2024 XTERRA Youth World Champions Crowned in Historic Debut

September 29, 2024

MOLVENO, TRENTINO, ITALY /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – A new chapter in off-road triathlon marked the highly anticipated debut of the XTERRA Youth World Championship. Young athletes from across the globe competed for the first-ever World Championship titles in Youth A, Youth B, and Junior divisions. The winners were: in Youth A, male champion Ondřej Plic (CZE) and female champion Apolline Ramboux (BEL); in Youth B, male champion Finley Goodman (GBR) and female champion Mila Lantelme (FRA); and in the Junior division, male champion Jakub Homola (CZE) and female champion Anna Gazzari (ITA).

Held on September 29 in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Brenta Dolomites of northern Italy, this event also marked the conclusion of the inaugural season of the XTERRA Youth World Tour. Athletes in the age range of 14-19, earned their spots by competing in 40 qualifying events across 21 nations, securing their places on the grandest stage of off-road triathlon.

With over a thousand triathletes gathering in the mountain village of Molveno for the 28th edition of the XTERRA World Championship, more than 200 youth athletes joined the competition for the first time, each determined to claim Youth World Championship titles. This moment marked a significant milestone in XTERRA’s evolution, as the future stars of the sport shared the trails with today’s legends. The next generation has arrived, and all eyes were on them.

A New Off-Road Path for Young Triathletes

Launched in January 2024, the XTERRA Youth Tour was created to provide a structured competition platform for athletes aged 14-19, bridging the gap between junior racing and XTERRA’s Full Distance events. The tour features Sprint and Super Sprint triathlons on rugged terrain, mirroring the format of the XTERRA World Tour.

With events spanning Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific, the Youth Tour gives young athletes opportunities to compete locally and internationally. In less than a year, it has become a key proving ground, culminating in the first-ever Youth World Championship in Italy, where future XTERRA stars have emerged.

Race Formats and Divisions

The XTERRA Youth World Championship featured three age divisions, each designed to challenge athletes at different stages of their development, in alignment with international triathlon standards. One male and one female champion were crowned in each division.

Youth A (ages 14-15) competed over the Super Sprint distance, which included a 400m swim, an 8K bike, and a 2K run.

Youth B (ages 16-17) and Junior (ages 18-19) raced together over the Sprint Distance, covering a 750m swim, a 15K bike, and a 5K run.

Global Representation

The debut of the XTERRA Youth World Championship brought athletes from 20+ countries to Lake Molveno, with the event livestreamed globally.

France led the field with nearly a quarter of the participants, followed by host nation Italy, and strong representation from Germany, Belgium, and the Czech Republic. South Africa had the largest delegation outside Europe, with athletes from the USA, UK, and New Zealand also present. Other represented nations included Portugal, Switzerland, Slovakia, Canada, Hong Kong, Namibia, Hungary, Norway, Colombia, Romania, Estonia, and Greece.

Though a global audience watched, local support was key, as youth athletes were cheered on by scores of families, friends, XTERRA legends and newly crowned World Champions from the elite and age group divisions. The atmosphere was electric at the lakeside venue, with live DJ sets, food trucks, and a big screen viewing area where spectators enjoyed the entire race against the backdrop of the iconic Dolomites.

Youth A Race Recap (14-15)

Ondřej Plic (CZE) won the male’s Youth A World Championship Super Sprint Triathlon with a total time of 32:02. He led from the start, exiting the swim first in 4:36, closely followed by Tommaso Pedrini (ITA), who was just 2.71 seconds behind. Plic maintained his lead during the bike segment, and despite finding the run challenging—”The run was tough for me because I don’t feel like I’m a great runner, but the swim was my favorite segment because I have a strong swimming background,” he said—he secured the victory. Pedrini finished second at 32:49, and Bastien Lambercier (CHE), took third with a time of 33:01.

Apolline Ramboux (BEL) won the Youth A female category with a total time of 37:48. Although Isla Widdowson (GBR) led the swim segment in 5:11, Ramboux took the lead during the bike. “I don’t like swimming that much, but I love the bike segment,” she said. “I’m a fast rider, and I thought the course was very quick.” Despite a minor issue in transition—”I had trouble with my shoes and had to stop to tie my laces”—she maintained her lead to secure the victory. Widdowson finished second at 38:16, 28.43 seconds behind, while Minna Li Maesepp (EST) took third place with a time of 38:58.

Youth B Race Recap (16-17)

Finley Goodman (GBR) won the Youth B male category with a total time of 1:23:58. It was Antony Clayton (ZAF) who led the swim segment in 8:57, but Goodman advanced during the bike and run. “I actually had a very good swim; I managed to position myself well at the start,” Goodman said. “The bike was relentless; the hill just kept going up, and I had no more gears left.” Despite tight hamstrings during the run, he pushed hard. “I realized I was catching them, so I told myself to go hard and catch them. When I saw I was ahead, I put the hammer down, knowing I had a chance to win, and I’m pretty happy about it.” Clayton finished second in 1:24:21, 22.48 seconds behind, while Nathan Chase (NAM) took third place with a time of 1:24:41.

Mila Lantelme (FRA) won the Youth B female category with a total time of 1:40:54. Romania’s Samuila Iris Alexandrina (ROU) was ahead after the swim in 10:23, but Lantelme took the lead during the bike segment. “The last part of the bike was the hardest, especially during the climb,” she said. “The final section of the bike course had a lot of roots, and it was really slippery.” Through these challenges, she maintained her lead throughout the run. “The run course was magical, with the landscape over the lake, and I felt I had time to enjoy it,” Lantelme added. Vittoria Anna Campana (ITA) finished second at 1:49:25, 8 minutes and 31 seconds behind, while Leonie Tisserand (FRA) took third place with a time of 1:50:11.

Junior Division Race Recap (18-19)

In the Junior division male category, Leo Plamondon (CAN) led the swim with a time of 9:03, followed by Riccardo Colombo (ITA), who was 59 seconds behind. After the bike segment, Jean-Pierre du Plessis (ZAF) took the lead, finishing in 1:03:34, with Chad Walsh (CAN) just 4 seconds behind. In the final run, Jakub Homola (CZE) from the Czech Republic surged ahead to win the race with a total time of 1:27:16. Walsh secured second place at 1:27:32, 15 seconds behind, while du Plessis finished third at 1:27:50.

Anna Gazzari (ITA) won the Junior female category on home soil with a total time of 1:48:55. She led the swim with a time of 10:15, 41 seconds ahead of Theresa Beraus (DEU). Gazzari maintained her lead during the bike segment, finishing at 1:18:16, over two minutes ahead of Agathe Claude (FRA). “I really enjoyed the bike; I’m a strong biker, and I’m feeling great,” Gazzari said. She continued to explain, “For me, the run in the forest was the hardest part of the race. The swim was good; the water wasn’t too cold for me.” Claude finished second at 1:51:22, 2 minutes and 26 seconds behind, while Marie Martinez (FRA) took third place with a time of 1:52:00.

Complete Results Here

Both races are available to replay for free on XTERRA’s YouTube channel.

About XTERRA

XTERRA is a global lifestyle brand that champions the outdoor enthusiast in their pursuit of relentless adventure. From pioneering the sport of cross-triathlon in 1996, XTERRA has grown to become a leading brand in off-road adventure through the XTERRA World Tour, XTERRA Trail Run World Series and the XTERRA World Cup, connecting an eco-aware community of worldwide explorers that seek to protect the places where they play. For more information, visit xterraplanet.com.

High-resolution images for publication and social media use here. (Photo credit: XTERRA, @xterraplanet)