Canada Man / Woman Extreme Triathlon
A New Champion Will Reach For the Stars At Canadaman Xtri
Press Release / 05.07.2018
The Lac-Mégantic region will once again become a playground for extreme athletes on Sunday, July 8th, for the presentation of the second edition of the CANADA MAN/WOMAN EXTREME TRIATHLON.
With its 3.8 km swim on Lac Mégantic, its 180 km of cycling along the Route des Sommets, 42 km of running on both roads and trails, and an elevation change of approximately 4 000 metres, this extreme triathlon has been described as the most intense, the wildest, and the most beautiful triathlon presented in North America.
As in 2017, this 226 km endurance challenge will be launched before sunrise, at 4:00 a.m., when its 338 participants (175 solo athletes and 163 athletes who are part of a team) from approximately 15 countries will parade from the Centre sportif Mégantic, down the Marche du vent, and to the lake. They will have 15 hours to reach the Parc du Mont-Mégantic, where they will tackle the final 8.5 km to the Mont-Mégantic Observatory. Their goal is to reach the stars by midnight.
CANADA MAN/WOMAN is among the seven XTRI WORLD TOUR races, a circuit that forces athletes to push themselves beyond what may seem humanly possible. The XTRI WORLD TOUR also includes the Norseman, the Celtman, the Swissman, the Alaskaman, the Swedeman, and the Jánošík - Slovak.
As Englishman Chris Stirling, the 2017 winner who completed the course in 11 hours 8 minutes 24 seconds, will be absent this year, a new champion is sure to be crowned. All eyes will be on Jérôme Bresson, the Quebec athlete who finished 2nd last year in 11 hours 23 minutes 58 seconds.
“I made a few mistakes last year that cost me a lot,” remembers Bresson, “I will try to worry less about the other participants this year and adopt a more conservative approach to manage my energy so that I can tackle the last stretch feeling strong.”
“Yeah, I am getting a certain level of attention due to my 2nd place finish last year, but I am not putting more pressure on myself,” he adds, “I am just focused on pushing my own limits. I want to achieve the fastest race time possible, depending on the day’s conditions. If weather conditions are a lot like what we faced last year, I would be more satisfied with a third-place finish with a faster race time than a victory with a slower time compared to 2017.”
An extreme triathlon is the supreme version of a long-distance triathlon, with no water stations or aids along the course. Athletes must practically overcome the entire course on their own, relying only on the help of a few assistants.
“Canada Man/Woman is a challenge that takes athletes off the beaten trail. The course involves many changes in elevation that force athletes to manage their effort level,” says the Quebec athlete, “we must make the right decisions throughout the race. A lot can happen in 11 hours! Beyond the race, as participants push themselves with the help of their assistants, they can also take in the beauty of the magnificent Mégantic region.”
Jérôme Bresson’s 2017 Lac-Mégantic results earned him a pass to take part in the 2018 edition of the XTRI World Tour’s main race. The Norseman will be presented in Norway on August 4th. “It’s a mythical race and I am a highly competitive person. My goal will therefore be to perform at my best, although I will be arriving just a few days prior to the race,” he confided, “and for Norseman, we must be ready to face countless challenges.”
Like the other athletes registered for CANADA MAN/WOMAN, Bresson will have to reach the stars before he can move on to his Norseman participation. Will all athletes make it before midnight? We’ll find out on July 8th!
About CANADA MAN/WOMAN and ENDURANCE AVENTURE
The extreme triathlon will be the highlight of the CANADA MAN/WOMAN weekend organized by ENDURANCE AVENTURE, a leader in the preparation and presentation of unique international sports events, in partnership with the town of Lac-Mégantic.
The sprint triathlon presented by Tafisa on Saturday, July 7th will reunite the same components as the major event presented the next day, but with shorter distances: 750 m swim, 20 km of cycling, and 5 km of running. Of course, participants can expect to face a few extreme additions along the course. Created specially for those who wish to experience a triathlon and take advantage of the energy that will be present throughout the Canada Man/Woman weekend, the sprint represents a not-to-be-missed event, a challenge that more than 250 athletes have signed up for this year.
You can see the excellent documentary film of the first ever race here.
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