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In the remote highlands of central France, pine forests stretch toward the sky and ancient trails surround Lac de Vassivière. XTERRA Nouvelle Aquitaine returns for its sixth edition from June 13–14, 2025, drawn once again to a landscape built for exploration.
This is the second year the event takes place at this vacation destination known for its natural and local charm, where an off-road triathlon can flow through nature without altering it. Every climb asks for focus, every descent tests control, and every moment rewards those who show up prepared to work for it. The weekend also features Sprint and Super Sprint races that serve as XTERRA Youth Tour qualifiers, along with a kids' duathlon. In total, 28 World Championship slots are available, along with 30 Youth World Championship entries and a €7,500 prize purse for the Elite field.
This region has long embraced outdoor tradition. From volunteers and local officials to families, spectators, and athletes themselves, the event is shaped by a community that knows how to rally behind something meaningful. There is history in these woods, and over the course of the weekend, the XTERRA Community is welcomed to immerse themselves in the trails and the energy of an event that lives and breathes adventure.
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XTERRA Nouvelle Aquitaine began in 2020 at Lac de la Cadie, where Maxim Chané (FRA) held off Arthur Serrières (FRA) for the men’s win, and Alizée Paties (FRA) outpaced Marta Menditto (ITA) in the women’s race. In 2021, Serrières said the course was “harder than the XTERRA European Championship in Germany” after claiming his first title here, while Michelle Flipo (MEX) won the women’s race wire to wire. In 2022, Serrières repeated and Juliette Duquesne (FRA) took her first XTERRA win. That year also saw 18-year-old Solène Marnoni (FRA) finish second overall while still racing as an amateur, confirming the event’s reputation for showcasing emerging talent.
In 2023, Jules Dumas (FRA) broke through with a commanding win in the men’s race, and Marnoni, now racing as an elite, claimed the women’s title. The race moved to Lac de Vassivière in 2024, where cold rain and mud forced a late switch to a run-bike-run format. “Something really special and memorable for everyone,” said Serrières (FRA), who took his fourth win at the event. Morgane Riou (FRA), racing again after a long break, won the women’s race and called the course “very special,” grateful to be back with her XTERRA family.
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Created in the years after World War II through the damming of the Maulde River, Lac de Vassivière stretches across ten square kilometers in the heart of the Limousin highlands. Its name, rooted in Occitan, means “the gathering of lambs,” a nod to the pastoral communities once scattered through these valleys. Today, Vassivière blends into the surrounding hills, encircled by 7,600 hectares of protected wetlands, peat bogs, and forests that form part of the Millevaches Regional Nature Park.
Locals call it “Little Canada” for its wild beauty, open silence, and seasonal rhythms. “Our timeless landscapes transport you,” says a Creuse Tourism brochure, “and there are countless ways to discover the lake — by boat, on foot, by bike, or with family.” One of the lake’s most unique features is the Île de Vassivière, a forested island linked by causeway and home to the Centre International d’Art et du Paysage. Here, visitors can walk through outdoor sculpture parks, explore exhibitions, and move between contemporary art and old farm structures in a space where, as one regional slogan puts it, “art and nature combine as one.”
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The Full Distance course starts and finishes in the small village of Beaumont-du-Lac. Athletes swim 1.5K in open water with clean visibility and face an Australian exit after 1K. The lake’s altitude of approximately 650 meters adds to the challenge, with cooler temperatures and unpredictable early summer weather often influencing race conditions.
After the swim, competitors head into the 33K mountain bike course, with roughly 85 percent of the ride on forest trails. This segment includes fast descents, rocky climbs, and singletrack weaving through pine woods and across granite ridges. Riders face a total elevation gain of about 912 meters as the course loops around the upper slopes of Vassivière’s basin. Described by local tourism as “a paradise for mountain biking,” the terrain rewards those who can handle both the technical sections and the physical effort required on longer forest climbs.
The race finishes with a 10K trail run divided into two laps. While mostly flat and winding, the run includes a few short but punchy hills that rise toward 180 meters in elevation. Much of the route takes place under tree cover, with shifting light and footing adding to the test. Hundreds of supporters line the shore and scatter along the trails with cowbells and cheers echoing through the forest. The community pride in hosting an international event is evident. In the words of Tourisme-Creuse, “When you love it, you come back,” a motto adopted for XTERRA Nouvelle Aquitaine that reflects how both athletes and local community embrace the weekend celebration.
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Nicolas Durin (FRA), 2023 XTERRA World Champion in the 45–49 division and now racing Elite, returns with high hopes. “The XTERRA Nouvelle Aquitaine was close to my heart this year for several reasons. It’s not very far from home. I hope to see this beautiful race site in the sun, or at least with a little light — unlike 2024, where the weather played tricks on us. I’m convinced this course can be great.”
