Loanne Duvoisin (SUI) and Arthur Serrieres (FRA) captured the XTERRA Oak Mountain Short Track off-road triathlon titles on a hot and humid afternoon at Oak Mountain State Park in Shelby County, Alabama on Sunday, May 21, 2023.
The action-packed event was the first of five XTERRA Short Track races in the XTERRA World Cup, and the first-ever in the U.S. It combined a two-lap 400-meter swim, with a three-loop 7.5-kilometer mountain bike, and a two-lap 3K trail run.
Duvoisin won it in 38 minutes, 30 seconds, Serrieres in 33:28, and both were awarded prize money and 20 points for their efforts. For Duvoisin, the reigning XTERRA Short Track Series Champion, it’s her fourth career XTERRA Short Track victory since winning the first one in 2019, and for Serrieres it’s his third.
As one of 12 points-scoring races in the inaugural XTERRA World Cup, it was a great opportunity for elites looking to lock in a good result early in the season.
To determine XTERRA World Cup Series Champions, elites add their best four scores from the first six full-distance races with their best three (of five) XTERRA Short Track scores, and whatever they get (or don’t get) at the XTERRA World Championship.
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In the women’s elite race Jessie Koltz (USA) made quick work of the quick swim and was in the bike-to-run transition with the lead, but Alizee Paties (FRA) was first out of T1 and kept that lead all the way through T2 until Duvoisin made her move.
Duvoisin (pictured) was 15-seconds behind Paties, the XTERRA World Cup points leader, after the swim but then posted the best bike split to pull within striking distance on the run, and doubled down with the fastest 3K sprint of the day to take the tape 14 seconds ahead of Paties.
After passing Paties on the big uphill on the first lap of the run, Duvoisin said she wasn’t sure if she could keep the gap, but was happy that she did.
“After a really bad day yesterday in the full-distance race (she was 7th) it was really satisfying to come here today and get the win,” said Duvoisin. “I love these short races, they’re really cool. And this track is fun - it’s fast and furious and just really happy to get the win today.”
Paties was equally happy with second and to keep the overall lead in the XTERRA World Cup standings after three of 12 points scoring races. Samantha Kingsford (NZL) finished strong in third place.
Place - Name, NAT (Time) Points
1 - Loanne Duvoisin, SUI (38:30) 20
2 - Alizee Paties, FRA (38:44) 18
3 - Samantha Kingsford, NZL (39:14) 16
4 - Marta Menditto, ITA (41:05) 15
5 - Lizzie Orchard, NZL (41:57) 14
6 - Lisa Becharas, USA (42:04) 13
7 - Suzie Snyder, USA (42:11) 12
8 - Katie Button, CAN (42:44) 11
9 - Carolyne Guay, CAN (44:54) 10
10 - Jessie Koltz, USA (46:17) 9
Complete Results
In the men’s race Michele Bonacina (ITA), Eric Lagerstrom (USA), and Keller Norland (USA) posted a sub five-minute swim and the high speed chase was on.
The bike was quite the spectacle, with more than a dozen men in close contact early on. By the last lap, however, it was Bonacina, Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (who had the fastest bike split) and Serrieres wheel to wheel as they rolled into the bike-to-run transition together. Serrieres had the fastest change-over and just edged Sloth Nielsen to the start of the run and that was that.
“I know I’m a speedy runner and I like to start strong, so the other guys will think it’s not possible to follow me,” said Serrieres, who also won yesterday’s XTERRA Oak Mountain full-distance race. “Truth is though, I struggled on the second lap but made it. This was a great weekend, something special, and we had good battles out there and I can’t wait to come back to the U.S. for more racing in the future.”
Serrieres put on a show for the global audience watching the live stream with a spectacular run that was really fun to watch. His stride sets him apart, and his 9:29 3K run split was the difference in this one.
