.jpg)
Beneath misty pine forests and along the mirror-like waters of Longemer Lake, the 18th edition of XTERRA France and 14th year in the Vosges brought the mountain village of Xonrupt-Longemer to life over the weekend of July 5–6, 2025. Nearly 6,000 spectators lined the shores and crowded the forest trails to cheer on more than 2,000 athletes across nine events. With a €15,000 Elite prize purse, 58 World Championship slots, and 30 Youth World Championship spots up for grabs, the event once again stood out as one of the most vibrant and competitive stops on the XTERRA World Tour.
In the Full Distance Triathlon, Marta Menditto (ITA) and Nicolas Duré (FRA) seized the Elite titles after a 1.5K swim in the calm mountain lake, powering through two demanding laps of a 40K bike course that climbed sharply into the forest before plunging down slick, technical descents, and closing with a rugged 10K trail run over roots, rocks, and narrow shaded paths, all in crisp mountain air at 18°C. Age group standouts Paula Leupold (DEU, 20–24) and Guillaume Desette (FRA, 30–34) rose above the rest of the field to finish as the fastest woman and man outside the Elite ranks.
The XTERRA Youth Tour brought its own excitement, as rising stars raced for their shot at qualifying for the 2025 XTERRA Youth World Championship in Trentino, Italy this September. In the Junior (18–19) category, Agathe Claude (FRA) and Julian Anguera (FRA) took top honors. The Youth B (16–17) victories went to Maxine Puech (FRA) and Ewan Sandot (FRA), while reigning Youth World Champion Apolline Ramboux (BEL) and Gabriel Priez (FRA) captured the Youth A (14–15) titles.
.jpg)
Over nearly two decades, XTERRA France has grown into a huge gathering of the global off-road family. From Nicolas Lebrun’s (FRA) emotional farewell win in 2013 to Rubén Ruzafa’s (ESP) five-year reign of dominance and the rise of stars like Arthur Forissier (FRA) and Solenne Billouin (FRA), the Vosges have hosted defining moments for some of the sport’s greatest.
The story of Xonrupt-Longemer itself runs just as deep. Once simple farmland and forest, the village evolved into a hub for mountain sport, surrounded by trails and peaks that have hosted everything from UCI Mountain Bike World Cups to France’s oldest triathlon in nearby Gérardmer. The lake at its center, often called “the mirror with a thousand reflections,” sets up for the swim each year, with the steep, wooded slopes above providing a challenge and spectacle for fans to enjoy. As Mayor Michel Bertrand put it, the magic of XTERRA France comes from “the energy of the volunteers and the passion of the people who bring it to life.”
As XTERRA co-founder Dave Nicholas remembers, local organizer Paul Charbonnier once dreamed up and, with his team, built an elaborate wooden banked track with jumps.“Today, over a dozen organizers recreate these spectator fun experiences,” Nicholas said, “back then, nobody had seen such a thing.” It’s that combination of innovation, local pride, and a willingness to push boundaries that keeps athletes and fans returning year after year to the Vosges.
.jpg)
Marta Menditto (ITA) delivered a brilliant performance to win the women’s Elite title in 3:38:13, her second career victory at XTERRA France and one she clearly savored. “I’m happy with my race today,” she said. “In the swim, on the bike, and on the run, I just tried to give my best. I focused especially on the bike because I know it’s the most important part of this course.” That focus paid off, as she clocked the fastest bike split of the day among the women at 2:19:30, building a lead she never surrendered. For Menditto, the win also carried personal meaning. “When I was young, I remember standing at the start line watching the professional athletes — Nico Lebrun and others — and I thought to myself, I want to be like them. And now I am one of them, so that feels really cool.” Carina Wasle (AUT) finished second in 3:46:54 with the fastest run split of the day at 51:50, and France’s Emma Ducreux (FRA) rounded out the podium in 3:48:24 after leading the swim with an impressive 22:48.
