TRIATHLON

Bendigo Multisport Festival to serve as X-Tri Worlds qualifier

By In2Adventure

If the two-day Bendigo Multisport Festival, featuring off-road triathlons, duathlons, trail running and a $5,000 prize pool was not incentive enough to sign up for the Victorian Cross Triathlon (X-Tri) Championships, then perhaps the fact that the flagship event – a 1500-metre swim, 30-kilometre mountain bike and 10-kilometre trail run – also serves as the first of three qualifiers to the 2016 International Triathlon Union (ITU) Cross Triathlon World Championships will help tick the box.

Set alongside the picturesque and challenging Crusoe Reservoir, the TreX Victorian Cross Triathlon Championships and Multisport Weekend (28-29 November) is based in Victoria’s Gold Region in the City of Greater Bendigo just 90 minutes from Melbourne Airport.
 
With eight off-road events specifically designed for athletes of all ages and skill levels, the Bendigo Multisport Festival is set to offer something for everyone, including four trail runs. Aside from the state X-Tri champs, there are three other races, including a sprint, junior and dirt kids (7-10yrs).

“We are so excited to be back in beautiful Bendigo with the Dirt Fest Multisport Festival this year,” said In2Adventure event director Robyn Lazenby. “After the inaugural event in 2014 we have been able to take the festival and add some all new elements so there is something for all comers no matter what your age, experience or athletic ability.

“And for the families, the standard distance event is accompanied by the sprint distance, which is suited to absolute beginners to the sport and those looking for a slightly shorter distance.  We also have the junior and dirt kids duathlons as well as a 15-, 10- and 5k Trail Run and a free Mud Rats adventure run for kids.”


Photo © In2Adventure

The coveted Dirt Master and Dirt Mistress titles will also be up for grabs for the top male and female athlete who records the fastest cumulative times in the Victorian X-Tri Champs, Sprint X-Tri (400m swim, 13.5k mountain bike and 5k trail run) and 15k Trail Run.

“We have a few new surprises with the trail run this year, where we will be taking runners completely ‘off the beaten track’ to experience the beauty and history of the spectacular Bendigo gold region and the all new ‘X-Tri Style’ log hurdle challenge will certainly be something to remember,” said In2Adventure race director Simon Lazenby.
 
“It’s going to be a fantastic, fun and challenging weekend for all comers and we can’t wait to welcome participants to Bendigo – Victoria’s home of off road action.”


Photo © In2Adventure

The ITU granted New South Wales the world championships to be hosted at Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa – the same idyllic venue as the Oceania Cross Triathlon Championships won by Olympians Courtney Atkinson (AUS) and Erin Densham (AUS) in February.

This historic announcement marks the first time that the event has been hosted in the Southern Hemisphere, and the 10-year anniversary of In2Adventure managing ‘off road’ and ‘adventure’ events in Australia.

Other state qualifiers include the Australian Championships (27-28 February) in the Snowy Mountains (NSW) and the Queensland Championships (16-17 April) on the Sunshine Coast.
To find out more about the TreX Series go to Trextriathlon.com.au