CANADA MAN/WOMAN - XTRI
Special TV Show on the CanadaMan/Woman Lac-Megantic Triathlon
Press Release / 02.05.2022
The CanadaMan/Woman Lac-Megantic Triathlon attracts athletes of different nationalities, but it will have an even more international reach in the coming months with the presentation of a special broadcast in more than 135 countries and 18 airlines acrosstthe planet.
Quebec viewers had the scoop last Easter weekend when the Sports Network (RDS) broadcast this 30-minute show.
The program is now on 19 international channels, via a European distributor, for a potential audience of more than 200 million viewers.
July to October
Canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, the CanadaMan/Woman returned in 2021, but with a fall version presented in October, compared to the other editions which took place in July.
The American Alysha Krall will also wonder why the competition is not always presented at this time of year, the landscapes are so magnificent.
Discovering the beauty of the Megantic region (and the 14 municipalities crossed by the route) was precisely one of the objectives of the Endurance Aventure team when it set up this event, which many consider to be the "North America's toughest" long-distance triathlon.
The competitors will have a front row seat to discover the "beauties" of the region, including the ascent of Mont-Megantic, which will be done through about ten kilometers of small roads and trails, some sections of which are more akin to climbing.
Human Stories
In addition to the sporting exploits, the CanadaMan/Woman is above all a formidable adventure where human stories are as rich as they are different
The oldest of the event, Sherbrooke's Eva Alexy, tries to give herself courage before facing the icy waters of Lac Megantic, remembering the year 1986 when she left Czechoslovakia with her family to rebuild her life in Canada. "I am offering myself this race to mark my 70th birthday. And when I find it difficult, I think back to everything I went through to come here and I tell myself that it can't be worse," said someone who has already participated in two World Championships in Hawaii.
Her "young" colleague Roger Girard, 68, will admit for his part to "feeling like a little old man" when completing the last portion of 42 km on foot. "When you climb Mont Megantic, it's only 9 km, but you get a kick out of it," says the man who was in his 30th long-distance triathlon since 1994.
The special program will also follow the preparation of the Magogois Christian Vachon (a benefactor for children in difficulty), that of the Olympian Lyne Bessette (who has just left politics), and that of Sylvain Lafrance (who finally gets his victory after finishing twice in second place).
The contribution of volunteers and management teams is also highlighted in this high quality television work.
Exceptional Course
Displaying the usual distances of an Ironman triathlon, the CanadaMan is renowned for its extraordinary course of 3.8 km of swimming in open water (in Lac Megantic), 180 km of cycling on breathtaking roads (2500 meters of elevation gain) and 42 km of running through forests and mountains (1600 meters of elevation gain).
In short, a challenge larger than life where mental strength is just as important as athletic qualities, while many athletes will finish in total darkness, after twenty hours of effort.
Quebecer Luc Vallerand sums up the state of mind of most competitors quite well. "For my 2021 vacation, I paid myself a trip to hell... and I was not disappointed"!
The 2022 edition of CanadaMan/Woman will be held on July 3.
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