On the men’s side, Nicolas Duré (FRA) put together one of his best races yet, capturing the Elite title in 3:02:19 after a tight battle with Maxim Chané (FRA) and Sébastien Carabin (BEL). “I put together a solid race from start to finish,” Duré said. “I swam well, which isn’t usually the case for me. I wasn’t too far behind out of the water — about three minutes off the lead — and honestly, I felt comfortable.” The day’s fastest swim split, however, came from Jens Roth (DEU), who finished seventh overall after exiting the water in just 20:31. Duré continued, “I made up a lot of ground on the bike. They told me I was two minutes behind Chané, then one and a half. I just gritted my teeth and kept pushing.”
His decisive run secured the win on what he called “one of the most physical and technical courses” in the XTERRA World Tour. “I had a really strong run. I’m very happy with my running today. In the end, I managed to take the win. I’m really pleased,” he said after posting the fastest run split of the men’s race at 41:29. Chané, who opened with the fastest swim among the podium finishers at 20:34, finished second in 3:03:14. Carabin, with the day’s fastest bike split of 1:53:27, claimed third in 3:03:49. “Honestly, it’s the atmosphere here,” Duré added with a smile. “It’s just amazing. The courses aren’t sterile or artificial. They’re set in the middle of nature, and that’s what I love.”
.jpg)
Among the age groupers, Paula Leupold (DEU, 20–24) delivered a standout performance, finishing in 4:02:08 as the fastest overall woman outside the elite field and eighth overall, even ahead of several pros. “My swim was good, but the bike was a disaster,” she admitted. “I got a flat tire, fixed the first hole, then realized there was a second one and had to fix that too. On the second lap my back brake stopped working, so I could only use the front brake. Normally the bike is my favorite part, but this time it didn’t go well at all. Thankfully, I felt great on the run and I’m really happy with how I finished in the end.” Anja Elser (DEU, 30–34), who won her division in 4:06:06 and placed 11th overall, also had her challenges. “The swim and bike went really well, but on the run I started getting bad cramps,” she said. “It made the finish really tough — but I pushed through and made it to the end, so I’m happy with that.”
On the men’s side, Guillaume Desette (FRA, 30–34) crossed in 3:19:39 to finish as the fastest male age grouper, just ahead of Yann Maret (FRA, 20–24), who clocked 3:19:48. Both finished inside the overall top 11. “The World Championships are really my number one goal,” Maret said. Olaf Borsutzky (DEU) added another strong performance to his résumé, winning the 50–54 category in 3:57:40. “I felt strong in the swim and was able to stay with the front pack,” he said. “The bike was tough but really fun — the climbs and technical sections suited me well. On the run, I pushed hard to hold my position and finish strong.”
In the 65–69 division, Raymond Ferry (FRA) further cemented his legendary status by taking another win in 4:23:09. The reigning World and European Champion, who lives just an hour from the course, has raced every edition of XTERRA France since its inception and remains undefeated in his division this year at 3–0. “I haven’t missed a single edition since the very first,” he said proudly. “Averaging six to eight races per year for over 15 years, I would easily place Xonrupt among the top three venues in the world.” Fellow 65–69 athlete Josie Sinclair (NZL), also undefeated this season at 4–0 in her division, described the day simply: “I raced XTERRA France in 2018 and loved the technical riding. It has always been one of my favorite races.”
.jpg)
In the Youth A division (14–15), Gabriel Priez (FRA) stormed to victory in 19:19, using a strong bike to overtake the leaders and hold the top spot through the finish. “Good swim, with a lot of drafting,” he said. “Then, on the bike, I was in fourth place. In the forest, I passed the top three and moved into first place. Then I managed my run well and gave everything to finish first at the end.” He was followed closely by Amaury Lavoignet (FRA) in 19:26 and Silvio Charbonnier (FRA) in 19:38. On the girls’ side, reigning Youth World Champion Apolline Ramboux (BEL) defended her dominance with a 19:34 finish. “I felt really good out there,” she said. “The swim went great, the bike was challenging, but manageable, and the run felt strong and smooth. I’m really happy with my performance today.” Emie Vandenbussche (FRA) took second in 20:23, with Charlotte Binsinger (FRA) in third at 21:20.
