4-time iron-distance champion Stephen Bayliss is the latest big name who has announced to race at XTERRA England, set to kick off in Cranleigh, Surrey on the 30^th August 2015. Bayliss, who counts wins at Ironman UK and Challenge Vichy on his illustrious CV, has been drawn to enter XTERRA England as part of his double bid at the respective world championships in Hawaii at both XTERRA and Ironman.

As a 4-time champion, 13 time podium finisher and owner of two bronze European medal in long course racing, Bayliss’ quality is undoubted, but relatively untested on the off-road circuit. His inclusion in the race offers a fascinating dynamic to what is already a strong pro mens field that race is currently stacked with pro entries including Ruben Ruzafa (ESP), Conrad Stoltz (RSA), Ben Allen (AUS), Richard Stannard (GB), Asa Shaw (FRA/GB) and many more.

Stephen Bayliss said:

“I love going off-road, they are really different and it reminds me of my childhood riding mountain bikes all the time. The race is very close to where I grew up and it is a special kind of triathlon, a different, relaxed atmosphere and a different adventure.”

Despite Stephen Bayliss illustrious career, he has never competed on the XTERRA circuit before so his inclusion adds an element of the unknown to the race dynamic, but he is not exactly a novice. This year Bayliss came second at the Lanzarote Nutri-Cross Triathlon and is a former Junior Cyclo Cross cyclist at GB level. Whilst those skills might be rusty, it obviously marks him out as a serious threat to the overall title.

The UK leg of the world off-road triathlon series will return to the Vachery Estate in Cranleigh ,Surrey on the Bank Holiday weekend 29/30^th August 2015 for more muddy, off-road fun on the trails.

XTERRA England is the UK leg of the international off-road triathlon race series, offering not only by the sweet custom made trails and stunning, spring-fed clear boating lake swim, but also European Championship status. Up for grabs will be prestigious National and European titles, a $25,000 prize purse and qualifying points for the historic 20^th edition of the world championships held in Maui, Hawaii.

Age-group triathletes will have the opportunity to race on the same championship course with the pros and compete for prestigious amateur National and European titles, as well as 50 precious qualifying slots to Maui, Hawaii.

XTERRA England offers the rare chance to swim, ride, run, race, eat, sleep, and dance in the serene and seductive ancient wooded countryside of Surrey. All on a private estate, no less, where huge open fields of grass welcome hundreds of campers, bands, caterers, and racers.

The championship distance is open to all triathletes and athletes of any ability and background and combines a 1.5K swim / 30K bike / 10K trail run on Sunday. There is also a half-distance sprint race option and athletes can join together to tackle either triathlon as part of a relay team. Soon to be added and new for this year will be 10km and 22km trail runs on the Saturday, kids triathlons and rumours abound about a bonfire and movie night.

The XTERRA England course starts with a swim in the strictly private and extraordinarily clean spring-fed Vachery Pond. The purpose built bike course has riders twisting in-and-out and up-and-down the dense tree-lined forests. It’s incredible how much turning is involved, most on perfectly tacky dirt. The run is just as fun, crossing over creeks and hopping over logs. There is certainly a primal feeling for those being chased, as well as those being chased down by others through the dark, cool forest.

Spectators are in for quite a treat as well with both the bike and run courses filter through the “arena” several times making it quite easy to track the action.

The event was dubbed the “Woodstock of XTERRA” last year in large part to the massive amount of camping available in the wide-open fields, live music, access to elites and a great beer and catering tent, and one can expect that atmosphere to get even better this time around. To make things even sweeter, race weekend falls on the bank holiday (Monday off) and the annual Wings & Wheels celebration nearby treats the XTERRA crowd to amazing aerial displays from the Red Arrows and others.

Registration is open now at www.xterraengland.com