Alistair Brownlee will tackle what is billed as the “world’s most extreme triathlon” when he races Patagonman this December.
The double Olympic champion retired from the sport professionally late last year and said he was looking forward to taking on some bucket list events.
Already this year we’ve seen him compete in a variety of running races, from the Three Peaks Fell Race in the Yorkshire Dales through to the Empire State Building Run-Up in New York next Wednesday (8th October).
Gravel biking has been on the agenda too as he finished in the top 20 at the British Championships recently.
But now the man who redefined how swim, bike and run was raced at Olympic distance with his all-out approach has lined up an epic full-distance challenge in Chilean Patagonia.
Famous for a start which sees athletes jump off the back of a ferry into icy cold water, the Patagonman Xtreme Triathlon tests competitors with unpredictable weather conditions, long ascents and tricky off-road sections.
And after what is one of the hardest marathons in the sport, the winners ring the bell at the finish line and take home the champion’s “boina”, a local Patagonian beret.
‘It ticks all the boxes’
Speaking in a short video to announce the news, Brownlee said: “I just want to say how much I am looking forward to racing Patagonman in December. Well, I’m not sure if racing is the right word, but I’m going to be competing – participating!
“It’s something that’s been on my bucket list for a long time. I love adventure, I obviously love hard endurance challenges, I love the natural environment and I love exploring new places so Patagonman ticks all those boxes.
I’m very much looking forward to being there in December and meeting the whole triathlon community there and doing some travelling in Chile.”
‘One of the toughest ever’
Announcing Brownlee’s participation, the race organisers said: “The British athlete holds one of the most remarkable résumés in triathlon: double Olympic gold (London 2012 and Rio 2016), World Champion in 2009 and 2011, multiple European titles, and the first triathlete ever to complete a “Grand Slam” of major championships – winning Junior, U23 and Elite World titles.
“On December 7th, he will line up in Chilean Patagonia for the very first time – ready to take on the icy Aysén fjord, the legendary Carretera Austral and the wild trails of Cerro Castillo.
“One of the greatest ever. One of the toughest ever. Patagonman 2025 just got more interesting.”
Previous British winners
Brits have a fantastic record in the race too, especially on the women’s side.
Caroline Livesey became the first double winner when she triumphed last year to add to her 2022 title – watch the fantastic film at the bottom of this article for a real insight into the event from her and husband Mark Livesey.
And Laura Siddall – who will be reporting from Kona for us next week ahead of the IRONMAN World Championship, was the 2023 winner, adding to the roll call of British winners including Lucy Gossage and Flora Colledge.
Siddall, who was inspired to enter the race after Tim Don’s victory in 2019, said of the experience: “It’s about where you are, the stunning location and all of the other challenges beyond the distance that go into getting through the race. Make it into an adventure. It’s not necessarily about getting a time. It almost goes back to raw swim, bike and run.”
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