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The trails in the quiet woods of Lac Delage are about to come alive. After a mid-season reset, the 2025 XTERRA World Cup charges back into the heart of French Canada, where powerful bikers and fast-footed runners face a purpose-built course at Empire 47, one of the largest mountain bike playgrounds in eastern North America. This is stop 5 of the 8-stop, 11-race series, and another wild North American celebration.
At the center of the weekend is Saturday’s Full Distance Triathlon, where the Elites go off first, competing for World Cup points and a share of the $15,000 prize purse. Moments later, age groupers dive in, chasing 58 qualification slots for the XTERRA World Championship on September 27 in Trentino, Italy. Everyone moves through the same trails, climbs the same hills, and crosses the same finish line, where the party continues.
Across the weekend, nine events fill the schedule. The Super Sprint and Sprint triathlons serve as Youth World Championship qualifiers, with Youth A racing the Super sprint and Youth B and Junior athletes racing the Sprint. There are also trail runs, duathlons, a night trail half marathon, and even a kids’ night run through the forest. This will be the second year running for the World Cup in Quebec, and the eighth edition overall for XTERRA with this land holding an older story of trails carved by hand, gatherings beneath the pines, and a deep respect for the outdoors.
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Long before the bikes, this land was crossed by Indigenous portage paths and fur traders heading through the Laurentians, with Lac Delage — then called Lac Larron — as a quiet waypoint. In the 19th century, artists came to paint the light that shimmers off the lake. Families built farms, cottages, and even a ski slope by the 1930s. When the municipality was founded in 1959, the Manoir du Lac Delage opened soon after, making this little retreat just far enough from Quebec City to feel like wilderness.
In 2013, Alain Déraspe, a local phys-ed teacher, inquired about bringing an XTERRA event here. His friend Christian Déry and a small crew set out with shovels to cut six kilometers of singletrack through the woods. It is now a world-renowned trail network known as Empire 47, with over 75K of curated trails.
"We try to make our events accessible to everyone," Alain Déraspe explains. After twelve years of tough work and counting, he reflects on what it’s become. "I get to talk to the participants more now. Hear their stories. Figure out how we can keep improving." The network mixes family-friendly loops, flowing berms, granite slabs, and Whistler-caliber descents. All of this continues to be built with the same care for inclusion that it began with.
.jpg)
Over the years, XTERRA Quebec has grown from a handful of friends with shovels to one of eight World Cup locations. The first race in 2014 laid the foundation, with Vincent Belhumeur (CAN) and Julia Carbonneau (CAN) taking the wins and the local crowd getting its first real taste of off-road triathlon. By 2015 it already felt bigger, with more trails, more athletes, and a full weekend of events that pulled in everyone from first-timers to serious contenders. That year, Belhumeur defended his title while Annie Mercier (CAN) took the women’s win, both keeping the podiums at home in Quebec.
Things really got interesting when Quebec joined the Pan American Tour in 2018. Josiah Middaugh (USA), an XTERRA world champion from Colorado, and Fabiola Corona (MEX) came up north and showed what fast really looks like. Middaugh returned in 2019 to defend his crown, with Katie Button (CAN) taking the women’s Elite title that year. Even when the pandemic shut things down in 2020, the team kept the lights on with a smaller festival the following year, making sure the community didn’t lose its passion.
When XTERRA Quebec hosted its first World Cup stop in 2024, it brought some serious star power. Arthur Serrières (FRA) and Solenne Billouin (FRA), both reigning three-time XTERRA World Champions, showed up and put on a show, taking the top spots. A year earlier, in 2023, Kieran McPherson (NZL) and Samantha Kingsford (NZL) battled through mud and rain to sweep the podiums for New Zealand. Billouin said it best: “The place is amazing and you need a lot of focus on the bike to keep pushing all the time.”
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The Full Distance Triathlon at XTERRA Quebec serves up three distinct challenges, each with its own character. Athletes dive into Lac Delage for a two-loop swim, covering 1.5K through clear water. Out of the lake, they hit the bikes for 31K over two laps designed to flow with punchy climbs, fast drops, and plenty of singletrack to separate the smooth from the sloppy. The final 11K run follows trails built for mountain bikes, starting deceptively flat before tipping upward into steep climbs that top out at nearly 190 meters before descending back toward the finish.
