Off -road specialists Ben Allen and Jacqui Slack are ready to kick off the TreX Series at the Victorian Championships weekend…

BRISBANE—Only a month removed from competing at the 2015 Xterra World Championships in Maui, Hawaii, and off-road power couple, Ben Allen (AUS) and Jacqui Slack (GBR), are already set to kick off the TreX series at the Victorian Cross Triathlon (X-Tri) Championships this weekend (November 28-29).

The 2015/16 TreX series race ambassadors, who will be visiting Bendigo schools on Friday to share their passion for sport with local school children, will face stiff competition from a loaded field that also includes Brodie Gardner (QLD) in the elite men’s field and fellow TreX spokesperson Renata Bucher (SUI) in the elite women’s competition.

Allen, who followed a podium (third) at the 2014 Xterra Worlds with a 14th-place finish in October, is looking to rebound in Bendigo.

“Xterra worlds was a race that gave me everything to loose but also everything to gain,” said Allen, who also finished fifth at the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Cross Triathlon (X-Tri) World Championships in Sardinia, Italy in September. “I went into the race doing everything possible to execute a good performance but the Hawaiian Gods weren’t on my side and it just wasn’t my day.

“I’ll be back next year to give it another crack.

“However, Bendigo is a unique town that offers the off road enthusiasts the chance to dive deep into the heart of all things off road,” the 30-year-old, 17-time Xterra champion continued.

“Plus, I love In2Adventure’s dedication to providing everyone an amazing experience on and off the race course.

For Slack, who improved on her ninth-place performance in Maui last year with an eighth-place finish last month, she is keen to continue building on her forward momentum.

“I’m super-excited to get down to Bendigo and reunite with the In2adventure team,” said Slack, herself an eight-time Xterra champion. “The TreX races always have a great family atmosphere and the weekend is jam-packed with all things off road.

“Bendigo is a fun little town with some fantastic cafes, and the race location is perfect for a cross triathlon with loose rocky sections on the bike course which makes for a challenging mountain bike through the bush.”

The Victorian X-Tri Championships will be held at the two-day Bendigo Multisport Festival, which features off-road triathlons, duathlons, trail running and a $5,000 prize pool. The flagship event – a 1500-metre swim, 30-kilometre mountain bike and 10-kilometre trail run – also serves as the first of three TreX qualifiers to the 2016 X-Tri Worlds event to be held at Lake Crackenback Resort and Spa in the heart of the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia.

Set alongside the picturesque and challenging Crusoe Reservoir, the Victorian X-Tri Championships and Multisport Weekend is based in Victoria’s Gold Region in the City of Greater Bendigo – just 90 minutes from Melbourne Airport.
“The new run course will be a real treat for our off road diehards,” claimed In2Adventure race director, Simon Lazenby. “The run course is now 80 percent off trail featuring a few wet, muddy and technically challenging sections that will test hearts and minds on the last leg of the triathlon.”

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).

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 competitors travelling to Bendigo from right across the nation from as far afield as Tasmania and Queensland,” admitted Robyn Lazenby.

The elites will also be joined by an enthusiastic amateur contingency all vying for a shot at not only a state title, but also a chance to race next year’s ITU Cross Triathlon Worlds (November 18-20, 2016).

Other state TreX qualifiers include the Australian Championships (27-28 February) in the Snowy Mountains (NSW) and the Queensland Championships (16-17 April) on the Sunshine Coast.

About the Pathway Partner program:

As part of our Pathway Partners Program, In2Adventure is in the process of connecting with clubs, coaches and squads throughout Australia who will be hosting training and development programs aimed at helping competitors to qualify for the World X-Tri Champs in 2016. For more info on connecting with a current Pathway Partner, please click here.

If you are a coach, club, squad or trainer who offers training for cross triathlon including mountain biking, trail running or swimming and are interested in becoming a pathway partner you can download full information and application forms using the links below. For a Pathway Partner information pack, click here, or for a Pathway Partner application form, please click here.

About TreX:

For seven years TreX has positioned itself as the pinnacle of the cross – or off-road – triathlon racing series in Asia-Pacific. Presented by the premier outdoor adventure event specialists In2Adventure, TreX consists of a reservoir swim, mountain bike and trail run. While each TreX event features an elite category with industry-leading prize purses, including $40,000 for the 2015 Oceania Cross Triathlon Championships, the TreX Cross Triathlon national series invites participation from all ages and skill levels. For more information, please visit TreX here.

About In2Adventure:

In2Adventure is Asia-Pacific’s premier adventure event specialists with more than 10 years experience, and the official race organiser of the 2016 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships. With a full calendar of national events scheduled throughout Australia, including adventure races, cross triathlon, XC Mountain Bike, trail runs and corporate events, In2Adventure fully embraces all things ‘off road’ and ‘off the beaten track’ and offers a unique, individual experience for all ages and skill levels. For more information, please visit In2Adventure here.

Upcoming Events (2015/16):

– Victorian Cross Triathlon Championships (2016 Worlds Qualifier) – Bendigo, VIC, 28-29 November 2015

– Snowies MTB Festival – Snowy Mountains, NSW, 12-14 February 2016

– Australian Cross Triathlon Championships (2016 Worlds Qualifier) – Snowy Mountains, NSW, 27-28 February 2016

– Queensland Cross Triathlon Championships (2016 Worlds Qualifier) – Sunshine Coast, QLD, 16-17 April 2016

– ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships – Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa, Snowy Mountains, NSW, 19-20 November 2016

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Photo Credit: Courtesy In2Adventure