Mercantour Man XTREM Triathlon

In south-eastern France, in the heart of the Mercantour National Park in the Alpes-Maritimes. The briefing and gathering of triathletes take place at Èze-sur-Mer.

The Mercantour Man XTREM Triathlon is a long-distance triathlon adventure approaching Ironman or Half Ironman distances, with a choice of road or gravel for the cycling section. The world of the Mercantour Man is the mountains.

The objective is to earn your freedom. How? By completing the route and following the GPX tracks provided a few hours before the start.

Like a gladiator winning his battles and earning his freedom, you will have to overcome your own extraordinary challenge and cross the finish line without leaving the official route:

• Strictly follow the GPX track
• Progress in complete autonomy
• Cross the finish line having followed the official route

You will then be able to raise your wooden sword, symbol of freedom: the Rudius! (Full 2027 edition only). A personalised finisher medal will be awarded to finishers of the 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions.

Above all, it is an adventure and a personal challenge in complete autonomy.

The objective is to complete the event by following the GPX track provided. The Mercantour Man is first and foremost a mountain experience that takes you beyond the traditional competitive framework of triathlon.

Taking on the Mercantour Man challenge means attempting to complete a demanding mountain route entirely under your own responsibility and in complete autonomy.

The Mercantour Man is first and foremost a challenge, a form of self-supported triathlon journey through the mountains. We are deliberately far removed from mass-participation events. The Mercantour Man has its own spirit and philosophy.

The Mercantour Man will be secured through the geolocation service provided to track your exact position and progress. You must comply with the Highway Code throughout the route. There will be no marshals at intersections, so you must remain attentive and responsible at all times.

You are self-supported and will follow a GPS track during both the cycling and trail-running sections.

No aid stations will be installed along the routes. You must therefore be self-sufficient.

Course marking will be kept to a minimum. There will be no sound systems at the Start, T1, T2 or Finish. This is a triathlon designed above all as a journey and an opportunity for introspection. It is your own adventure that you will remember.

Yes, you can register as a team of two triathletes.

Both members of the DUO must complete the entire Mercantour Man together. The final time will be recorded when both triathletes cross the finish line together. Each participant will be equipped with a GPS tracker.

DUO finishers will be listed as such.

No relay format is available.

Our concept is based on adventure, challenge and journey, and a relay format does not fit the vision of the event.

We therefore encourage participants to take on the complete long-distance or Half format, either individually or as a DUO completing the entire event together.

Road version: Solo €264 – Duo €264 per person.

Gravel-MTB version: Solo €284 – Duo €284 per person.

Please note:

• 14/10 to 31/10: initial entry fee
• 01/11 to 30/11: +10%
• 01/12 to 31/12: +20%
• From 01/01/27: +30%

A mandatory medical certificate must be completed by your doctor.

YOUR REGISTRATION INCLUDES:

• The GPX track for your route
• Safety service with live geolocation tracking throughout your adventure, allowing friends and family to follow your progress remotely
• GPS tracker rental
• Safety insurance including rescue costs, emergency assistance, repatriation assistance, third-party liability and medical/surgical expenses
• Optional entry-fee cancellation insurance if selected during registration
• La Baroudeuse Organisation goodies
• A finisher medal for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Mercantour Man editions. For Mercantour Man Full 2027 finishers, an engraved Rudius wooden sword symbolising achievement and freedom
• Finisher aperitif with cheese and beer on Sunday 18/06 at 12:00 (location in Embrun to be confirmed)

For the 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions, there is no selection process and participation is open to everyone. However, participants must understand our vision, values and the difficulty of the events before taking the start.

Selection remains in place for the original Full Crossing in 2027. Finishers from the 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions who wish to participate will automatically be selected when the time comes. Other triathletes interested in the 2027 edition will need to apply for selection.

FOR THE 2027 MERCANTOUR MAN FULL CROSSING:

Finishers of the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Mercantour Man road or gravel editions will have priority and will automatically be selected if they wish to participate in 2027.

We need to select each triathlete carefully, not primarily on performance but on competence and experience. We are looking for athletes capable of dealing with unexpected situations, hypothermia and complex circumstances involving themselves or the natural environment.

Selection is based on several criteria. The fastest or most competitive athletes are not necessarily those best suited to the Mercantour Man, where participants operate in complete autonomy.

Anyone can apply by presenting their experience and sporting background. We are looking for athletes with experience in endurance sports in general, not exclusively triathlon: trail running, ultra-trail, cycling, ultra-cycling, bikepacking, adventure racing and other disciplines.

