Fodaxman Xtreme Triathlon
Urubici (finish); start Nova Veneza / Siderópolis, Brazil · December · XTRI World Tour
Why people love it
- Point-to-point from a night dam swim at sea level to a 1,818 m (5,965 ft) summit finish
- Climbs the Serra do Rio do Rastro, about 15 km (9.3 mi) and 1,000 m (3,281 ft) of gain
- 10th anniversary edition in 2026; 200 X-Points for finishers
- Course record 10:56 (2021)
Watch out for
- Distances differ between the XTRI page (3.8/180/42 km (26.1 mi); 2.4/112/26.1 mi) and the organiser (4/176/39 km (24.2 mi); 2.5/109/24.2 mi)
- Roads open to traffic, no marshals guiding; mandatory support crew and vehicle
- No aid-station food; no expo
- Start and finish towns about 170 km (106 mi) apart
- Almost no independent athlete race reports found online
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.6
Ten editions, loyal repeat champions and a famous climb, but almost no independent athlete accounts and a heavy support burden. · Low confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.4
Long-running with a roadbook and GPS track, yet roads are open and there are no aid stations or expo by design. Distances differ between sources. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyExperts only1.0
For experts only: self-supported with a mandatory crew and vehicle, open roads and a night swim. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialVery slow1.0
3,850 m (12,631 ft) of bike gain plus 1,250 m (4,101 ft) of run gain. The 2021 winner took 10:56 and the top woman 13:44. · High confidence
- Course easeExtreme1.1
About 5,100 m (16,732 ft) of total climbing, a night swim, 5-35 °C (41-95 °F) swings and a finish at 1,818 m (5,965 ft). · High confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.6
Wetsuits are reported allowed and the water is called cold. A December reservoir is likely under 24.5 °C (76.1 °F), but no figure is published. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.2
Described as cold at the 3:40-4:00 am start, with no temperature given. A Brazilian December reservoir is likely 18-21 °C (64-70 °F). · Low confidence
- Calm waterGlassy4.6
The organiser describes flat dam water with no current. Sheltered but dark. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeModerate2.7
About 4 km (2.5 mi) in complete darkness navigating by lights, though flat with no current and a mass start. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.2
An atmospheric night start in nature, but dark, cold and nothing to see. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.0
Public mountain roads. No surface reports found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresOpen traffic1.0
The organiser states roads are open to normal traffic with no race staff guiding athletes. · High confidence
- Bike scenerySpectacular4.8
Rio do Rastro is billed as one of the world's most beautiful climbs, with canyons and escarpment. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
No wind data. The escarpment is exposed, but no wind problems have been reported. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedVery slow1.0
176 km (109 mi) with 3,850 m (12,631 ft) of gain, including Rio do Rastro with gradients up to about 20%. · High confidence
- Bike flatnessMountainous1.0
3,850 m (12,631 ft) over 176 km (109 mi), far above the 2,500 m (8,200 ft) mark for a mountainous bike. · High confidence
- Bike simplicityTechnical1.8
Rio do Rastro has about 284 curves and tight switchbacks, with gradients up to 23%, on open traffic. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportSparse1.8
Crew-supported only, with spectators concentrated at the Morro da Igreja finish. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsSparse1.0
No aid-station food by design. Each athlete's crew handles everything. · High confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
The finish is atop Morro da Igreja in the São Joaquim area. Few run-specific reports. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsBrutal1.0
A climb to the finish after 176 km (109 mi) of riding, with 5-35 °C (41-95 °F) swings. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessBig climbs1.0
1,250 m (4,101 ft) of gain over 39 km (24.2 mi), about 1,100 m (3,609 ft) of it in the last 16 km (9.9 mi). · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureHarsh2.4
Air ranges 5-35 °C (41-95 °F) in one day, with a cold pre-dawn start and hot afternoon, well off the comfortable 18-25 °C (64-77 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityUnsettled2.2
