Search
shop

Alistair Brownlee confirms he is going off-road to ‘mix it up’ at XTERRA UK

British great to line up for off-road spectacular at Weston Park
Editor-In-Chief
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Double Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee has never been afraid of a challenge, and this weekend he takes on another one as he lines up at XTERRA UK.

The British star made his seasonal tri debut in the much-hyped PTO European Open in Ibiza last weekend, eventually finishing sixth after leading for much of the day.

Afterwards Alistair was delighted to be back in proper race action following a 2022 season which was ravaged by injury and illness. He said: “Happy to stand on a start line, race hard from the gun and get to the finish line today. Felt good on the swim and the bike.

“Always knew coming into the race that the run was going to be a struggle. I’m going to build my running slowly over the next few months.”

Advertisement

Brownlee confirms XTERRA bid

Well, Brownlee is back in action quickly again this weekend as XTERRA UK lands at Weston Park in Shropshire. He confirmed his participation in an Instagram post, saying: “Excited to mix things up off-road this weekend as I head to another start line in Weston Park for XTERRA UK!”

Alistair Brownlee to race at XTERRA UK
Alistair Brownlee is set for XTERRA UK

The event, which takes place on Saturday, has a full-distance race which consists of a 1500m swim, a 27.5km bike and a 10.67km run.

Olympic great Brownlee, now 35, is no stranger to taking on a variety of formats. In 2021, while on the way back from ankle surgery, he competed in Spain’s iconic Badlands race. That provided the daunting challenge of 746km of rugged terrain – mixing deserts and mountains with more than 15km of climbing.

Brownlee also competed in the British Gravel Championships shortly after Badlands, claiming a title in the 19-34 age group.

This weekend is another test for Alistair as he accepts the challenge of XTERRA, complete with open water swimming, mountain biking and trail running.

XTERRA WC spots up for grabs

The Weston Park event also offers XTERRA World Championship slots for successful athletes, with the opportunity then to race for it all in the Dolomites in Italy in September 2023.

There are plenty of examples of elite triathletes who have also excelled in XTERRA competition – Olympic triathlon champion Flora Duffy is a six-time world champion while Kiwi Hayden Wilde won a world title in 2021.

Wilde himself responded to Brownlee’s news by telling the British star: “Aaaaaah welcome to the dark side 🫡”

Graham Shaw
Written by
Graham Shaw
Graham has been involved with TRI247 & RUN247 since the summer of 2021. Since then he has provided strategic direction for all news and is passionate about the growth of triathlon as a fan sport.
Discover more
Challenge Family Jort Vlam CEO
“It’s not just for nutty people who train 40 hours a week!” Jort Vlam on taking triathlon mainstream and why he’s still inspired to keep growing the sport
Chain hanging to dry after waxing
PremiumSwitching to a waxed chain could take minutes off your Ironman bike split, without riding any harder – and here’s why
PremiumAre women better than men at long distances? We uncover the truth once and for all
Castelli Aero Pro 8S women's cycling jersey
Castelli Aero Pro 8S cycling jersey review: can this ultra-aero jersey turn watts into speed without dialling down on comfort?
Sian Rainsley Vitus
PremiumThreshold or VO2 max? The best type of intervals for triathletes who want to get faster
latest News
Lucy Charles Barclay T100 London celebrations 2025
T100 win confirms the numbers – and now Lucy Charles-Barclay sets sights on Kona and more
Alex Yee London Marathon 2025
Alex Yee sets stunning new PB for 5,000m at international meet in Belgium
Hayden Wilde finish line T100 London 2025
‘He’s a superfreak’ – Jan Frodeno hails INCREDIBLE Hayden Wilde comeback
Hayden Wilde wins T100 London 2025
T100 London men’s results 2025: Hayden Wilde wins in one of the GREATEST EVER sporting comebacks
Lucy Charles Barclay wins T100 London 2025
T100 London women’s results 2025: FAIRYTALE win for Lucy Charles-Barclay in front of home fans
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...