.jpg)
The 8th edition of XTERRA Quebec, and the second consecutive year as a World Cup stop, marked Stop 5 of the 2025 pro series this weekend. Elites battled for $15,000 in prize money and valuable points to try and shake up the positions on the leaderboard, while age groupers chased 58 World Championship slots and youth athletes raced for 30 spots to reach the Youth World Championship. All trails lead to Trentino, Italy on September 25–28 for the season’s final showdowns, but every stop along the way tells its own story, and this weekend Quebec was calling.
In the Full Distance Triathlon, Felix Forissier (FRA) and Marta Menditto (ITA) claimed the Elite titles on a course designed to reward bike power and precision, featuring a 1.5K lake swim, 31K of fast and technical singletrack, and an 11K trail run through the Laurentian forest. Age group standouts Lucas Wright (USA, 18–19) and Ariane Carrier (CAN, 35–39) finished as the fastest man and woman outside the Elite ranks.
The XTERRA Youth Tour added its own energy, with Canada sweeping all junior and youth titles. Ludovic Long (CAN) and Zoé Roy (CAN) won the Junior (18–19) Sprint Triathlon outright, Hubert Arguin (CAN) topped the Youth B (16–17) field, and Leo Cantin (CAN) and Dahlia Fillion (CAN) claimed Youth A (14–15) Super Sprint victories.
.jpg)
The trails of Empire 47 began in 2013 when the race organizers, led by Alain Déraspe and Christian Déry, cut six kilometers of singletrack by hand. Over the years, their work grew into a world-class network of more than 75 kilometers. With the air temperature at 29°C (84°F) and Lac Delage at 23°C (73°F), athletes started with a two-loop swim in the clear lake before heading into a 31K MTB course full of punchy climbs, fast descents, and winding singletrack that rewarded flow and control. The final 11K trail run began on flatter paths before climbing steadily to 190 meters and finishing back at the heart of the festival.
Among the age groupers, Lucas Wright (USA) finished as the fastest man in 2:55:22 and shared: “The swim was really good. I made a break about 200 meters in and stayed solo. The bike course was super fun, a little hillier than I’m used to, but great prep for Worlds. On the run I struggled a bit on the second lap but kept pushing and won by a couple of minutes. My goal today was to come away with the win, see where my form is before Worlds, and race on the same course as the pros. Looking ahead to 2026, my plan is to have fun, learn a lot, and eventually prove myself among the Elites.”
Ariane Carrier (CAN) was the fastest woman in 3:25:04: “It was a good race. The swim, my strength, went well and I came out of the water first. The bike was hard, especially on the second loop, but I caught up on the run. XTERRA is hard and completely different from road triathlon, but I really like it. My advice to road triathletes is simple — try it, and you will enjoy it for sure. Quebec is perfect for a weekend with family, and the place is perfect for racing.”
.jpg)
The Youth A Super Sprint Triathlon (400m swim, 12K bike, 4K run) gave Quebec’s rising stars their moment, and two athletes delivered standout performances on Saturday. Leo Cantin (CAN) made his XTERRA debut, winning his first-ever race in commanding style in 1:09:34: “Obviously, I’m not the best swimmer, but I got a great start and kept my pace through the swim. I wasn’t first at the end of the swim, but I had a good transition and a really good first bike lap. At the start of the second bike lap, I gained the lead. I kept my pace and did a nice run at a good pace, but I didn’t know it would be this hard on the run. It was very technical.”
Dahlia Fillion (CAN) continued her perfect season with another dominant win in 1:18:57: “My swim was very good, perfect for me. The bike was good too, and the run was perfect as well. My favorite part of the bike course was at the end of the lap, the jumps, the jump line. The trail for the run was amazing. I really liked running on the trail. I feel very proud of myself. I gave all I could give. On going to Italy: Yes, I’m very excited to go to Italy.”
For Leo, it was a flawless one-for-one start to his XTERRA journey. For Dahlia, it marked three consecutive wins this season, adding to her Super Sprint victory at XTERRA Oak Mountain on North American Championship weekend and her Sprint win at XTERRA New Jersey. The Sprint Triathlon (750m swim, 15K bike, 5K run) hosted the Youth B (16–17) and Junior (18–19) categories. Hubert Arguin (CAN) led the Youth B division, finishing in 1:35:27. In the Junior category, Ludovic Long (CAN) claimed victory in 1:27:49, while Zoé Roy (CAN) was the fastest junior woman in 1:51:15.