The Youth B division (16–17) saw Ewan Sandot (FRA) take the win in 1:40:22 after mastering a rugged bike and run. “The swim was pretty easy since it was short, but the bike course was tough. It had steep climbs, rocky sections, and was really challenging,” he said. “I enjoy XTERRA because I already do triathlons, and since I ride a lot of mountain bike, it felt like a perfect fit for me.” Behind him were Pierre Briffaux (FRA) in 1:43:24 and Corentin Willem (BEL) in 1:43:49. In the girls’ race, Maxine Puech (FRA) won in 1:59:46. “It was quite technical but really fun,” she said. “The mountain bike was tough at times, but I had good legs and enjoyed it.” Leonie Tisserand (FRA) finished second in 2:01:04, with Iris Duhameaux (FRA) taking third in 2:03:53.
In the Junior category (18–19), Julian Anguera (FRA) pushed himself to the limit to claim victory in 1:35:01. “The bike was incredibly tough, almost impossible at times, but I pushed myself to the maximum to reach the podium — and I made it,” he said. “During the run, I kept pushing hard from the very first part of the course, and everything came together perfectly.” Louka Dumont (FRA) and Kerian Miel (FRA) completed the podium in 1:36:42 and 1:37:58, respectively. For the Junior women, Agathe Claude (FRA) topped the field in 2:05:26. “The swim was easy for me, but the bike was really tough,” she said. “On the run, I felt good at the start, but that last kilometer felt incredibly long.” Lou-Anne Dautun (BEL) finished second in 2:19:46, followed by Zoé Meyer (FRA) in 2:22:02.
.jpg)
As the final athletes crossed the line, XTERRA France once again proved itself as a celebration of community, history, and shared adventure. Families and friends filled the trails with cheers and cowbells, the bike park buzzed with energy, and the XTERRA Village offered something for everyone, from first-timers to seasoned champions. With the support of the Commune de Xonrupt-Longemer, Région Grand Est, Je Vois la Vie en Vosges, and countless volunteers, this year’s event honored its roots while inspiring the next generation of athletes to dream even bigger.
Beneath misty pine forests and along the mirror-like waters of Longemer Lake, the 18th edition of XTERRA France and 14th year in the Vosges brought the mountain village of Xonrupt-Longemer to life over the weekend of July 5–6, 2025. Nearly 6,000 spectators lined the shores and crowded the forest trails to cheer on more than 2,000 athletes across nine events. With a €15,000 Elite prize purse, 58 World Championship slots, and 30 Youth World Championship spots up for grabs, the event once again stood out as one of the most vibrant and competitive stops on the XTERRA World Tour.
In the Full Distance Triathlon, Marta Menditto (ITA) and Nicolas Duré (FRA) seized the Elite titles after a 1.5K swim in the calm mountain lake, powering through two demanding laps of a 40K bike course that climbed sharply into the forest before plunging down slick, technical descents, and closing with a rugged 10K trail run over roots, rocks, and narrow shaded paths, all in crisp mountain air at 18°C. Age group standouts Paula Leupold (DEU, 20–24) and Guillaume Desette (FRA, 30–34) rose above the rest of the field to finish as the fastest woman and man outside the Elite ranks.
The XTERRA Youth Tour brought its own excitement, as rising stars raced for their shot at qualifying for the 2025 XTERRA Youth World Championship in Trentino, Italy this September. In the Junior (18–19) category, Agathe Claude (FRA) and Julian Anguera (FRA) took top honors. The Youth B (16–17) victories went to Maxine Puech (FRA) and Ewan Sandot (FRA), while reigning Youth World Champion Apolline Ramboux (BEL) and Gabriel Priez (FRA) captured the Youth A (14–15) titles.
Over nearly two decades, XTERRA France has grown into a huge gathering of the global off-road family. From Nicolas Lebrun’s (FRA) emotional farewell win in 2013 to Rubén Ruzafa’s (ESP) five-year reign of dominance and the rise of stars like Arthur Forissier (FRA) and Solenne Billouin (FRA), the Vosges have hosted defining moments for some of the sport’s greatest.