Elisa Piscollo (CAN), racing in the 45–49 division, knows the vibe better than most after years on these trails. She finished 4th in her division here last year and comes off a strong 4th at the North American Championship this spring. “XTERRA Québec is truly where it all began for our family,” she says. “It’s a major event where all the enthusiasts come together to push themselves to the limit. The atmosphere is magnificent, whether it’s the organizers, the volunteers, the athletes, or the spectators; everyone is in a good mood, discovering each other, and encouraging each other! The vibe is fantastic. It’s a discovery of nature, adventure, and, above all, endurance. I’ve been participating for many years, and each time, it’s a new adventure that opens up to me.”
Lucas Wright (USA), reigning Junior American Champion in the 18–19 division, is making his first trip to Quebec after Full Distance wins this year at Puerto Rico, ATX, and the North American Championship Sprint. “I’m really looking forward to a great, well-loved and maintained trail system they have up there. I’m really excited that this is a stop on the World Cup because it always attracts a little bit more competition, it’s always really well run.”
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Kendra Emery (USA), has a weekend set up for family as much as finish lines. A regular in the 45–49 division who placed second in Quebec last year, Emery says, “We love that there’s something for everyone at this event — this is our third year attending as a family. My husband and I first met 16 years ago in Colorado, where we competed in our first XTERRA together. It’s incredibly special to return to XTERRA Quebec and now share the experience with our 12-year-old son, who’s joined us in the fun and the sport.”
Marie-Élaine Fleury (CAN), who won the 35–39 division here last year, sums it up beautifully: “The playground is extraordinarily perfect, everything is nearby within walking distance. For spectators, it is an ideal location in an enchanting setting. The unparalleled and festive animation ignites the main area for participants and spectators and gives a warm and inviting atmosphere. For us, it is an annual opportunity to highlight our physical efforts as a family since there are also disciplines for all tastes. Our daughters can therefore be proud to participate in trail running. We love it and return every year!”
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Stop 5 of the World Cup lands in Quebec, where the men’s field is stacked, the trails are sharp, and the race feels wide open. At the top of the leaderboard sit Arthur Forissier (FRA) with 416 points, Michele Bonacina (ITA) at 378, Sebastian Neef (DEU) at 369, and Felix Forissier (FRA) at 367. But a couple of riders outside that top four have other ideas.
Scott Anderson (DEU), sitting on 176 points, is feeling refreshed and excited for his Canadian debut. “I’m buzzed to see the trails,” he says. “It’s a lot of smooth, flowy MTB trails, riding in a bike park. That sounds exactly like the type of riding I like. I’ve never raced in Canada before at all, so it’s really cool to tick another country off my list. It’s been a tough start to the year, but I’m optimistic that my form is slowly getting better.”
Kieran McPherson (NZL), currently fifth overall with 316 points, already knows these Quebec trail as the 2023 winner. “Definitely one of my favorites in terms of course,” he says. “I think the organizers do a fantastic job here with continual course changes and improvements. I have not raced the same course in Quebec yet, meaning a fantastic variation in trails each time you race and it keeps the event from getting stale. You never know what next year’s course will bring. I look forward to seeing what the second half of the XTERRA World Cup looks like.”
Both Anderson and McPherson have serious riding to do if they want to challenge the front four, but if anyone can shake things up on these trails, it’s them. Quebec’s technical bike segment has often decided the winner, and if it comes down to a chase at the end, don’t sleep on Felix Forissier. If he stays close on the bike and hits the run in striking distance, he could be dangerous.
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Alizée Paties (FRA), the current points leader at 550, and Aneta Grabmüller (CZE) at 306 are sitting this one out to rest and recover respectively. That leaves the door open for a showdown between Marta Menditto (ITA), who sits at 370, and Hannah Lee Young (AUS) at 304, with Emma Ducreux (FRA) at 237 ready to pounce if either falters.
Hannah-Lee Young (AUS) is making her Canadian debut with her trademark enthusiasm. “As an Australian I’m really looking forward to travelling to & racing in Canada for the first time as I’ve heard so much about the incredibly fun course,” she says. “I will also hopefully be able to experience some of the unique culture in Quebec! Of course, I must try the local delicacy — poutine. I’m just looking forward to getting back on a start line again with some of my favourite people.”
Marta Menditto (ITA) brings a more measured approach as she looks ahead to the second half of her season after winning XTERRA France last weekend, a key staple event in the 2025 XTERRA World Tour. “The location of XTERRA Quebec is super nice, the forest and the trails are stunning, and I like the local people,” she says. “Last year the event was super well organized for being a first edition World Cup so I imagine that it will be a great event again. I’ll be there just one day before the race, I’ll not look at the performance for this one, I’ll go just to make some points and for training for the upcoming European races in the second part of the season, but I’ll give my best anyway.”