Nicolas Raybaud (FRA), now competing as an Elite after winning his age group here last year, also spoke of the experience. “Nouvelle Aquitaine is an ideal setting for outdoor sports like mountain biking and trail running. The key is also to spend a few days close to nature.” He called the terrain “fast, demanding, but accessible,” and said, “Each XTERRA has its own soul. We’re all united by the same motivation to give it our all, discovering places of interest with friends or family.”
Lizzie Orchard (NZL), part of the Elite field, is lining up alongside longtime friend Josie Sinclair (NZL), who races in the 65–69 age group. “This will be our first XTERRA together in three years, so we’re both curious to explore Nouvelle Aquitaine and spend time discovering what makes the course and the area special.” Camille Jobard (FRA), an Elite athlete and runner-up here in 2024, returns after a strong performance in last year’s muddy conditions. “I discovered the new course last year in the rain and really enjoyed it. It’s tough on the mountain bike, which is usually the part I enjoy most.” Fresh off a second-place finish in Belgium, Kerri-Ann Upham (GBR) is also favored in the Elite field and eager to take on this course for the first time: “Nouvelle Aquitaine is a brand new race for me, so I’m excited to see what it has in store.”
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Nathalie Olasagasti (FRA) has been on a tear in the 50–54 division, winning her age group at XTERRA Nouvelle Aquitaine in both 2023 and 2024, and again at XTERRA Portugal in 2025. She was runner-up at the XTERRA World Championship last year and has racked up multiple victories across the European tour. “The Vassivière lake site is also perfect for such an event,” she said. “The atmosphere is great and communicative. This festive atmosphere around the sport, the sharing between pros and novices. I have the feeling that everyone has respect for each other, whether they are first or last, without discrimination.”
Julien Cassart (BEL), racing in the 40–44 division, is taking on Nouvelle Aquitaine for the first time. “I’ve heard the region is beautiful, I’ve never done it before, and it’s not that far from Belgium,” he said. “I love XTERRA because the organization is solid, I like the format, and the atmosphere is great.” Alain Carcel (FRA), competing in the 60–64 division, is returning after last year’s 3rd place result. “I participated last year and despite the weather conditions, it was so great that I came back this year.”
Mark Waaijenberg (NLD), also in the 60–64 division, won at Nouvelle Aquitaine in 2024 and is a two-time reigning age group winner at XTERRA Germany. He’s been racing XTERRA events since 2015. “I love to race in beautiful places, in nature parks, in cities I’ve never been to, on tracks that are challenging, to meet athletes with the same passion,” he said. “What makes XTERRA races one of my favorite memories is that my family travels with me. I was especially proud when my son Quirijn, now an Elite athlete, started racing at age 16. We trained together and spent hours running through forests, cycling on Dutch mud and sand, and looking forward to our next race.”
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The Super Sprint (250M Swim, 7K MTB, 2K Run) is the official format for Youth A athletes aged 14–15. This year, Maïlie Ayasse (FRA) and Ilïas Chevrier (FRA) will take on the course, both looking to gain experience on a true XTERRA stage. The Sprint race (500M Swim, 14K MTB, 5K Run) hosts the Youth B field (ages 16–17) along with Juniors (18–19). Among the standouts are Iris Duhameaux (FRA), Siméon Duru (FRA), and Justin Duru (FRA) in Youth B, with Marine Jugie (FRA) and Fathi Hennouni (FRA) representing the Junior division.
Nouvelle Aquitaine is a place where future XTERRA Elites have built their names. These shorter formats give young athletes the chance to race in real conditions, with real competition, on the same trails that define the Full Distance event. It’s a proving ground for those ready to take the next step. As noted in a report from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Sports Commission, “Our region has an exceptional natural playground, and these events allow us to share it with the entire world while also developing our champions of tomorrow.”
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Since its creation in 1950, Lac de Vassivière has evolved into a national destination for outdoor sports while preserving the natural beauty and rural identity of the region. XTERRA Nouvelle Aquitaine typically centers around the Auphelle peninsula or another lakeside base, where local food vendors, an expo village, and family-friendly activities help create what organizers call “a festive and family-friendly event.” Many athletes bring their families for a full countryside weekend, enjoying the balance of competition and relaxation.
Beaumont-du-Lac and nearby villages support the event with access points, beaches, and hiking trails for spectators. The lake also hosts summer visitors for swimming, boating, fishing, and sport. Local schools hold mini-triathlons and orienteering events, while the calendar includes well-known races like the Tour du Lac and the Transmillevaches mountain bike ride. It is not unusual for runners or riders who first came to Vassivière for one event to return for XTERRA. This is a place where endurance, environment, and community will continue to come together year after year.