The story of Xonrupt-Longemer itself runs just as deep. Once simple farmland and forest, the village evolved into a hub for mountain sport, surrounded by trails and peaks that have hosted everything from UCI Mountain Bike World Cups to France’s oldest triathlon in nearby Gérardmer. The lake at its center, often called “the mirror with a thousand reflections,” sets up for the swim each year, with the steep, wooded slopes above providing a challenge and spectacle for fans to enjoy. As Mayor Michel Bertrand put it, the magic of XTERRA France comes from “the energy of the volunteers and the passion of the people who bring it to life.”
As XTERRA co-founder Dave Nicholas remembers, local organizer Paul Charbonnier once dreamed up and, with his team, built an elaborate wooden banked track with jumps.“Today, over a dozen organizers recreate these spectator fun experiences,” Nicholas said, “back then, nobody had seen such a thing.” It’s that combination of innovation, local pride, and a willingness to push boundaries that keeps athletes and fans returning year after year to the Vosges.
Marta Menditto (ITA) delivered a brilliant performance to win the women’s Elite title in 3:38:13, her second career victory at XTERRA France and one she clearly savored. “I’m happy with my race today,” she said. “In the swim, on the bike, and on the run, I just tried to give my best. I focused especially on the bike because I know it’s the most important part of this course.” That focus paid off, as she clocked the fastest bike split of the day among the women at 2:19:30, building a lead she never surrendered. For Menditto, the win also carried personal meaning. “When I was young, I remember standing at the start line watching the professional athletes — Nico Lebrun and others — and I thought to myself, I want to be like them. And now I am one of them, so that feels really cool.” Carina Wasle (AUT) finished second in 3:46:54 with the fastest run split of the day at 51:50, and France’s Emma Ducreux (FRA) rounded out the podium in 3:48:24 after leading the swim with an impressive 22:48.
On the men’s side, Nicolas Duré (FRA) put together one of his best races yet, capturing the Elite title in 3:02:19 after a tight battle with Maxim Chané (FRA) and Sébastien Carabin (BEL). “I put together a solid race from start to finish,” Duré said. “I swam well, which isn’t usually the case for me. I wasn’t too far behind out of the water — about three minutes off the lead — and honestly, I felt comfortable.” The day’s fastest swim split, however, came from Jens Roth (DEU), who finished seventh overall after exiting the water in just 20:31. Duré continued, “I made up a lot of ground on the bike. They told me I was two minutes behind Chané, then one and a half. I just gritted my teeth and kept pushing.”
His decisive run secured the win on what he called “one of the most physical and technical courses” in the XTERRA World Tour. “I had a really strong run. I’m very happy with my running today. In the end, I managed to take the win. I’m really pleased,” he said after posting the fastest run split of the men’s race at 41:29. Chané, who opened with the fastest swim among the podium finishers at 20:34, finished second in 3:03:14. Carabin, with the day’s fastest bike split of 1:53:27, claimed third in 3:03:49. “Honestly, it’s the atmosphere here,” Duré added with a smile. “It’s just amazing. The courses aren’t sterile or artificial. They’re set in the middle of nature, and that’s what I love.”
Among the age groupers, Paula Leupold (DEU, 20–24) delivered a standout performance, finishing in 4:02:08 as the fastest overall woman outside the elite field and eighth overall, even ahead of several pros. “My swim was good, but the bike was a disaster,” she admitted. “I got a flat tire, fixed the first hole, then realized there was a second one and had to fix that too. On the second lap my back brake stopped working, so I could only use the front brake. Normally the bike is my favorite part, but this time it didn’t go well at all. Thankfully, I felt great on the run and I’m really happy with how I finished in the end.” Anja Elser (DEU, 30–34), who won her division in 4:06:06 and placed 11th overall, also had her challenges. “The swim and bike went really well, but on the run I started getting bad cramps,” she said. “It made the finish really tough — but I pushed through and made it to the end, so I’m happy with that.”
