Megantic Madness: Canada Man/Woman Xtreme in words and pictures

The course couldn't have been more spectacular for this year's Canada Man/Woman Xtreme triathlon.

Photo by: Kevin Mackinnon

Kevin Mackinnon October 5, 2021

We posted a short recap of the Canada Man/Woman Xtreme triathlon on Sunday night and will have a longer feature in the upcoming November issue of Triathlon Magazine Canada. Today we celebrate the race in words and pictures – Sunday’s event showed off the spectacular scenery of the Eastern Townships in full colour.

The calm before … the cold. Bundled up in a thermal wetsuit to take on the 12 degree water for the 1,500 m swim.

The swim started about 15 minutes before sunrise.

All athletes had to have lights on their heads and swim with flotation buoys.

Coming out of the water after the third 500 m loop of the swim.

After finishing second at the last two editions of the race, Sylvain Lafrance was determined to move up a spot on the podium this year.

Former Olympian Lyne Bessette rode her way to fourth overall.

Josh McPhie doesn’t have time to take in the beautiful views.

About halfway up the final (brutal) climb up to the top of Mont-Megantic.

Florence Lavoie-Deraspe take the win – it was just her second long-distance start.

Despite getting lost on the run and losing lots of time, Lyne Bessette is still smiling as she takes second.

You’d be happy, too, if you’d just finished the Canada Man/ Woman. Of the 87 starters, 84 finished.