Serra weather changes quickly, with a daily range of 5-35 °C (41-95 °F) cited. No cancellations are documented. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.7
Serra Catarinense canyons, escarpment and Morro da Igreja. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky1.8
Start and finish are about 170 km (106 mi) apart, and the race is crew-focused. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeElevated2.2
A sea-level start but a finish at 1,818 m (5,965 ft), above the 1,500 m (4,900 ft) mark. The last 16 km (9.9 mi) is a climb. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Urubici is a developed tourist town with many pousadas, but the field and crews fill it in December. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.2
Booking sites score 7.8-9.6 out of 10. Prices unknown. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving1.8
Start and finish are in different towns about 170 km (106 mi) apart, so a vehicle is required. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeAwkward2.0
Fly to Florianópolis then drive about 3 hours. Criciúma is nearer the start. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsComplex1.0
Two venues, a mandatory crew car, and an unsupported T2 and bike handover. · High confidence
- Town and foodFine3.0
Urubici is a tourist town. No athlete reviews of the food. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Urubici (finish); start Nova Veneza / Siderópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
- Typical month
- December
- Latest or next date
- 12 December 2026
- Organiser
- XTRI World Tour
- Field size
- About 150 athletes
- First held
- 2016
- Distances
- 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Barragem do Rio São Bento (freshwater dam/reservoir), Siderópolis (reservoir)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- mass
- Bike climbing
- 3,850 m (12,630 ft)
- Key climbs
- Serra do Rio do Rastro (~17 km, up to ~20% per organizer; 'Brazilian Stelvio'); Final 16 km climb to Morro da Igreja (finish, 1,818 m)
- Run climbing
- 1,250 m (4,100 ft)
- Air temperature
- 5–35 °C (41–95 °F)
- Altitude
- 1,818 m (5,960 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Florianopolis (FLN) ~ 3 h drive to Urubici; Criciuma (CCM) nearer to start area
- Where to stay
- Urubici, Nova Veneza (pre-race)
- Booking
- Race spans two towns ~170 km apart (technical congress/start in Nova Veneza, finish and awards in Urubici). Urubici has many pousadas/chalets; aggregator scores mostly 8-9.6/10 but small samples.
What racers and reviewers say
- NSC Total (Brazilian regional news)Raced 2021 · article · Positive
Race report of the 2021 edition: Luiz Francisco Ferreira won in 10:56 for a new record with 86 starters, taking the lead on the bike before the Rio do Rastro climb. Swim began in darkness. Livia Bustamante won her third women's title. Described as a physical and mental fight on the final climb. Page itself was blocked; details taken from search summary.
- Red Bull Brasilarticle · Positive
Feature on the event's origin from four triathletes riding between Lauro Muller and Urubici. Cites ~4,900 m (16,076 ft) of cumulative climbing, gradients up to 23%, and temperatures from 5 to 35 C (41 to 95 F). Page body not retrievable directly; read through search summary.
- Campo Grande NewsRaced 2025 · article · Mixed
Pre-race profile of a Mato Grosso do Sul police officer, a Patagonman veteran, entering the 2025 edition. Describes a cold, dark swim starting 03:40, long climbs and tight bends on the bike, and the need for a support crew for food and water throughout.
- Haid.app event listingRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Registration listing with rules: flat night swim at 4 a.m., bike with ~3,850 m (12,631 ft) on public roads open to traffic, run with ~1,250 m (4,101 ft), at least one supporter required, no expo or aid snacks, start in Nova Veneza and finish in Urubici. Factual rather than opinion.
- Expedia / Trip.com Urubici hotel reviewshotel-review · Positive
Guest ratings for Urubici lodging via aggregators: Pousada Recanto da Serra 8.6/10 (299 reviews), Fazenda Pedra Preta 7.8/10 (90), Serra Bela Eco Pousada 9.6/10 (5). Guests praise breakfast and mountain setting. Not race-specific.
Show 1 more
- PJAMM Cycling climb profileaggregator · Mixed
Climb stats for Serra do Rio do Rastro: about 15 km (9.3 mi), ~1,000 m (3,281 ft) gain, 6.6% average. No rider comments posted.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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