“Boutique” Racing Comes Fast: Challenge Cap Quebec in Words and Pictures
The third running of Challenge Cap Quebec added a new twist to Challenge Family racing in North America – for the first time the day included a full-distance race. Dominique Piche, the man behind Challenge Cap Quebec, described the event as “boutique” racing, and once again delivered quite the experience for the athletes.
The racing takes place around Quebec’s old harbour and, while the course doesn’t take athletes through the city’s famous old city any longer, it’s all within walking distance. We’ll have more of our interview with Piche for you tomorrow, but the man who created the IRONMAN races in Mont-Tremblant is determined to maintain the experience for athletes. The weekend’s racing had roughly 2,200 competitors between the sprint, Olympic distance (held on Saturday), half- and full-distance races. Piche’s goal is to expand that number to roughly 2,500 in the near future.
The reason the course can’t handle more than that is the number of loops – yesterday’s full featured eight loops on the bike along a highway, and four of the run which follows a river trail. The day begins with a swim inside the harbour, which keeps athletes out of the St. Lawrence River with its 10 knot current. The flat, fast course lived up to its billing yesterday, with full-distance rookie Nicolas Gilbert blasting to a 7:51:10 winning time, with age-grouper Luke Evans nailing another 8:19:28 finish to go along with his 8:19 clocking in Arizona last year.
The speedy women’s performance of the day came from Ariane Lalancette, who took the women’s P113 race in 4:07:51, which was good for fourth overall in that race.
Here are some photos from the day’s racing – top-five results from Sunday’s racing are included below.
| Pos | Athlete | Nation | Swim | Bike | Run | Total Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicolas Gilbert | CAN | 52:04 | 4:05:25 | 2:49:55 | 7:51:10 | — |
| 2 | Luke Evans | CAN | 51:51 | 4:17:46 | 3:06:49 | 8:19:28 | +0:28:18 |
| 3 | Rémi Poirier | CAN | 54:52 | 4:18:57 | 3:05:33 | 8:24:03 | +0:32:53 |
| 4 | Jakub Skrzypczyk | CAN | 1:06:06 | 4:32:37 | 2:57:22 | 8:41:19 | +0:50:09 |
| 5 | Michael Nepton | CAN | 1:06:18 | 4:34:01 | 2:57:30 | 8:41:57 | +0:50:47 |
| Pos | Athlete | Nation | Swim | Bike | Run | Total Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jessica Franzman | CAN | 1:08:06 | 5:12:51 | 3:31:41 | 9:56:58 | — |
| 2 | Krysta Veneruz | CAN | 1:12:58 | 5:09:16 | 4:12:02 | 10:39:40 | +0:42:42 |
| 3 | Nathalie Houdek | ESP | 59:34 | 5:11:01 | 4:34:36 | 10:49:25 | +0:52:27 |
| 4 | Marilou Boilard | CAN | 1:20:36 | 5:26:01 | 4:02:55 | 10:55:25 | +0:58:27 |
| 5 | T. Franchini-Gingras | CAN | 1:19:45 | 5:32:56 | 4:08:46 | 11:07:20 | +1:10:22 |
| Pos | Athlete | Nation | Swim | Bike | Run | Total Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicolas Quenette | FRA | 25:30 | 2:03:50 | 1:27:59 | 4:00:24 | — |
| 2 | Pierre-Marc Doyon | CAN | 25:30 | 2:09:05 | 1:24:28 | 4:01:46 | +0:01:22 |
| 3 | Matteo Agostino | CAN | 27:25 | 2:11:31 | 1:20:59 | 4:03:44 | +0:03:20 |
| 4 | Josh Prefontaine | CAN | 37:06 | 2:06:00 | 1:26:26 | 4:12:28 | +0:12:04 |
| 5 | Steven Boulianne | CAN | 29:59 | 2:17:48 | 1:26:49 | 4:19:57 | +0:19:33 |
| Pos | Athlete | Nation | Swim | Bike | Run | Total Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ariane Lalancette | CAN | 27:47 | 2:13:52 | 1:23:37 | 4:07:51 | — |
| 2 | Alice Côté-Allard | CAN | 27:22 | 2:17:48 | 1:27:55 | 4:15:59 | +0:08:08 |
| 3 | Robyn Hardage | CAN | 30:50 | 2:26:18 | 1:38:09 | 4:38:49 | +0:30:58 |
| 4 | Evelyne Papillon | CAN | 33:11 | 2:26:38 | 1:37:09 | 4:41:08 | +0:33:17 |
| 5 | E. Lavallée-Bourget | CAN | 32:21 | 2:24:32 | 1:44:21 | 4:45:40 | +0:37:49 |
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I raced here yesterday. It was my first full and my first Challenge event. It was an awesome experience all the way through and I would definitely recommend it. Great gear, staff, organization, energy on the day, and I got a Roth 2027 slot out of it! My friends and I were discussing it, and it was a better experience than any Ironman event that we’ve done so far at a cheaper price point than a full Ironman.
The only knock against it in my head depends on how you feel about looped courses. I enjoyed the day overall, but 8 loops of the bike course started to get a little monotonous. It was long enough to feel variety and it got you by the (great) crowds over and over, but I feel like that’s something to consider.
Congrats on the finish and securing a Roth slot. Been away from tris for a while and this one caught my eye. I hope challenge keeps growing in north america
Thank you! And yes, absolutely regarding the growth of Challenge. Knowing that they once licensed the Penticton race and the lack of a full in Western Canada has me wanting to reach out to them to let them know there’s appetite for it. Lots of people I know are a bit frustrated with our current options.
Always wanted to go to Quebec city, but…8 loops on a full sounds like running a raw dog marathon on a treadmill.
Quebec City is awesome.
You want loops? Twenty years ago we used to do the Triathlon Levis,a Double Iron Tri directly across the river from Quebec City.
The swim originally was a point to point downriver swim but they changed to after a few years to ,I think we did 12 loops in a little cove that used to be the swim exit.It was then 92 loops on the bike,half road,half bike path,followed by 42 loops for the run on a different section of the bike path.
I went four times to Triathlon Levis and it remains one of my favourite Triathlon memories. The Triathlon community in Levis/Quebec City could not have done more for us. Truly amazing people.
I’m on record as hating loops, you know this Nick!