With Paties and Grabmüller sitting this one out, the battle between Menditto and Young should headline the day, but watch for Emma Ducreux to keep things interesting if she continues to pop out of the water in first and manages to stay ahead through the bike.
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The XTERRA Youth Tour is woven into the festival weekend with the Sprint distance (750m swim, 15K bike, 5K run) serving as the qualifier for Youth B (ages 16–17) and Junior (ages 18–19) divisions, while Youth A (ages 14–15) tackle the Super Sprint (400m swim, 12K bike, 4K run) for their chance to punch a ticket to the big stage. With 30 World Championship spots on the line — 10 in Youth A and 20 in Youth B & Junior — the trails of Lac Delage will be packed with memorable moments.
Among the Youth A boys, keep an eye on Olivier Castonguay (CAN), who finished fourth here in 2024, and Elliot St-Laurent (CAN), who claimed a win in the M13U category last year and steps up in age this time around. On the girls’ side, reigning Youth A North American Champion Dahlia Fillion (CAN) comes in with momentum after wins in XTERRA New Jersey and the XTERRA North American Championship earlier this year. In Youth B, Éliot Beaulieu (CAN) will be one to watch, alongside Zoé Roy (CAN) in the girls’ division. The Junior fields also promise tight racing, with Félix-Antoine Bélanger (CAN) and Justin Fiset (CAN) leading the boys, while Myriam Ouellet (CAN) and Éloïse Savard (CAN) bring that extra speed to the girls’ start line.
As Calvin Walsh (CAN), winner of the 20–24 age group at the 2024 XTERRA Quebec, put it, “Manoir Lac Delage feels like a huge party with music playing, people cheering, and celebrations at the finish line.” That energy runs through the entire weekend, from the kids’ night run and the open water swim to the night trail half marathon, just 20 minutes from Quebec City. The event has become a highlight of the Canadian summer for challenge seekers, thanks to the support of local officials, regional tourism boards, and sponsors who see the value of hosting an international World Cup stop and revealing Quebec’s outdoors to the world.
Follow the highlights on @xterraamericas, and the 2025 XTERRA World Cup page.
The trails in the quiet woods of Lac Delage are about to come alive. After a mid-season reset, the 2025 XTERRA World Cup charges back into the heart of French Canada, where powerful bikers and fast-footed runners face a purpose-built course at Empire 47, one of the largest mountain bike playgrounds in eastern North America. This is stop 5 of the 8-stop, 11-race series, and another wild North American celebration.
At the center of the weekend is Saturday’s Full Distance Triathlon, where the Elites go off first, competing for World Cup points and a share of the $15,000 prize purse. Moments later, age groupers dive in, chasing 58 qualification slots for the XTERRA World Championship on September 27 in Trentino, Italy. Everyone moves through the same trails, climbs the same hills, and crosses the same finish line, where the party continues.
Across the weekend, nine events fill the schedule. The Super Sprint and Sprint triathlons serve as Youth World Championship qualifiers, with Youth A racing the Super sprint and Youth B and Junior athletes racing the Sprint. There are also trail runs, duathlons, a night trail half marathon, and even a kids’ night run through the forest. This will be the second year running for the World Cup in Quebec, and the eighth edition overall for XTERRA with this land holding an older story of trails carved by hand, gatherings beneath the pines, and a deep respect for the outdoors.
Long before the bikes, this land was crossed by Indigenous portage paths and fur traders heading through the Laurentians, with Lac Delage — then called Lac Larron — as a quiet waypoint. In the 19th century, artists came to paint the light that shimmers off the lake. Families built farms, cottages, and even a ski slope by the 1930s. When the municipality was founded in 1959, the Manoir du Lac Delage opened soon after, making this little retreat just far enough from Quebec City to feel like wilderness.
In 2013, Alain Déraspe, a local phys-ed teacher, inquired about bringing an XTERRA event here. His friend Christian Déry and a small crew set out with shovels to cut six kilometers of singletrack through the woods. It is now a world-renowned trail network known as Empire 47, with over 75K of curated trails.
"We try to make our events accessible to everyone," Alain Déraspe explains. After twelve years of tough work and counting, he reflects on what it’s become. "I get to talk to the participants more now. Hear their stories. Figure out how we can keep improving." The network mixes family-friendly loops, flowing berms, granite slabs, and Whistler-caliber descents. All of this continues to be built with the same care for inclusion that it began with.