The XTERRA Youth Tour continues next weekend in Austria before culminating at the Youth World Championship on September 28 under the Brenta Dolomites — the same weekend and venue where the XTERRA World Cup winners and 2025 XTERRA World Champions of all age group divisions will be crowned.
.jpg)
The XTERRA World Cup returned from its mid-season break with Felix Forissier (FRA) and Marta Menditto (ITA) claiming victories and 100 series points on the fast, technical trails of Empire 47. With just two Full Distance and two Short Track races remaining, the series now heads into its final stretch — through Czech, Germany, and the ultimate finale in Trentino, Italy, where the World Cup champions will be crowned during the live-broadcast Short Track race on September 25.
Elite Men
Felix Forissier, the reigning 2024 XTERRA World Cup Champion, continued his relentless charge toward the top of the standings, winning the men’s race in 2:31:17. The victory — his fourth Full Distance win this season — brought him to 467 points, just one point behind Michele Bonacina (ITA) at 468 and within striking distance of his brother, current series leader Arthur Forissier (FRA), who remains on top at 498. With stops in Czech on August 9–10 and Germany on August 16 (which also doubles as the European Championship), the battle between the brothers and Bonacina is heating up, with every point crucial before the finale in Italy.
.jpg)
Felix’s race was anything but easy. After exiting the water in 21:18, he faced fierce competition on the bike, particularly from Australia’s Ben Forbes, who posted the fastest bike split of the day in 1:21:00. Felix stayed close, managing a strong 1:22:52 bike leg and then delivered the fastest run split of the men’s field in 46:00 to seal the win by just 34 seconds over Bonacina, who finished second in 2:31:51. Arthur Forissier rounded out the podium in 2:32:32, staying firmly in control of the overall leaderboard but feeling the pressure from behind.
Felix reflected afterward: “I’m pretty happy about my race. It was difficult, especially the swim and the bike, but I’m quite happy. Ben Forbes was pretty strong on the bike and I tried to follow him. The run was difficult too, but I managed my pace and didn’t push too hard. I’m happy to take the win today and I’ll try to take the lead in the next two races.
.jpg)
Elite Women
On the women’s side, Marta Menditto (ITA) delivered one of the best performances of her career, taking her first-ever World Cup victory in 2:59:33. Her win moves her up to 470 points in the series, closing the gap to Alizée Paties (FRA), who remains the leader at 550 but sat out this weekend to rest and recover. With two Full Distances and two Short Tracks left, Menditto has put herself in contention for the title.
Marta swam a solid 25:58 before moving into control on the bike, where she recorded the fastest women’s split at 1:36:11. She then maintained her lead on the run with a sharp 56:13 to finish more than four minutes ahead of second-place Emma Ducreux (FRA, 3:04:22), with Romy Spoelder (NLD) finishing third in 3:09:36. Emma clocked the fastest swim of the day at 24:50, while Marta dominated both the bike and run sections to secure her breakthrough win.
Following the race, Menditto shared: “I think I had quite a good swim, not the best of my life, but a good one. On the bike I didn’t feel amazing, probably because I arrived just 48 hours before the race, so I didn’t feel really strong. But I tried to keep my pace and stay focused on what I had to do. I managed to arrive on the bike ahead of Emma in transition. After that, I enjoyed the run because the course was really nice. It’s my first time winning a World Cup, so I will remember it. I’m happy about the race and to be here.”
.jpg)
Across nine events, the energy of XTERRA Quebec carried through every corner of Empire 47 and beyond from the kids’ night run weaving through the forest to the open water swim and the dramatic night trail half marathon. Just 20 minutes from Quebec City, the weekend has become a signature moment in the Canadian summer, bringing athletes and families together to race, cheer, and explore. None of it would be possible without the dedication of local organizers, regional partners, and sponsors who continue to display the beauty of Quebec’s natural playground and local charm on the international stage.
Catch more moments from the weekend on @xterraamericas and the 2025 XTERRA World Cup page.