Sloth Nielsen finished 17-seconds back in second place, solidifying his top spot in the XTERRA World Cup rankings until at least June 10 when stop three unfolds at the Citadel in Namur, Belgium. And Bonacina picked up his first Short Track podium with a brilliant all around effort.
“Great day, it was amazing out there,” said Sloth Nielsen. “Fun, fast racing. It’s amazing how much you have to suffer. On the run, I knew it was going to be fast, it’s like running against Kipchoge, so happy to take second. These first two stops on the XTERRA World Cup have been amazing. First Taiwan, now here, and next to Belgium. Can’t wait.”
Place - Name, NAT (Time) Points
1 - Arthur Serrieres, FRA(33:28) 20
2 - Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen, DEN (33:45) 18
3 - Michele Bonacina, ITA (34:00) 16
4 - Sam Osborne, NZL (34:18) 15
5 - Kieran McPherson, NZL (34:35) 14
6 - Eric Lagerstrom, USA (34:42) 13
7 - Josiah Middaugh, USA (34:46) 12
8 - Edmond Roy, CAN (34:49) 11
9 - Sullivan Middaugh, USA (35:08) 10
10 - Francisco Serrano, MEX (435:27) 9
Complete Results
All-time XTERRA Short Track Champions
Date (Location) - Women’s Winner/Men’s Winner
August 4, 2019 (Prachatice, Czech Republic) - Loanne Duvoisin/Arthur Forissier
September 4, 2020 (Prachatice, Czech Republic) - Laura Philipp/Arthur Serrieres
October 3, 2020 (Trentino, Italy) - Marta Menditto/Ruben Ruzafa
June 5, 2021 (Lake Garda, Italy) - Loanne Duvoisin/Arthur Forissier
June 20, 2021 (Prachatice, Czech Republic) - Marta Menditto/Arthur Forissier
August 20, 2021 (Zittau, Germany) - Diede Diederiks/Lukas Kocar
August 29, 2021 (Pujols, France) - Michelle Flipo/Arthur Serrieres
July 2, 2022 (Xonrupt, France) - Loanne Duvoisin/Panagiotis Bitados
August 14, 2022 (Prachatice, Czech Republic) - Sandra Mairhofer/Lukas Kocar/
August 19, 2022 (Zittau, Germany) - Alizee Paties/Felix Forissier
October 2, 2022 (Trentino, Italy) - Daisy Davies/Lukas Kocar
May 21, 2023 (Shelby County, AL, USA) - Loanne Duvoisin/Arthur Serrieres
PATIES, SLOTH NIELSEN STILL GOLDEN
With solid second place finishes for both Alizee Paties and Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen in today’s XTERRA Short Track race, both retained their spot high atop the XTERRA World Cup standings after the first three of 12 events in the series.
Up next, the European swing. Round three of the XTERRA World Cup will take place at the Citadel in Namur, Belgium, home to the 2023 XTERRA European Championship on June 10-11. Then it’s XTERRA Czech (August 12-13), and XTERRA Germany (August 18-19). All three stops will host full and short track races. Then it’s back to the U.S. for the XTERRA USA Championship (full-distance only) on August 26, before the finale in Trentino, Italy (Short Track Thursday, Sept. 21, and World Champs on Sept. 23).
XTERRA World Cup Standings
Top Five Women, after 3 of 12
Pl - Points - Name, NAT
1 - 228 - Alizee Paties, FRA
2 - 169 - Marta Menditto, ITA
3 - 168 - Loanne Duvoisin, SUI
4 - 150 - Suzie Snyder, USA
5 - 139 - Lizzie Orchard, NZL
XTERRA World Cup Standings
Top Five Men, after 3 of 12
Pl - Points - Name, NAT
1 - 190 - Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen, DEN
2 - 184 - Arthur Serrieres, FRA
3 - 146 - Sebastien Carabin, BEL
4 - 143 - Michele Bonacina, ITA
5 - 138 - Kieran McPherson, NZL
Full Standings
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