On Friday, the twelfth version of Quebec Mega Path (QMT) kicks off in Quebec’s Charlevoix area, and this 12 months’s extremely expected race guarantees heart-pounding motion on tricky terrain. QMT brings in combination an excellent lineup of elite athletes, in a position to wreck direction data and protect titles. Set towards the beautiful backdrop of Mont-Sainte-Anne and the Massif de Charlevoix, 3,300 runners from 18 international locations will take on one of the crucial maximum difficult trails in North The us.
100-mile winners go back to protect titles
This 12 months’s QMT-100 Miles match attracts an exceptionally sturdy competitor box, in a position to take on an elevation acquire of 6,500 metres. Direction file holders Sangé Sherpa of Nepal and Newfoundland’s Kelsey Hogan are each returning. Hogan is the development: “The QMT holds a different position in my coronary heart: this match has helped me to develop as an athlete and I stay up for returning to the gorgeous trails and supportive network this 12 months. I’m overjoyed that QMT is attracting much more improbable athletes and getting richly deserved world popularity, all whilst staying true to its community-driven historical past and grassroots values. That is going to be a a laugh 12 months!”
Males’s race
Sherpa, whose fresh accomplishments come with taking 3rd on the 2023 editions of each the Cervino Matterhorn Extremely Race in Italy and the Path Verbier St Bernard by means of UTMB 140K race in Switzerland, faces some fierce festival. Different notable athletes at the males’s facet come with Abel Carretero from Spain, who completed fourth at Transgrancanaria within the Canary Islands, Portugal’s Luis Fernandes and U.S. runner Anthony Lee, who took 2nd at Hawaii’s HURT 100 previous this 12 months. Native runners Elliot Cardin, Jean-François (Jeff) Cauchon and Philippe Poulin also are set to provoke.
Girls’s race
A few of the elite girls, France’s Claire Bannwarth, referred to as the “Duracell bunny” is anticipated to polish after finishing 28 ultras ultimate 12 months. Bannwarth’s prolific accomplishments previously 12 months come with the Colorado Path FKT and a win on the Montane Iciness Backbone Race within the U.Okay.
Alyssa Clark from the U.S. and Quebec’s personal Mylène Sansoucy (who received the QMT 80K ultimate 12 months) may also be bold contenders. Hogan, who set a brand new file ultimate 12 months by means of greater than 3 and a part hours, will face tricky competitors like Viktoria Brown from Whitby, Ont., who just lately captured the Canadian 48-hour file, and Dominika Stelmach from Poland who, in 2023, broke the file for many kilometres run in 12 hours (152 km) all over the Spartanion Race in Israel.
A combat for redemption in QMT 110
The QMT 110K covers 4,580m and has runners rushing via untamed trails and previous towering waterfalls. Former champion Benoit Gaillard from France objectives for a comeback, going through off towards Quebec-based runners Marvin Foucher, Yannick Bernard and David Savard-Gagnon, who’re all aware of the area’s tricky trails. The ladies’s race will see Maria Fátima Buchas from Portugal and Samantha Stimac from the U.S. vying for victory.
International Path Majors highlight
QMT’s inclusion within the International Path Majors cements its standing as a prestigious race that attracts from path operating fanatics international. As the one Canadian race on this collection, QMT stands along different iconic races in Asia, Europe, Africa and North The us.”I’m particularly excited to participate in 2024 as it’ll be the primary version of the International Path Majors, and a possibility to race on a few of my favorite trails with a lineup of beautiful improbable athletes,” says Hogan.
To take a look at the reside circulation of the end line on YouTube all over the QMT races, click on right here. To be informed extra concerning the race, head to the QMT web site.