Duvoisin and Forissier crowned 2025 XTERRA World Champions in Molveno

El 29th XTERRA World Championship lived an epic day on September 27 in Molveno, under the Brenta Dolomites.

With more than 1.000 triathletes from 54 countries, the event marked the end of the Italian leg before the event moves to a new venue in 2026. A chill in the air (11°C) and alpine water at 17,4°C marked the start of an edition where the tough terrain combined with a truly all-terrain community atmosphere.

Forissier dominates in men

The French Felix forissier He won with authority in a time of 2:44:18. After a swim led by Henry Bramwell-Reeks (GBR), the bike duel between Forissier and Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (DNK) was spectacular, with just seconds separating them.

The running race ultimately decided the title, thanks to the Frenchman's fastest split of the day (40:55). The podium was completed by sloth nielsen (2:45:52) and his compatriot Arthur Serrières (2: 47: 13).

The Spanish triathlon was also represented in Molveno with José Ignacio Gálvez Ponce, who completed the demanding event in 3:05:11 and finished in 20th place. The Andalusian, making his debut in the XTERRA Elite World Championships, struggled on the alpine course and put in a solid performance that will allow him to continue gaining international experience on the off-road circuit.

Duvoisin reigns supreme in women

In the female category, the Swiss Loanne Duvoisin He signed his first world crown with a time of 3:15:18.

After a swim led by Isla Hedley (GBR), the Swiss athlete destroyed the cycling segment (2:01:22) and finished with the best run split (49:24). In second place came Solemn Billouin (FRA, 3:19:30), while the Chilean Barbara Riveros took the bronze with 3:22:40.

A global and diverse community

Molveno brought together athletes of all ages, from Teresa Beraus (GER) at 20 to Keiji Matsuba (JPN) at 70.

Beyond the result, XTERRA once again became a cultural and sporting hub, with growing participation from countries such as Costa Rica, China, and Panama. The legendary Conrad Stoltz He highlighted: “XTERRA exposes you to places, cultures and people you would never know without this sport.”

The layout: pure XTERRA essence

• Swimming (1,5 km): two laps on Lake Molveno, with wetsuits required.
• Cycling (32 km, +1.100 m): two laps with long climbs, technical descents and passes through the Paganella Bike Park.
• Race (10 km, +288 m): demanding loops between trails and roots, finishing at the lake beach with a crowded finish.

Age groups: the soul of the championship

Beyond the elite, the age groupers were protagonists. Personal stories like that of the Spaniard Miguel Acosta (M45-49), which he repeated for the fourth time in Molveno, reflected the XTERRA spirit: “The best thing is the fresh water, the landscapes and the people. The environment inspires many things within me.”

They also highlighted Loïc Menoux (FRA), first amateur to finish (3:12:28), and Paula Leupold (GER), female winner (3:51:51). For many, the true triumph was sharing the experience with friends and family, like the Mexican Lars Hanschke, who competed alongside his son.

Elite Results

Men

Women