First Xterra Austria: Triathlon premiere in the Ausseerland full of challenges!

First Xterra Austria: Triathlon premiere in the Ausseerland full of challenges!

On Saturday, the Ausseerland is all about sport, because then the premiere of the Xterra Austria takes place. In its first edition, this cross-triathlon promises a special challenge for the athletes, because the surface is loose and technically demanding. The route will demand everything from the participants and certainly ensure exciting competitions. In total, 220 athletes have registered for the long distance, including three times the state champion Marcel Spandl and the talented Katja Krenn. Together they will compete in the elite field, which ensures additional tension.

Marcel Spandl, 37 years old, is convinced of his skills in rough terrain. "I feel comfortable here because the route requires a lot of technology," said the enthusiast. His participation is also underlined by the demanding competition, which begins with a swimming route in the beautiful Altausseer See, followed by a challenging mountain bike route and finally a terrain, which demands the competitors to their limits. A total of 333 participants from 21 nations are registered in all competitions, a sign of the enormous attractiveness of the event.

A look at the highlights

The cross triathlon has established itself in recent years, and not without reason. [HDSPORTS] (https://www.hdsports.de/triathlon/crosstriathlon-kalende dates) describes that the racing bike is replaced by a mountain bike in these competitions, and that the routes often run off-road. In comparison to Germany and Switzerland, Austria has fewer events, but enthusiasm remains unbroken. Whether in open water or on rugged paths - the athletes tirelessly face the challenges.

An example of a successful event was the Sport Austria Finals 2023 in the Bad in Graz Strassganger, where Marcel Spandl gets back the state championship title. Sport Austria reported that Spandl took third place last year, but benefited from the disqualifications of its opponents this year. The route was over 30 kilometers long and included 1,000 meters with a combination of swimming, mountain biking and trail running. Here Spandl became a local hero and secured the title against strong competitors such as Andreas Silberbauer, who was not unexpectedly disqualified.

The sporty community

cross triathlons are a great way for athletes to move in nature and at the same time work on their own limits. The diverse field of participants, which ranges from professional athletes to amateur enthusiasts, makes these competitions particularly attractive. In addition, the growing popularity of events such as Xterra Austria cannot be overlooked. In the coming months there will be various cross-triathlon events in Austria that offer all fanatical athletes: inside the opportunity to prove themselves.

The first steps towards another exciting season have already been laid, and the athletes look forward to the challenge of Xterra Austria. Overall, it gets steep, rocky and certainly really hard - exactly as real triathletes love!