Tim Don plans on racing Patagonman 2019
Mauricio Mendez and Tim Don form RaceWithLegends for Patagonman 2019
Patagonman is one of the most extreme triathlons on the planet. Part of the XtremeTri series, which includes CanadaMan/Woman, Patagonman takes place in the Aysen Region of Patagonia, Chile. In December 2018, the event displayed the breathtaking landscapes of this region and challenging course. “The race was the most beautiful I have done,” said David Porter, race organizer of CanadaMan/Woman. “It was amazing and I loved the region.” This year, athletes from more than 50 different countries applied to be part of the 2019 Patagonman.
The swimming leg of the race starts with the leap from a big ferry boat 3.8K from Puerto Chacabuco, in the extremely cold water of the Aysén Fjord. Full wetsuits are mandatory as the expected temperatures are between 9ºC and 12.5ºC. It’s so cold that the race advises cold water training.
The cycling leg of the race starts in Puerto Chacabuco and covers 180K of some of the most scenic landscapes in Patagonia all the way to the famous Cerro Castillo Village. The winding road is challenging as this part of the world it is very well known for its strong winds. The elevation gain adds some extra difficulty to the cycling as the road climbs into the Andes before descending into the Cerro Castillo Village (Transition 2).
The running leg of the race starts in Cerro Castillo Village and covers a full marathon distance. The courses follow dirt trails and rubble roads along the Ibánez River, finishing by General Carrera Lake.
Limited to just 300 participants, the race organizers had more than double the capacity in the form of a waiting list by the start of 2019 and issued a lottery system to allocate slots for the now sold-out December event. Â
Mauricio Mendez, the defending champion and a three-time Ironman 70.3 champion, is returning to defend his title and will be going up against an Xtreme triathlon rookie, Tim Don. With two champions expected to be on the start line, race organizers and athletes created RaceWithLegends. The program offers athletes a chance to race the Patagonman as part of a five-man team captained by Mendez and Don (10 athletes total). Team members will train and prepare under Don’s and Mendez’s direction and mentorship. The team will also support a local charity.
For more information or to register, visit RaceWithLegends.com.
