The Greek seaside suburb of Vouliagmeni came alive once again from April 25-27 in its 12th consecutive year of Xterra off-road competition. The action-packed event seamlessly intertwined Elite, AG, and Youth contests with an all-out festival atmosphere at Stop #2 of the 2025 Xterra World Cup series.
Defending World Cup champion Felix Forissier (FRA) delivered a statement victory in his season debut, showing the world that he’s back in full form as he shared the podium spotlight with his brother, Arthur, who took third place. On the women’s side, Alizée Paties (FRA) extended her undefeated run in 2025, edging out Anna Zehnder (CHE), who celebrated her career-best World Cup finish in second place.
Course Highlights & Delights
Ideal racing conditions greeted athletes on race day, with the air temperature sitting at a comfortable 20°C and the Aegean waters at 19°C. The Full Distance race challenged competitors with a 1.5K swim, 30K mountain bike, and 11K trail run, all set against the dramatic coastal backdrop of Vouliagmeni and the southern slopes of Mount Hymettus. Famous as the venue for the triathlon competition during the 2004 Athens Olympics, Vouliagmeni has since been reimagined as a playground for off-road adventurers, delivering a course that combines natural beauty with technical challenge.
Swim (1.5K): The race began with a two-loop 1.5K swim in the crystal-clear waters of Vouliagmeni Bay. While the sea was calm and visibility was excellent, the opening strokes proved chaotic for some. “I thought I would swim better today, but the start was pretty hectic—I got hit a few times in the water,” said Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (DNK), who would go on to finish second. Arthur Forissier (FRA) found his rhythm early, noting, “The swim was great—the water was clear and it felt really pleasant swimming in these conditions.” Defending champion Felix Forissier (FRA) added, “The swim wasn’t so fast, but I tried to manage my pace.” Among the age group winners, Wenda Zuiddam (NLD, 30-34) described the start as “like being in a washing machine,” but settled into her own pace, while Olivier Fellmann (LUX, 60-64) simply “enjoyed the beauty of the clear water.”
Bike (30K): Emerging from the bay, athletes tackled a two-loop, 30K mountain bike course filled with dry Mediterranean trails, punchy climbs, and technical descents. The fast, unforgiving nature of the route demanded precision and focus. “This course is fast and there’s no room for mistakes, so I really focused on riding clean,” said Sloth Nielsen. Anna Zehnder (CHE) echoed the challenge, saying, “I love this course; it’s technical and never boring.” After winning her division, Maja Blümel (DEU, 20-24) said, “The bike was tough—I had low pressure in my tire—but I had so much fun on the course,” while Fellmann (LUX, 60-64) marveled, “Taking the bike was fantastic—the course was unbelievable, with stunning views.”
Run (11K): Finally, the 11K trail run brought competitors onto rocky, technical loops that rewarded endurance and punished hesitation. A steep climb straight out of transition tested tired legs before athletes navigated loose, uneven terrain under the hot Greek sun. “My best moment was during the run,” said Felix Forissier. “I felt good from the start, pushed hard, and by the second lap I knew I was strong.” Sloth Nielsen admitted the climbs took a toll: “In Denmark, we don’t have hills like these, and climbing hit me hard.” Arthur Forissier battled the heat but found his rhythm: “The run was tough because of the heat, but I managed to keep a good pace, especially on the downhill sections, and really enjoyed that part.” Zehnder thrived on the run, saying, “I really like the steep hills and the challenge here,” while Fellmann summed it up perfectly: “The run was very hard, but the scenery made up for it.”
Forissier Runs It Down
Michele Bonacina (ITA) led the field out of the water with a time of 19:42, just ahead of a tight chase group that included Felix Forissier (FRA) at 19:44, Elliot Labourdette (FRA) at 19:45, and Rory Strachan (GBR) at 19:47. Arthur Forissier (FRA) and Sebastian Neef (DEU) were not far behind, each clocking 20:28, setting up a fierce bike leg.
Out on the trails, Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (DNK) made a powerful charge to the front after exiting the swim with a 21:36. “Catching the front guys isn’t easy here, so I was excited when I made it up to Felix,” said Sloth Nielsen. Felix Forissier played it smart on the bike, managing his effort carefully. “I tried something new—I used a Camelbak to drink a lot of water and control my pacing better,” said Forissier. “These things helped me run faster, and that was my main goal.” Arthur Forissier stayed right in the mix. “Coming out of the water, I was closer to the lead than I expected, so I was happy with that,” said Arthur. “On the bike, I gave it everything I had, and reached T2 in third, just 15 to 20 seconds behind Jens Emil and Felix.”
The final 11K trail run delivered the decisive moments. Felix pushed early and opened a gap on the steep climbs. “By the second lap I knew I was strong,” he said. Sloth Nielsen hung tough but admitted, “Felix took about 30 seconds on each uphill loop. He’s just a great runner and definitely came in strong after some solid winter training. I’m looking forward to another chance to beat him.” Despite the pressure, Arthur maintained his pace to secure a hard-fought third place.
In the end, Felix Forissier crossed the line first in 2:21:18, with Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen second in 2:22:13, and Arthur Forissier rounding out the podium in 2:24:14.
Paties Extends Perfect Start
The women’s race kicked off with Aneta Grabmüller (CZE) setting the early pace in the swim, exiting first in 20:54. Anna Zehnder (CHE) and Emma Ducreux (FRA) followed closely, with Zehnder staying on Ducreux’s feet to position herself strongly for the bike. Alizée Paties (FRA) and Marta Menditto (ITA) emerged slightly behind but well within striking range after a tough opening lap.
Onto the bike, Paties found her rhythm quickly. “Once I started the bike, my legs felt really strong, so I pushed hard,” she said. Taking control on the second loop, Paties opened a significant gap over Zehnder and Menditto, riding with aggressive precision on the technical Greek trails. Marta Menditto battled through a rough start but began regaining ground. “I didn’t feel myself during the swim or early bike, but after a while, I started feeling better,” said Menditto. Meanwhile, Zehnder stayed composed despite a difficult T2, explaining, “Transition two was a bit messy—I lost a shoe, and my helmet bounced out of the box so I had to pick it up before chasing down third place”
The run course demanded resilience. Paties, despite fatigue, kept her pace high. “By the run, I was tired but kept pushing. At one point, I thought I’d slow down a bit, but I’m so happy I kept it up,” she said. Zehnder capitalized on her strength in the hills, closing the gap to Menditto to move into second place. “Once I caught Marta, I could relax a bit,” said Zehnder. Menditto, acknowledging Zehnder’s strength, stayed steady to protect her podium spot. “Anna was really strong and caught me, but overall I’m happy with the race,” said Menditto.
Alizée Paties crossed the finish line in 2:45:03 to extend her perfect 2025 World Cup season, followed by Anna Zehnder in 2:49:56. Marta Menditto rounded out the podium in third with a time of 2:50:28
