Prachatice, Czech Republic, became the epicenter of European off-road racing this August, hosting two back-to-back showpieces: the Europe Triathlon XTERRA Cross Duathlon Championships and the Europe Triathlon XTERRA Cross Triathlon Championships. Across four days, athletes tackled technical trails, steep climbs, and spirited competition under warm summer skies, with the town buzzing in celebration of endurance sport.

The action began on 7 August with the Cross Duathlon, where athletes opened with a fast 7.96 km trail run before taking on a challenging 20.13 km mountain bike leg and closing with a final 3.93 km run. In the Elite Men’s race, Denmark’s Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen stormed to victory in 1:37:39, with Belgian off-road legend Sébastien Carabin just under a minute back in 1:38:38, and fellow Belgian Kevin Nyssen rounding out the podium in 1:39:18. The Elite Women’s race saw Italy’s Noemi Bogiatto deliver a dominant performance, crossing the line in 1:53:37 ahead of Germany’s Anna-Lena Theisen in 1:55:53 and Austria’s Carina Wasle in 1:59:07.

In the U23 Men’s field, Belgium’s Otto Teulingkx took gold in 1:40:53, followed by France’s Quentin Audo (1:41:19) and Belgium’s Yannis Devoldere (1:43:38). The Junior Men’s race was won by Italy’s Gabriele Gattino in 53:45, ahead of Czech athletes Vilém Hodný (55:11) and Jan Všetička (55:53). For the Junior Women, Czech representative Nikol Jakubcová claimed the title in 1:11:58.

Two days later, on 9 August, the spotlight shifted to the Cross Triathlon – a true all-round test starting with a 1.5 km wetsuit-legal swim in the local reservoir, followed by a 31.5 km mountain bike and a 10.54 km trail run. In the Elite Men’s race, France’s Felix Forissier took the crown in 2:21:32, holding off Denmark’s Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen in 2:22:05 and compatriot Arthur Serrieres in 2:24:16. The Elite Women’s race was dominated by Chile’s Barbara Riveros, who claimed victory in 2:51:42 ahead of Italy’s Marta Menditto (2:54:10) and Czech star Aneta Grabmuller Soldati (2:56:10).

The U23 Men’s title went to France’s Quentin Audo in 2:37:42, followed by teammate Simon Gourques (2:40:21) and Czech athlete Ondrej Vit (2:41:31). The U23 Women’s race saw Italy’s Noemi Bogiatto secure another gold in 3:00:23, with Great Britain’s Isla Hedley taking silver in 3:06:10 and Czech athlete Barbora Stupková finishing third in 3:25:41. In the Junior Men’s race, Czech talent shone through with Jakub Marik (54:37), Matěj Homola (54:39), and Jakub Odehnal (54:51) sweeping the podium.

Beyond the elite and junior battles, the event also celebrated a large and passionate field of age-group athletes from across Europe. Many came chasing personal bests, others simply to embrace the challenge and adventure that define XTERRA racing. For them, the reward was not just the finish line, but the camaraderie, the roaring crowds in the historic town square, and the chance to race on some of the most scenic – and demanding – off-road courses in Europe.

From the explosive speed of the duathlon runs to the full-skill demands of the cross triathlon, Prachatice delivered a weekend of racing that perfectly captured the grit, determination, and joy of the sport. As the sun set on the final day, athletes and fans alike left with memories of high-paced action, community spirit, and a celebration of European off-road excellence.