Oakville’s Brian Ambler will compete in the Canada Man/Woman XTRI World Tour on Oct. 6, 2024, in Lac-Mégantic, racing alongside elite triathletes from around the world in one of Canada’s most challenging long-distance triathlons.
The Canada Man/Woman XTRI World Tour will feature nearly 200 athletes from ten countries, including Mexico, the United States, Chile, Brazil, Ukraine, France, Argentina, Romania, and Norway, who will take on a course with 4,500 meters of elevation gain, with an iconic finish at the Mont Mégantic observatory.
The race requires participants to swim 3.8 km, bike 180 km, and run 42 km on roads and trails, totalling the 4,500 meters of elevation gain.
Event organizers say athletes will have until midnight to reach the observatory at the summit, completing a 225.8 km journey from dawn until nightfall.
These athletes will also need to be resilient in the face of unpredictable autumn weather, making crucial decisions about clothing, nutrition, and equipment, particularly for the cold-water swim.
"The Canada Man/Woman XTRI World Tour has become a must-attend event for our city," said Julie Morin, Mayor of Lac-Mégantic.
"It embodies the spirit of sportsmanship, resilience, and natural beauty of our region. We are proud to host athletes from all corners of the globe to take on this colossal challenge, as well as local citizens who choose to push their limits.”
The Canada Man/Woman XTRI World Tour, ranked No. 1 among the top 10 races in Canada in 2019 and 2021, is recognized by Triathlon Magazine Canada as the most demanding triathlon in the Americas. It is the only Canadian stop in the XTRI World Tour series, which spans 13 countries.
Many athletes competing next month are from Ontario, including local contenders like Oakville’s Brian Ambler, Mississauga’s Ashley Amini, and Etobicoke’s Eric Monteiro.