Crossing Tahiti at XTERRA Transtahitienne

September 8, 2026

An island crossing on foot or with a shared mountain bike brought participants into Tahiti’s interior for a day of challenge and discovery.

September 8, 2026 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – On September 5, 2026, nearly 475 participants set out from Mataiea to cross Tahiti at the XTERRA Transtahitienne. The 40K journey to Papenoo took them through the island’s mountainous interior, far from the coastal roads most visitors follow. Reaching the other side required a considerable effort, with the opportunity to experience this part of French Polynesia alongside people who had come for the same adventure.

XTERRA Transtahitienne sits outside the XTERRA World Tour and Trail Run World Series. Its place within XTERRA reflects the wider lifestyle behind the brand: travelling somewhere new, meeting people through outdoor activity and taking on a challenge worth sharing. The crossing itself gave participants a reason to gather, whether they arrived with a competitive ambition or the goal of completing the journey.

Two formats followed the same route. The individual Trail Marathon covered 40K on foot, while the Run & Bike paired two participants with one mountain bike. Teammates alternated running and riding, choosing when to exchange the bike and how to manage their effort before finishing together. With 1,350M of climbing on the course, cooperation was central to getting across the island.

New Zealand’s Dougal Allan and Rebecca Aiken joined the Run & Bike field for their first experience of the format, finishing third among the mixed teams. Before the event, Allan told Radio1 Tahiti that their priorities included enjoying the landscape and meeting local people. “We just want to take part, have fun and admire the scenery,” he said. Deciding who would run, who would ride and when to switch was a new challenge they would work through together.

Tahiti’s Thomas Lubin and Cédric Wane won the men’s Run & Bike, while Morgane Delanerie and Mérédith Dabet won the women’s category. Maxime Leblanc and Mylène Gauthey finished first among the mixed teams. In the Trail Marathon, Moorea-based Damien Troquenet earned his third Transtahitienne victory, while Juliette Auber won the women’s race on her first attempt. Full results are available here.

Freedom to choose an experience extends across XTERRA Trail Run. Participants can select a distance suited to their experience, follow their finishes over time, enter the Trail Run World Series and pursue a World Championship place, or take part simply for the enjoyment of being outdoors. The XTERRA Trail Run calendar includes events through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027. Upcoming gatherings include Trail Vallée de Joux in Switzerland on October 10-11, Appalachian Trail Fest in Alabama on October 31, Cabo in Mexico on November 21-22, Nepal on November 28, and Taihu Trail Run in Suzhou, China, on December 5-6.

Photo credit: Lionailes Production

About XTERRA

Born on the Hawaiian shores of Maui in 1996, XTERRA has grown into a global outdoor lifestyle brand rooted in exploration, community, and care for the natural world. With deep roots in off-road racing, XTERRA now inspires connection through events, storytelling, and apparel built to move through nature. From local gatherings to world-class events, XTERRA is a way of life shaped by the land beneath our feet and the stories we share along the way.