USA)âwill be in contention to complete the Italian three-peat, having held the title in their age division since the event first debuted in Italy in 2022.
With new countries entering the fray and qualifying slots becoming increasingly hard to earn, this yearâs XTERRA World Championship promises to be another unforgettable chapter in the sportâs ongoing rise.
Course Description
Swim (1.5K):Â The race begins with a 1.5-kilometer swim in the crystal-clear waters of Lake Molveno, recognized multiple times as the âMost Beautiful Lake in Italyâ by the environmental association Legambiente, and the Italian Touring Club. Athletes will complete two 750-meter laps, featuring an Australian exit where they briefly exit the water and re-enter from a pier for the second lap. Wetsuits are mandatory due to the water temperatures in this mountainous region of Trentino.Â
Bike (32K):Â Transitioning from the swim, competitors embark on a demanding 32K mountain bike course composed of two 16K loops. Each loop starts with a flat 3K ride alongside the lake before shifting into challenging climbs on mixed gravel and rocky trails. Riders will reach the highest point of the course within the first 10K, facing a total elevation gain of 1,034m over this segment. The descent combines smooth paths with technical sections featuring roots and rocks. The loop concludes by passing through Molveno and into the race village, where wooden ramps and berms serve as the final obstacles.
Run (10K):Â The race is decided with a final 10K trail run, reversed in direction from the previous two years. Athletes will run two 5K laps, beginning on a wide fire road before entering technical single tracks with steep ascents and descents, totaling an elevation gain of 288m. The course then reconnects with the beach of Lake Molveno. Competitors will either loop back for the second lap or push to the finish line for their shot at being crowned the 2024 XTERRA World Champion .