Over the years, XTERRA Quebec has grown from a handful of friends with shovels to one of eight World Cup locations. The first race in 2014 laid the foundation, with Vincent Belhumeur (CAN) and Julia Carbonneau (CAN) taking the wins and the local crowd getting its first real taste of off-road triathlon. By 2015 it already felt bigger, with more trails, more athletes, and a full weekend of events that pulled in everyone from first-timers to serious contenders. That year, Belhumeur defended his title while Annie Mercier (CAN) took the women’s win, both keeping the podiums at home in Quebec.
Things really got interesting when Quebec joined the Pan American Tour in 2018. Josiah Middaugh (USA), an XTERRA world champion from Colorado, and Fabiola Corona (MEX) came up north and showed what fast really looks like. Middaugh returned in 2019 to defend his crown, with Katie Button (CAN) taking the women’s Elite title that year. Even when the pandemic shut things down in 2020, the team kept the lights on with a smaller festival the following year, making sure the community didn’t lose its passion.
When XTERRA Quebec hosted its first World Cup stop in 2024, it brought some serious star power. Arthur Serrières (FRA) and Solenne Billouin (FRA), both reigning three-time XTERRA World Champions, showed up and put on a show, taking the top spots. A year earlier, in 2023, Kieran McPherson (NZL) and Samantha Kingsford (NZL) battled through mud and rain to sweep the podiums for New Zealand. Billouin said it best: “The place is amazing and you need a lot of focus on the bike to keep pushing all the time.”
The Full Distance Triathlon at XTERRA Quebec serves up three distinct challenges, each with its own character. Athletes dive into Lac Delage for a two-loop swim, covering 1.5K through clear water. Out of the lake, they hit the bikes for 31K over two laps designed to flow with punchy climbs, fast drops, and plenty of singletrack to separate the smooth from the sloppy. The final 11K run follows trails built for mountain bikes, starting deceptively flat before tipping upward into steep climbs that top out at nearly 190 meters before descending back toward the finish.
Elisa Piscollo (CAN), racing in the 45–49 division, knows the vibe better than most after years on these trails. She finished 4th in her division here last year and comes off a strong 4th at the North American Championship this spring. “XTERRA Québec is truly where it all began for our family,” she says. “It’s a major event where all the enthusiasts come together to push themselves to the limit. The atmosphere is magnificent, whether it’s the organizers, the volunteers, the athletes, or the spectators; everyone is in a good mood, discovering each other, and encouraging each other! The vibe is fantastic. It’s a discovery of nature, adventure, and, above all, endurance. I’ve been participating for many years, and each time, it’s a new adventure that opens up to me.”
Lucas Wright (USA), reigning Junior American Champion in the 18–19 division, is making his first trip to Quebec after Full Distance wins this year at Puerto Rico, ATX, and the North American Championship Sprint. “I’m really looking forward to a great, well-loved and maintained trail system they have up there. I’m really excited that this is a stop on the World Cup because it always attracts a little bit more competition, it’s always really well run.”
Kendra Emery (USA), has a weekend set up for family as much as finish lines. A regular in the 45–49 division who placed second in Quebec last year, Emery says, “We love that there’s something for everyone at this event — this is our third year attending as a family. My husband and I first met 16 years ago in Colorado, where we competed in our first XTERRA together. It’s incredibly special to return to XTERRA Quebec and now share the experience with our 12-year-old son, who’s joined us in the fun and the sport.”
Marie-Élaine Fleury (CAN), who won the 35–39 division here last year, sums it up beautifully: “The playground is extraordinarily perfect, everything is nearby within walking distance. For spectators, it is an ideal location in an enchanting setting. The unparalleled and festive animation ignites the main area for participants and spectators and gives a warm and inviting atmosphere. For us, it is an annual opportunity to highlight our physical efforts as a family since there are also disciplines for all tastes. Our daughters can therefore be proud to participate in trail running. We love it and return every year!”
Stop 5 of the World Cup lands in Quebec, where the men’s field is stacked, the trails are sharp, and the race feels wide open. At the top of the leaderboard sit Arthur Forissier (FRA) with 416 points, Michele Bonacina (ITA) at 378, Sebastian Neef (DEU) at 369, and Felix Forissier (FRA) at 367. But a couple of riders outside that top four have other ideas.
