Search
shop

PATAGONMAN Xtreme Triathlon – the course

Lucy Gossage described it in December 2018 as the "experience of a lifetime" - here are the course details of the PATAGONMAN Xtreme Triathlon in Chile
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

With the ballot opening this week (more on that HERE), for the 2019 edition of the PATAGONMAN Xtreme Triathlon (www.patagonman.com), the new iron-distance ‘Xtreme’ race which gained plenty of headlines in December, here’s an insight into the course that await to both challenge and inspire athletes in Patagonia, Chile.


The big picture…

The PATAGONMAN course runs point-to-point, or more precisely, fjord to lake.

It starts before sunrise in the Aysén Fjord, where the athletes must jump from a ferryboat into the icy cold water, to swim 3.8 kilometers toward Puerto Chacabuco where they can exit the water and find their bikes in the first transition area (T1).

Patagonman Xtri

From there, they ride 180 kilometers into the windy, winding and hilly road of the famous Carretera Austral to Cerro Castillo, one of the most scenic postcards of Patagonia where they can leave their bikes in the second transition area (T2). From there, they run 42.2 kilometers of dirt trail and rubble road following the Ibáñez River through forest, next to beautiful lakes and waterfalls all the way to the General Carrera Lake, another landmark of the region.

In detail…

SWIM – 3.8KM

The swimming leg of the race starts with the leap from a big ferry boat (the Queular ferry of Naviera Austral) 3.8 kilometers from Puerto Chacabuco, in the extremely pure and extremely cold water of the Aysén Fjord.

Patagonman Xtreme Triathlon 2018
Photo Credit: www.patagonman.com

Surrounded by lush-green forest and always-snowed mountain peaks, the scenery is far beyond impressive. Wetsuit and neoprene caps will be mandatory as the expected temperatures of the water will be around 10º to 12ºC

BIKE – 180KM

The cycling leg of the race starts in Puerto Chacabuco (at the Empresa Portuaria Chacabuco) and covers 180 kilometers of some of the most scenic landscapes in Patagonia, passing through Puerto Aysén, Coyhaique and El Blanco and continuing all the way to the famous Cerro Castillo Village. The winding road is challenging as this part of the world is well known for its strong winds.

Patagonman Xtreme Triathlon 2018
Lucy Gossage (Photo Credit: www.patagonman.com)

The pavement is far from a perfect tarmac and the elevation gain adds some extra difficulty to the cycling as the road climbs into the Andes before descending again into the village where Transition 2 will be located. There will be a hydration station at kilometer 90.

RUN – 42.2KM

The running leg of the race starts in Cerro Castillo Village and covers a full marathon distance of beautiful landscapes (42.2 kilometers). It runs completely free of pavement and soon after it starts, it takes the athletes up the hill through dirt trails and then back down into a rubble road that follows a river and passes next to beautiful lakes and waterfalls.

Patagonman Xtreme Triathlon 2018

The ascending trail and the tough lay of the rubble road make the run a challenge even for the strongest athletes. There will be hydration stations at kilometre 10 and 20.

Patagonman Xtreme Triathlon 2018
Photo Credit: Steve Ashworth
John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
latest News
Lionel Sanders wins 70.3 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
Triathlon superstar Lionel Sanders says he went to a “dark place” to fuel his latest IRONMAN win
The PTO's CEO Sam Renouf
PTO reveal ambitions of matching Roth and Kona as French Riviera T100 triathlon course details unveiled
Sam Long St George 2024 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘No No No’ – Sam Long says he felt ROBBED by swim cancellation at ‘69.1 Chattanooga’
IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Nice Age Group Swim Start
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after fears raised for Age Group women
Jonny Brownlee / Jonathan Brownlee - Super League Triathlon London 2023
Did the Brownlee brothers nearly join pro cycling’s Team Sky after 2012 Olympic heroics?
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...