In the remote highlands of central France, pine forests stretch toward the sky and ancient trails surround Lac de Vassivière. XTERRA Nouvelle Aquitaine returns for its sixth edition from June 13–14, 2025, drawn once again to a landscape built for exploration.
This is the second year the event takes place at this vacation destination known for its natural and local charm, where an off-road triathlon can flow through nature without altering it. Every climb asks for focus, every descent tests control, and every moment rewards those who show up prepared to work for it. The weekend also features Sprint and Super Sprint races that serve as XTERRA Youth Tour qualifiers, along with a kids' duathlon. In total, 28 World Championship slots are available, along with 30 Youth World Championship entries and a €7,500 prize purse for the Elite field.
This region has long embraced outdoor tradition. From volunteers and local officials to families, spectators, and athletes themselves, the event is shaped by a community that knows how to rally behind something meaningful. There is history in these woods, and over the course of the weekend, the XTERRA Community is welcomed to immerse themselves in the trails and the energy of an event that lives and breathes adventure.
XTERRA Nouvelle Aquitaine began in 2020 at Lac de la Cadie, where Maxim Chané (FRA) held off Arthur Serrières (FRA) for the men’s win, and Alizée Paties (FRA) outpaced Marta Menditto (ITA) in the women’s race. In 2021, Serrières said the course was “harder than the XTERRA European Championship in Germany” after claiming his first title here, while Michelle Flipo (MEX) won the women’s race wire to wire. In 2022, Serrières repeated and Juliette Duquesne (FRA) took her first XTERRA win. That year also saw 18-year-old Solène Marnoni (FRA) finish second overall while still racing as an amateur, confirming the event’s reputation for showcasing emerging talent.
In 2023, Jules Dumas (FRA) broke through with a commanding win in the men’s race, and Marnoni, now racing as an elite, claimed the women’s title. The race moved to Lac de Vassivière in 2024, where cold rain and mud forced a late switch to a run-bike-run format. “Something really special and memorable for everyone,” said Serrières (FRA), who took his fourth win at the event. Morgane Riou (FRA), racing again after a long break, won the women’s race and called the course “very special,” grateful to be back with her XTERRA family.
Created in the years after World War II through the damming of the Maulde River, Lac de Vassivière stretches across ten square kilometers in the heart of the Limousin highlands. Its name, rooted in Occitan, means “the gathering of lambs,” a nod to the pastoral communities once scattered through these valleys. Today, Vassivière blends into the surrounding hills, encircled by 7,600 hectares of protected wetlands, peat bogs, and forests that form part of the Millevaches Regional Nature Park.
Locals call it “Little Canada” for its wild beauty, open silence, and seasonal rhythms. “Our timeless landscapes transport you,” says a Creuse Tourism brochure, “and there are countless ways to discover the lake — by boat, on foot, by bike, or with family.” One of the lake’s most unique features is the Île de Vassivière, a forested island linked by causeway and home to the Centre International d’Art et du Paysage. Here, visitors can walk through outdoor sculpture parks, explore exhibitions, and move between contemporary art and old farm structures in a space where, as one regional slogan puts it, “art and nature combine as one.”
The Full Distance course starts and finishes in the small village of Beaumont-du-Lac. Athletes swim 1.5K in open water with clean visibility and face an Australian exit after 1K. The lake’s altitude of approximately 650 meters adds to the challenge, with cooler temperatures and unpredictable early summer weather often influencing race conditions.
After the swim, competitors head into the 33K mountain bike course, with roughly 85 percent of the ride on forest trails. This segment includes fast descents, rocky climbs, and singletrack weaving through pine woods and across granite ridges. Riders face a total elevation gain of about 912 meters as the course loops around the upper slopes of Vassivière’s basin. Described by local tourism as “a paradise for mountain biking,” the terrain rewards those who can handle both the technical sections and the physical effort required on longer forest climbs.
The race finishes with a 10K trail run divided into two laps. While mostly flat and winding, the run includes a few short but punchy hills that rise toward 180 meters in elevation. Much of the route takes place under tree cover, with shifting light and footing adding to the test. Hundreds of supporters line the shore and scatter along the trails with cowbells and cheers echoing through the forest. The community pride in hosting an international event is evident. In the words of Tourisme-Creuse, “When you love it, you come back,” a motto adopted for XTERRA Nouvelle Aquitaine that reflects how both athletes and local community embrace the weekend celebration.
Nicolas Durin (FRA), 2023 XTERRA World Champion in the 45–49 division and now racing Elite, returns with high hopes. “The XTERRA Nouvelle Aquitaine was close to my heart this year for several reasons. It’s not very far from home. I hope to see this beautiful race site in the sun, or at least with a little light — unlike 2024, where the weather played tricks on us. I’m convinced this course can be great.”