On the men’s side, Guillaume Desette (FRA, 30–34) crossed in 3:19:39 to finish as the fastest male age grouper, just ahead of Yann Maret (FRA, 20–24), who clocked 3:19:48. Both finished inside the overall top 11. “The World Championships are really my number one goal,” Maret said. Olaf Borsutzky (DEU) added another strong performance to his résumé, winning the 50–54 category in 3:57:40. “I felt strong in the swim and was able to stay with the front pack,” he said. “The bike was tough but really fun — the climbs and technical sections suited me well. On the run, I pushed hard to hold my position and finish strong.”
In the 65–69 division, Raymond Ferry (FRA) further cemented his legendary status by taking another win in 4:23:09. The reigning World and European Champion, who lives just an hour from the course, has raced every edition of XTERRA France since its inception and remains undefeated in his division this year at 3–0. “I haven’t missed a single edition since the very first,” he said proudly. “Averaging six to eight races per year for over 15 years, I would easily place Xonrupt among the top three venues in the world.” Fellow 65–69 athlete Josie Sinclair (NZL), also undefeated this season at 4–0 in her division, described the day simply: “I raced XTERRA France in 2018 and loved the technical riding. It has always been one of my favorite races.”
In the Youth A division (14–15), Gabriel Priez (FRA) stormed to victory in 19:19, using a strong bike to overtake the leaders and hold the top spot through the finish. “Good swim, with a lot of drafting,” he said. “Then, on the bike, I was in fourth place. In the forest, I passed the top three and moved into first place. Then I managed my run well and gave everything to finish first at the end.” He was followed closely by Amaury Lavoignet (FRA) in 19:26 and Silvio Charbonnier (FRA) in 19:38. On the girls’ side, reigning Youth World Champion Apolline Ramboux (BEL) defended her dominance with a 19:34 finish. “I felt really good out there,” she said. “The swim went great, the bike was challenging, but manageable, and the run felt strong and smooth. I’m really happy with my performance today.” Emie Vandenbussche (FRA) took second in 20:23, with Charlotte Binsinger (FRA) in third at 21:20.
The Youth B division (16–17) saw Ewan Sandot (FRA) take the win in 1:40:22 after mastering a rugged bike and run. “The swim was pretty easy since it was short, but the bike course was tough. It had steep climbs, rocky sections, and was really challenging,” he said. “I enjoy XTERRA because I already do triathlons, and since I ride a lot of mountain bike, it felt like a perfect fit for me.” Behind him were Pierre Briffaux (FRA) in 1:43:24 and Corentin Willem (BEL) in 1:43:49. In the girls’ race, Maxine Puech (FRA) won in 1:59:46. “It was quite technical but really fun,” she said. “The mountain bike was tough at times, but I had good legs and enjoyed it.” Leonie Tisserand (FRA) finished second in 2:01:04, with Iris Duhameaux (FRA) taking third in 2:03:53.
In the Junior category (18–19), Julian Anguera (FRA) pushed himself to the limit to claim victory in 1:35:01. “The bike was incredibly tough, almost impossible at times, but I pushed myself to the maximum to reach the podium — and I made it,” he said. “During the run, I kept pushing hard from the very first part of the course, and everything came together perfectly.” Louka Dumont (FRA) and Kerian Miel (FRA) completed the podium in 1:36:42 and 1:37:58, respectively. For the Junior women, Agathe Claude (FRA) topped the field in 2:05:26. “The swim was easy for me, but the bike was really tough,” she said. “On the run, I felt good at the start, but that last kilometer felt incredibly long.” Lou-Anne Dautun (BEL) finished second in 2:19:46, followed by Zoé Meyer (FRA) in 2:22:02.
As the final athletes crossed the line, XTERRA France once again proved itself as a celebration of community, history, and shared adventure. Families and friends filled the trails with cheers and cowbells, the bike park buzzed with energy, and the XTERRA Village offered something for everyone, from first-timers to seasoned champions. With the support of the Commune de Xonrupt-Longemer, Région Grand Est, Je Vois la Vie en Vosges, and countless volunteers, this year’s event honored its roots while inspiring the next generation of athletes to dream even bigger.
XTERRA is a global lifestyle brand that champions the outdoor enthusiast in their pursuit of relentless adventure.
.svg)
.svg)