Scott Anderson (DEU), sitting on 176 points, is feeling refreshed and excited for his Canadian debut. “I’m buzzed to see the trails,” he says. “It’s a lot of smooth, flowy MTB trails, riding in a bike park. That sounds exactly like the type of riding I like. I’ve never raced in Canada before at all, so it’s really cool to tick another country off my list. It’s been a tough start to the year, but I’m optimistic that my form is slowly getting better.”
Kieran McPherson (NZL), currently fifth overall with 316 points, already knows these Quebec trail as the 2023 winner. “Definitely one of my favorites in terms of course,” he says. “I think the organizers do a fantastic job here with continual course changes and improvements. I have not raced the same course in Quebec yet, meaning a fantastic variation in trails each time you race and it keeps the event from getting stale. You never know what next year’s course will bring. I look forward to seeing what the second half of the XTERRA World Cup looks like.”
Both Anderson and McPherson have serious riding to do if they want to challenge the front four, but if anyone can shake things up on these trails, it’s them. Quebec’s technical bike segment has often decided the winner, and if it comes down to a chase at the end, don’t sleep on Felix Forissier. If he stays close on the bike and hits the run in striking distance, he could be dangerous.
Alizée Paties (FRA), the current points leader at 550, and Aneta Grabmüller (CZE) at 306 are sitting this one out to rest and recover respectively. That leaves the door open for a showdown between Marta Menditto (ITA), who sits at 370, and Hannah Lee Young (AUS) at 304, with Emma Ducreux (FRA) at 237 ready to pounce if either falters.
Hannah-Lee Young (AUS) is making her Canadian debut with her trademark enthusiasm. “As an Australian I’m really looking forward to travelling to & racing in Canada for the first time as I’ve heard so much about the incredibly fun course,” she says. “I will also hopefully be able to experience some of the unique culture in Quebec! Of course, I must try the local delicacy — poutine. I’m just looking forward to getting back on a start line again with some of my favourite people.”
Marta Menditto (ITA) brings a more measured approach as she looks ahead to the second half of her season after winning XTERRA France last weekend, a key staple event in the 2025 XTERRA World Tour. “The location of XTERRA Quebec is super nice, the forest and the trails are stunning, and I like the local people,” she says. “Last year the event was super well organized for being a first edition World Cup so I imagine that it will be a great event again. I’ll be there just one day before the race, I’ll not look at the performance for this one, I’ll go just to make some points and for training for the upcoming European races in the second part of the season, but I’ll give my best anyway.”
With Paties and Grabmüller sitting this one out, the battle between Menditto and Young should headline the day, but watch for Emma Ducreux to keep things interesting if she continues to pop out of the water in first and manages to stay ahead through the bike.
The XTERRA Youth Tour is woven into the festival weekend with the Sprint distance (750m swim, 15K bike, 5K run) serving as the qualifier for Youth B (ages 16–17) and Junior (ages 18–19) divisions, while Youth A (ages 14–15) tackle the Super Sprint (400m swim, 12K bike, 4K run) for their chance to punch a ticket to the big stage. With 30 World Championship spots on the line — 10 in Youth A and 20 in Youth B & Junior — the trails of Lac Delage will be packed with memorable moments.
Among the Youth A boys, keep an eye on Olivier Castonguay (CAN), who finished fourth here in 2024, and Elliot St-Laurent (CAN), who claimed a win in the M13U category last year and steps up in age this time around. On the girls’ side, reigning Youth A North American Champion Dahlia Fillion (CAN) comes in with momentum after wins in XTERRA New Jersey and the XTERRA North American Championship earlier this year. In Youth B, Éliot Beaulieu (CAN) will be one to watch, alongside Zoé Roy (CAN) in the girls’ division. The Junior fields also promise tight racing, with Félix-Antoine Bélanger (CAN) and Justin Fiset (CAN) leading the boys, while Myriam Ouellet (CAN) and Éloïse Savard (CAN) bring that extra speed to the girls’ start line.
As Calvin Walsh (CAN), winner of the 20–24 age group at the 2024 XTERRA Quebec, put it, “Manoir Lac Delage feels like a huge party with music playing, people cheering, and celebrations at the finish line.” That energy runs through the entire weekend, from the kids’ night run and the open water swim to the night trail half marathon, just 20 minutes from Quebec City. The event has become a highlight of the Canadian summer for challenge seekers, thanks to the support of local officials, regional tourism boards, and sponsors who see the value of hosting an international World Cup stop and revealing Quebec’s outdoors to the world.
Follow the highlights on @xterraamericas, and the 2025 XTERRA World Cup page.
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