Nicolas Raybaud (FRA), now competing as an Elite after winning his age group here last year, also spoke of the experience. “Nouvelle Aquitaine is an ideal setting for outdoor sports like mountain biking and trail running. The key is also to spend a few days close to nature.” He called the terrain “fast, demanding, but accessible,” and said, “Each XTERRA has its own soul. We’re all united by the same motivation to give it our all, discovering places of interest with friends or family.”
Lizzie Orchard (NZL), part of the Elite field, is lining up alongside longtime friend Josie Sinclair (NZL), who races in the 65–69 age group. “This will be our first XTERRA together in three years, so we’re both curious to explore Nouvelle Aquitaine and spend time discovering what makes the course and the area special.” Camille Jobard (FRA), an Elite athlete and runner-up here in 2024, returns after a strong performance in last year’s muddy conditions. “I discovered the new course last year in the rain and really enjoyed it. It’s tough on the mountain bike, which is usually the part I enjoy most.” Fresh off a second-place finish in Belgium, Kerri-Ann Upham (GBR) is also favored in the Elite field and eager to take on this course for the first time: “Nouvelle Aquitaine is a brand new race for me, so I’m excited to see what it has in store.”
Nathalie Olasagasti (FRA) has been on a tear in the 50–54 division, winning her age group at XTERRA Nouvelle Aquitaine in both 2023 and 2024, and again at XTERRA Portugal in 2025. She was runner-up at the XTERRA World Championship last year and has racked up multiple victories across the European tour. “The Vassivière lake site is also perfect for such an event,” she said. “The atmosphere is great and communicative. This festive atmosphere around the sport, the sharing between pros and novices. I have the feeling that everyone has respect for each other, whether they are first or last, without discrimination.”
Julien Cassart (BEL), racing in the 40–44 division, is taking on Nouvelle Aquitaine for the first time. “I’ve heard the region is beautiful, I’ve never done it before, and it’s not that far from Belgium,” he said. “I love XTERRA because the organization is solid, I like the format, and the atmosphere is great.” Alain Carcel (FRA), competing in the 60–64 division, is returning after last year’s 3rd place result. “I participated last year and despite the weather conditions, it was so great that I came back this year.”
Mark Waaijenberg (NLD), also in the 60–64 division, won at Nouvelle Aquitaine in 2024 and is a two-time reigning age group winner at XTERRA Germany. He’s been racing XTERRA events since 2015. “I love to race in beautiful places, in nature parks, in cities I’ve never been to, on tracks that are challenging, to meet athletes with the same passion,” he said. “What makes XTERRA races one of my favorite memories is that my family travels with me. I was especially proud when my son Quirijn, now an Elite athlete, started racing at age 16. We trained together and spent hours running through forests, cycling on Dutch mud and sand, and looking forward to our next race.”
The Super Sprint (250M Swim, 7K MTB, 2K Run) is the official format for Youth A athletes aged 14–15. This year, Maïlie Ayasse (FRA) and Ilïas Chevrier (FRA) will take on the course, both looking to gain experience on a true XTERRA stage. The Sprint race (500M Swim, 14K MTB, 5K Run) hosts the Youth B field (ages 16–17) along with Juniors (18–19). Among the standouts are Iris Duhameaux (FRA), Siméon Duru (FRA), and Justin Duru (FRA) in Youth B, with Marine Jugie (FRA) and Fathi Hennouni (FRA) representing the Junior division.
Nouvelle Aquitaine is a place where future XTERRA Elites have built their names. These shorter formats give young athletes the chance to race in real conditions, with real competition, on the same trails that define the Full Distance event. It’s a proving ground for those ready to take the next step. As noted in a report from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Sports Commission, “Our region has an exceptional natural playground, and these events allow us to share it with the entire world while also developing our champions of tomorrow.”
Since its creation in 1950, Lac de Vassivière has evolved into a national destination for outdoor sports while preserving the natural beauty and rural identity of the region. XTERRA Nouvelle Aquitaine typically centers around the Auphelle peninsula or another lakeside base, where local food vendors, an expo village, and family-friendly activities help create what organizers call “a festive and family-friendly event.” Many athletes bring their families for a full countryside weekend, enjoying the balance of competition and relaxation.
Beaumont-du-Lac and nearby villages support the event with access points, beaches, and hiking trails for spectators. The lake also hosts summer visitors for swimming, boating, fishing, and sport. Local schools hold mini-triathlons and orienteering events, while the calendar includes well-known races like the Tour du Lac and the Transmillevaches mountain bike ride. It is not unusual for runners or riders who first came to Vassivière for one event to return for XTERRA. This is a place where endurance, environment, and community will continue to come together year after year.
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XTERRA is a global lifestyle brand that champions the outdoor enthusiast in their pursuit of relentless adventure.
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