The 29th XTERRA World Championship, held in Molveno, Italy, on September 25-28, 2025, is bringing together over 1,000 athletes from 54 nations, spanning five continents.
With XTERRA previously hosting 25 years of racing off-road triathlon in Maui, Hawaii, this year marks the fourth and final edition of the event in Italy – with a return to the USA planned in 2026.
Participation in XTERRA World Championship has reportedly increased from several nations, with the biggest gains coming from Costa Rica, China, and Luxembourg, alongside growth from Slovakia, Estonia, Malaysia, Argentina, Colombia, and the United Kingdom. New nations represented this year include Croatia, Israel, Sweden, and Panama.
The event, which runs from September 25-28, 2025, includes the World Cup Short Track finale, the Full Distance World Championship, and the Youth World Championship. A Sprint Triathlon is also open to families and friends.
Youth participation on the rise
XTERRA notes that youth participation is a notable area of growth, with more than 300 athletes aged 19 and under set to compete. This is an increase of over 50% on 2024. The Youth World Championship includes over 300 qualifiers from more than 20 countries.
World Championship course
The course for the XTERRA World Championship consists of a 1.5km swim, a 32km mountain bike leg, and a 10km trail run. The course is described as demanding, with significant climbing on both the bike and run sections.
It starts with a 1.5km swim in Lake Molveno, followed by a 32km bike with over 1,100m of climbing, and a 10km trail run with 288m of climbing.
Elite competition
The elite races will feature a prize purse of €100,000 for both the Short Track and the World Championship. Arthur Serrières (FRA) and Solenne Billouin (FRA) are both aiming for a fourth consecutive victory.
Arthur Serrières (FRA) said “I hope to be a man of the moment at least one more time, and I also think what I did in Molveno and in the past years give something to people and XTERRA.”
Solenne Billouin (FRA) said “Having been successful here before also brings positive energy, it’s a reminder that I did it already and I can do it again on this terrain, even if I still approach it with a fresh mindset each time.”
Racing action will be available on the XTERRA YouTube channel.