HIGHLIGHT THE EXPERIENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR APPLICATION:

• Ultra-trail, trail running and solo adventures
• Triathlon, Ironman, extreme triathlon and similar events
• Adventure races and raids
• Solo journeys and expeditions
• Your ability to deal with unexpected situations

TELL US ABOUT YOUR MOTIVATION:

• Explain why you want to take on the Mercantour Man XTREM Triathlon
• The selection process will also consider mental preparedness. We want triathletes who fully understand what it means to start a completely self-supported triathlon, without assistance, in a mountain environment
• We are also looking for a mindset aligned with our values and our vision of adventure
• And ultimately, the goal is to earn your freedom by raising your gladiator’s wooden sword: the Rudius

Friday 18/06/27

• 09:00–17:00: Meet at T1, Port Silva Maris in Èze-sur-Mer – participant welcome
• 09:00–17:00: Individual inspection of mandatory equipment for all three disciplines. Once your equipment has been checked, you may leave and return for the briefing
• 09:00–17:00: Bike drop-off at T1 together with all associated transition equipment
• 17:00–17:45: Presentation, briefing and adventure instructions
• 17:45–18:15: Official distribution of GPS trackers

Saturday 19/06/27

• 05:00–05:25: Preparation for the 3.8K swim start at Cap d’Ail – Plage de la Mala
• 05:30: Official start of the Mercantour Man XTREM 2027 – 3.8K swim
• 06:30–07:30: Swimmers arrive at T1 and begin the cycling section towards T2

Sunday 20/06/27

• From 19/06 at 00:00 until 20/06 at 11:30: Welcome of finishers in Embrun

For the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Mercantour Man editions, participants are not required to have a support crew, but must take the requirements of maximum autonomy into account.

Prepare a change of clothes in your Trail bag for T2, which we will transport. After crossing the finish line, you will be able to change and sleep in a room if you have brought a mattress and sleeping bag before returning to your vehicle by bicycle on Sunday. There is no shuttle service.

For the 2027 event, a support crew consisting of at least one person with a vehicle will be required to assist you at the start, T1, T2 and the finish.

Your support crew must manage your personal nutrition and equipment at the start, T1, T2 and the finish.

The adventure begins when you leave home and ends when you return.

The challenge for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 road or gravel Mercantour Man is to complete the event in under 24 hours. The most important objective, however, is to finish in good conditions.

For the original Full Crossing in 2027, the challenge will be to complete the road crossing in under 24 hours and the gravel crossing in under 41 hours.

Remember that this is not a race. The main objective is to become a finisher, regardless of your overall time.

All routes must be completed in complete autonomy.

You must carry your own food and nutrition on the bike and during the trail-running section. Receiving supplies from family members, friends or anyone else along the route is prohibited.

Respecting this principle of autonomy is an essential part of the Mercantour Man.

You, as a participating triathlete, or your media team may share your adventure publicly through photos and videos on social media.

MEDIA COVERAGE IS FREE IF:

Photos and videos shared on social media and in the press before, during and after the event concern the athlete only. Only the athlete may be tagged and identified using @ and # tags.

Brands that could be considered commercial advertising must not be tagged.

If this rule is not respected, the athlete may be required to pay the applicable media fee or may be removed from the event and will not be considered a finisher or included in the classification.

A MEDIA PACK MUST BE PURCHASED IF:

You represent one or more brands during the Mercantour Man XTREM Triathlon.

Photos and videos shared on social media during or after the event using @ and # tags, or content collected for subsequent advertising films or other commercial use, will be considered commercial advertising.

If a media team wishes to follow you in order to promote you and one or more brands through social media, film production, press coverage or any other advertising activity, you must purchase a Media Pack when registering.

Media Pack fees:

• One brand / sponsor: €32
• Two brands / sponsors: €64
• Three brands / sponsors: €96
• Four or more brands / sponsors: €128

Yes. Carrying a GPS device is mandatory.

The cycling and trail-running routes will be sent to you by email a few hours before the start as GPX tracks. You must load these tracks onto your GPS device and follow them during the event.

There will be no marshals and no course marking. Navigation will rely entirely on the GPX and/or KML tracks loaded onto your watch, cycling computer and, above all, the mobile phone that you must carry with you.

The Rudius Challenge is designed for the most extreme and versatile ultra-endurance adventurers.

Only the 2027 Mercantour Man Full edition counts towards completing the Rudius Challenge.

More information about the Rudius Challenge is available here.

ROAD BIKE ROUTE

Given the announced 5,500 m of elevation gain, a road bike is the most suitable choice for the adventure.

We recommend comfortable tyres from 28 mm upwards. The choice of frame material is up to you. This is an ultra-distance route with significant climbing, so overall equipment weight matters, but comfort is equally important and should not be overlooked.

For gearing, choose a sufficiently low climbing gear. A 34 x 36 combination is recommended so that you can continue climbing without excessive effort if conditions become difficult with a loaded bike.

GRAVEL – MTB ROUTE

Gravel bikes must accommodate tyres of at least 650 x 2.00 or 700 x 43 mm.

Gravel bikes provide more gearing options. We recommend a 32 to 34-tooth chainring with an 11–42/46 cassette.

Remember that your position will be visible through a high-precision Live Tracking system, allowing the organisation to know your exact location.

If you decide to abandon, you must inform the organisation by telephone call and/or text message to confirm your withdrawal from the event.

You must then return your GPS tracker in order to recover your €200 deposit.