With just five weeks remaining, a stellar elite field is already on deck for the Victorian X-Tri Championships en route to the Snowy Mountains in 2016…

BRISBANE—With the 2015 International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Cross Triathlon (X-Tri) Championships in the history books, off-road triathlon and adventure racing aficionados now turn their attention toward the 2016 X-Tri Worlds to be hosted in the Snowy Mountains at Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa in New South Wales, Australia.

But before anyone lines up to the start in November of next year, Australian elite and age group athletes will spend the next 12 months racing for a qualification spot in one of three Aussie qualifiers with next month’s Victorian Cross Triathlon Championships & Multisport Festival in Bendigo – just 90 minutes from the Melbourne Airport being the first.

The Victorian X-Tri Championships will be held on the first day of the two-day event (28-29 November) at the scenic, yet challenging Crusoe Reservoir. The first of the three qualifiers consists of a 1500-metre swim, 30-kilometre mountain bike and 10-kilometre trail run.

There is a lot of excitement building towards the first qualifying round for the 2016 world champs in Australia,” said In2Adventure event director Robyn Lazenby. “This is a great opportunity for Victorians to gain qualification points at an event on home soil and will be the first hit out to size up the competition for qualification places in the various age groups leading into November 2016.

A stellar elite field has already signed up to start, including reigning Australian Cross Triathlon champion Max Neumann (QLD), as well as Drew Box (QLD) and 17-time Xterra champion and TreX ambassador Ben Allen (NSW). International elites and fellow TreX series ambassadors, Jacqui Slack (GBR) and Renata Bucher (SUI) are also scheduled to start.

Both Slack and Allen are fresh off a fourth and fifth place finish respectively at the X-Tri Worlds in Sardinia, Italy in September, while an ailing but gutsy Bucher finished eighth.

Aside from the qualifier, event hosts In2Adventure will also present the Bendigo Trail Run Festival with 5-, 10- and 15km trail runs, along with the family favourite ‘Mud Rats’ Kids Adventure Run.

Sunday kicks off with junior and teaser X-Duathlon (1km Trail Run/4.5km MTB/500m Trail Run), sprint triathlon (400m Swim/13.5km MTB/5km Trail Run) and Dirt Kids X-Duathlon (7-10yrs) (500m Trail Run/3km MTB/250m Trail Run. As always, In2Adventure will present the Dirt Master and Dirt Mistress title for men and women athletes with the lowest cumulative time over the Victorian X-Tri Champs, 15km Trail Run and Sprint X-Tri.

“It’s going to be a great competition and with the new trail run course which is 80% off trail running, it’s going to be a very challenging race for those taking part,” said In2Adventure race director Simon Lazenby. “And along with the competition we’re also looking forward to the fantastic venue at Crusoe Reservoir and the fun of the sprint, junior and family events throughout the weekend and really celebrating what it means to get ‘Off Road’ and ‘Dirty’ at the TreX Series.”

With the next X-Tri Worlds less than 13 months away, In2Adventure has unveiled a Pathway Partner program designed to allow all interested athletes an opportunity to participate in this groundbreaking event.

The event marks the first time in the race’s five-year history that the world championships have been hosted in the southern hemisphere, with previous locations including Spain, US, Holland and Germany. The Pathway Partner program is ideal for those athletes looking to don the ‘green and gold’ and represent Australia on home soil.

There are even opportunities on the official In2Adventure website for those who offer training for cross triathlon including mountain biking, trail running or swimming and are interested in becoming a Pathway Partner.

In2Adventure offers three TreX qualifying races prior to the worlds, with events in Victoria (28-29 November), New South Wales (28-29 February) and Queensland (16-17 April).

About the Pathway Partner program:

As part of our Pathway Partners Program, In2Adventure is in the process of connecting with clubs, coaches and squads throughout Australia who will be hosting training and development programs aimed at helping competitors to qualify for the World X-Tri Champs in 2016. For more info on connecting with a current Pathway Partner, please click here.

If you are a coach, club, squad or trainer who offers training for cross triathlon including mountain biking, trail running or swimming and are interested in becoming a pathway partner you can download full information and application forms using the links below. For a Pathway Partner information pack, click here, or for a Pathway Partner application form, please click here.

About TreX:

For seven years TreX has positioned itself as the pinnacle of the cross – or off-road – triathlon racing series in Asia-Pacific. Presented by the premier outdoor adventure event specialists In2Adventure, TreX consists of a reservoir swim, mountain bike and trail run. While each TreX event features an elite category with industry-leading prize purses, including $40,000 for the 2015 Oceania Cross Triathlon Championships, the TreX Cross Triathlon national series invites participation from all ages and skill levels. For more information, please visit TreX here.

About In2Adventure:

In2Adventure is Asia-Pacific’s premier adventure event specialists with more than 10 years experience, and the official race organiser of the 2016 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships. With a full calendar of national events scheduled throughout Australia, including adventure races, cross triathlon, XC Mountain Bike, trail runs and corporate events, In2Adventure fully embraces all things ‘off road’ and ‘off the beaten track’ and offers a unique, individual experience for all ages and skill levels. For more information, please visit In2Adventure here.

Upcoming Events (2015/16):

– Victorian Cross Triathlon Championships (2016 Worlds Qualifier) – Bendigo, VIC, 28-29 November 2015

– Snowies MTB Festival – Snowy Mountains, NSW, 12-14 February 2016

– Australian Cross Triathlon Championships (2016 Worlds Qualifier) – Snowy Mountains, NSW, 27-28 February 2016

– Queensland Cross Triathlon Championships (2016 Worlds Qualifier) – Sunshine Coast, QLD, 16-17 April 2016

– ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships – Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa, Snowy Mountains, NSW, 19-20 November 2016

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Photo Credit: Courtesy In2Adventure