Ironman Mont-Tremblant Course Preview

Ironman Mont-Tremblant (IMMT) in Quebec, Canada, is known around the Ironman circuit for having among the best race experiences of any race outside of Kona.  The Tremblant village, home to the swim course, transition, and the finish line, has plenty of accommodations and activities for the whole family.  The concentration of spectator in the village makes for an incredible atmosphere on race day.

Swim Course

• 1-loop 3.8km clockwise beach start swim course in Lac Tremblant.
• IMMT has always been wetsuit legal for age group athletes. (We recommend the Fjord 1.0 wetsuit in Tremblant)
• The swim begins headed northwest, which means the rising sun can make sighting a challenge once you are on the return leg.
• Lac Tremblant is typically calm with minimal chop, but there can be fog that makes visibility a challenge.  (The 2018 race was delayed 1-hour because of heavy fog)
• The swim start is approximately a 15-minute walk from transition.
• If you plan to visit Tremblant for a training camp you can begin your swim from the beach where the race begins, and follow a course that is marked by buoys for 3.8km.

Bike Course

• 2 loop bike course measuring approximately 88km per loop. (176km total)
• The road surface for most of the bike is excellent.  The entire course was repaved prior to the inaugural IMMT in 2012.
• The majority of the bike course is rolling to hilly. 
• The final 18km of each loop is the toughest with a climb and descent of Chemin Duplessis.  If you have the chance we recommended you ride this section prior to race day.
• The descent on Chemin Duplessis includes a no-pass zone section of approximately 800m for safety reasons.
• The bike course is fast, given the elevation gain, because of the excellent road surface
• If you plan to visit Tremblant for a training camp the bike course is permanently marked.

Run Course

• 2 loop run course, accurately measured at 21.1km per loop. (42.2km)
• Each loop of the run course can be broken up into 2 parts, the town and Le P'tit Train du Nord.
• The town makes up the first 5k and final 6k of each loop.  It is hilly and offers limited shade, but great crowd support.  It runs from the Tremblant village to the Old village.  On the return leg you run halfway up the Tremblant village hill, before descending to begin your 2nd lap, or head to the finish.
• Le P'tit Train du Nord makes up the middle 10km of each loop, and is a paved rail trail through wooded forest that is relatively flat and provides shade.



Weather

• Race morning can be cold, be sure to bring warm close to the swim start that you can leave in a morning clothing bag or hand off to a friend or family member.
• Temperatures can still be cool for the beginning of the bike, but most athletes do not elect to wear gloves or arms warmers.
• As the day progresses there is the potential for the weather to get very warm.  During the run the shade and greenery make the Le P-tit Train du Nord section of the run more comfortable, while the village section can feel very hot.
• Be prepared for cool temperatures if you anticipate you will finish after sunset.

Ironman Mont-Tremblant is one of the best events on the Ironman race calendar.  Typically, IMMT, taking place in mid-late August, is also the final race to quality for that years Ironman World Championship in Kona.