The 8th edition of XTERRA Quebec, and the second consecutive year as a World Cup stop, marked Stop 5 of the 2025 pro series this weekend. Elites battled for $15,000 in prize money and valuable points to try and shake up the positions on the leaderboard, while age groupers chased 58 World Championship slots and youth athletes raced for 30 spots to reach the Youth World Championship. All trails lead to Trentino, Italy on September 25–28 for the season’s final showdowns, but every stop along the way tells its own story, and this weekend Quebec was calling.
In the Full Distance Triathlon, Felix Forissier (FRA) and Marta Menditto (ITA) claimed the Elite titles on a course designed to reward bike power and precision, featuring a 1.5K lake swim, 31K of fast and technical singletrack, and an 11K trail run through the Laurentian forest. Age group standouts Lucas Wright (USA, 18–19) and Ariane Carrier (CAN, 35–39) finished as the fastest man and woman outside the Elite ranks.
The XTERRA Youth Tour added its own energy, with Canada sweeping all junior and youth titles. Ludovic Long (CAN) and Zoé Roy (CAN) won the Junior (18–19) Sprint Triathlon outright, Hubert Arguin (CAN) topped the Youth B (16–17) field, and Leo Cantin (CAN) and Dahlia Fillion (CAN) claimed Youth A (14–15) Super Sprint victories.
The trails of Empire 47 began in 2013 when the race organizers, led by Alain Déraspe and Christian Déry, cut six kilometers of singletrack by hand. Over the years, their work grew into a world-class network of more than 75 kilometers. With the air temperature at 29°C (84°F) and Lac Delage at 23°C (73°F), athletes started with a two-loop swim in the clear lake before heading into a 31K MTB course full of punchy climbs, fast descents, and winding singletrack that rewarded flow and control. The final 11K trail run began on flatter paths before climbing steadily to 190 meters and finishing back at the heart of the festival.
Among the age groupers, Lucas Wright (USA) finished as the fastest man in 2:55:22 and shared: “The swim was really good. I made a break about 200 meters in and stayed solo. The bike course was super fun, a little hillier than I’m used to, but great prep for Worlds. On the run I struggled a bit on the second lap but kept pushing and won by a couple of minutes. My goal today was to come away with the win, see where my form is before Worlds, and race on the same course as the pros. Looking ahead to 2026, my plan is to have fun, learn a lot, and eventually prove myself among the Elites.”
Ariane Carrier (CAN) was the fastest woman in 3:25:04: “It was a good race. The swim, my strength, went well and I came out of the water first. The bike was hard, especially on the second loop, but I caught up on the run. XTERRA is hard and completely different from road triathlon, but I really like it. My advice to road triathletes is simple — try it, and you will enjoy it for sure. Quebec is perfect for a weekend with family, and the place is perfect for racing.”
The Youth A Super Sprint Triathlon (400m swim, 12K bike, 4K run) gave Quebec’s rising stars their moment, and two athletes delivered standout performances on Saturday. Leo Cantin (CAN) made his XTERRA debut, winning his first-ever race in commanding style in 1:09:34: “Obviously, I’m not the best swimmer, but I got a great start and kept my pace through the swim. I wasn’t first at the end of the swim, but I had a good transition and a really good first bike lap. At the start of the second bike lap, I gained the lead. I kept my pace and did a nice run at a good pace, but I didn’t know it would be this hard on the run. It was very technical.”
Dahlia Fillion (CAN) continued her perfect season with another dominant win in 1:18:57: “My swim was very good, perfect for me. The bike was good too, and the run was perfect as well. My favorite part of the bike course was at the end of the lap, the jumps, the jump line. The trail for the run was amazing. I really liked running on the trail. I feel very proud of myself. I gave all I could give. On going to Italy: Yes, I’m very excited to go to Italy.”
For Leo, it was a flawless one-for-one start to his XTERRA journey. For Dahlia, it marked three consecutive wins this season, adding to her Super Sprint victory at XTERRA Oak Mountain on North American Championship weekend and her Sprint win at XTERRA New Jersey. The Sprint Triathlon (750m swim, 15K bike, 5K run) hosted the Youth B (16–17) and Junior (18–19) categories. Hubert Arguin (CAN) led the Youth B division, finishing in 1:35:27. In the Junior category, Ludovic Long (CAN) claimed victory in 1:27:49, while Zoé Roy (CAN) was the fastest junior woman in 1:51:15.
