The European Throne to be Decided in the Dolomites' Mud
Arthur Forissier arrives at the frigid waters of Lago di Molveno with a target on his back and the poise of a man who masters the muck like no one else in the Old Continent. Following his masterclass in the World Cup, the elder of the French brothers seeks to defend his crown at the XTERRA European Championship. However, the Trentino course—a true leg-breaker set against the backdrop of the Brenta peaks—leaves no room for concessions or errors in tubeless tire pressure.
The real war will be waged during the MTB sector of the Full Distance Triathlon. It’s not just the 51.5-kilometer total distance that intimidates, but the technicality of the single tracks. After a week of intermittent rain, they have morphed into a treacherous trap of roots and loose rocks where flow is nowhere to be found. This is where specialists like Felix Forissier or the evergreen Ruben Ruzafa will attempt to blow the race apart before lacing up their trail shoes. The key will be not to burn all your matches on the extreme ramps of elevation gain; anyone hitting T2 with empty legs will face a true calvary during the run along the lakeshore.
Pure Speed in the Sprint Format
While the spotlight shines on the flagship event, the 25.75-kilometer Sprint Triathlon is shaping up to be a laboratory of raw watts and redlined heart rates. At this distance, drafting in the water and explosiveness on the first punchy climbs eliminate any margin for pacing. It’s full-contact cycling and heart-stopping transitions where a single second lost fumbling with a helmet means kissing the podium goodbye.
The forecast calls for a temperature drop that could make wetsuits mandatory, upsetting the plans of weaker swimmers who were banking on warmer water to close the gaps. On a circuit as demanding as Molveno, the line between glory and a monumental bonking is a thin one drawn in the Italian mud. The French armada starts as favorites, but the technical terrain of Trentino always holds one last ambush for those who rely solely on their power meters.