The XTERRA Youth Tour continues next weekend in Austria before culminating at the Youth World Championship on September 28 under the Brenta Dolomites — the same weekend and venue where the XTERRA World Cup winners and 2025 XTERRA World Champions of all age group divisions will be crowned.
The XTERRA World Cup returned from its mid-season break with Felix Forissier (FRA) and Marta Menditto (ITA) claiming victories and 100 series points on the fast, technical trails of Empire 47. With just two Full Distance and two Short Track races remaining, the series now heads into its final stretch — through Czech, Germany, and the ultimate finale in Trentino, Italy, where the World Cup champions will be crowned during the live-broadcast Short Track race on September 25.
Elite Men
Felix Forissier, the reigning 2024 XTERRA World Cup Champion, continued his relentless charge toward the top of the standings, winning the men’s race in 2:31:17. The victory — his fourth Full Distance win this season — brought him to 467 points, just one point behind Michele Bonacina (ITA) at 468 and within striking distance of his brother, current series leader Arthur Forissier (FRA), who remains on top at 498. With stops in Czech on August 9–10 and Germany on August 16 (which also doubles as the European Championship), the battle between the brothers and Bonacina is heating up, with every point crucial before the finale in Italy.
Felix’s race was anything but easy. After exiting the water in 21:18, he faced fierce competition on the bike, particularly from Australia’s Ben Forbes, who posted the fastest bike split of the day in 1:21:00. Felix stayed close, managing a strong 1:22:52 bike leg and then delivered the fastest run split of the men’s field in 46:00 to seal the win by just 34 seconds over Bonacina, who finished second in 2:31:51. Arthur Forissier rounded out the podium in 2:32:32, staying firmly in control of the overall leaderboard but feeling the pressure from behind.
Felix reflected afterward: “I’m pretty happy about my race. It was difficult, especially the swim and the bike, but I’m quite happy. Ben Forbes was pretty strong on the bike and I tried to follow him. The run was difficult too, but I managed my pace and didn’t push too hard. I’m happy to take the win today and I’ll try to take the lead in the next two races.
Elite Women
On the women’s side, Marta Menditto (ITA) delivered one of the best performances of her career, taking her first-ever World Cup victory in 2:59:33. Her win moves her up to 470 points in the series, closing the gap to Alizée Paties (FRA), who remains the leader at 550 but sat out this weekend to rest and recover. With two Full Distances and two Short Tracks left, Menditto has put herself in contention for the title.
Marta swam a solid 25:58 before moving into control on the bike, where she recorded the fastest women’s split at 1:36:11. She then maintained her lead on the run with a sharp 56:13 to finish more than four minutes ahead of second-place Emma Ducreux (FRA, 3:04:22), with Romy Spoelder (NLD) finishing third in 3:09:36. Emma clocked the fastest swim of the day at 24:50, while Marta dominated both the bike and run sections to secure her breakthrough win.
Following the race, Menditto shared: “I think I had quite a good swim, not the best of my life, but a good one. On the bike I didn’t feel amazing, probably because I arrived just 48 hours before the race, so I didn’t feel really strong. But I tried to keep my pace and stay focused on what I had to do. I managed to arrive on the bike ahead of Emma in transition. After that, I enjoyed the run because the course was really nice. It’s my first time winning a World Cup, so I will remember it. I’m happy about the race and to be here.”
Across nine events, the energy of XTERRA Quebec carried through every corner of Empire 47 and beyond from the kids’ night run weaving through the forest to the open water swim and the dramatic night trail half marathon. Just 20 minutes from Quebec City, the weekend has become a signature moment in the Canadian summer, bringing athletes and families together to race, cheer, and explore. None of it would be possible without the dedication of local organizers, regional partners, and sponsors who continue to display the beauty of Quebec’s natural playground and local charm on the international stage.
Catch more moments from the weekend on @xterraamericas and the 2025 XTERRA World Cup page.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
XTERRA is a global lifestyle brand that champions the outdoor enthusiast in their pursuit of relentless adventure.
.svg)
.svg)
