The weather certainly had some surprises for the third edition of Témiscamingue International Raid held last week in Notre-Dame-du-Nord,
On the second day of competition, professional athletes faced the forces of nature and extreme conditions: heavy rain, strong winds, and temperatures that did not exceed 8 degrees Celsius.
Despite the unfavorable weather, participants gathered under the arch at the Rémigny Recreation Centre, ready to start at precisely 8 a.m.
"The 30 teams, coming from the region and abroad, set off on a course filled with challenges, adventures, and discoveries, traversing wild landscapes, majestic lakes, and dense northern Témiscamingue forests," says a news release.
The day kicked off at full speed with a tough cycling section that immediately tested the racers. The rugged, slippery terrain forced the athletes to skillfully navigate sharp turns. After a quick transition, the teams launched their boats and paddled across the choppy waters of Baie du Tigre for a long canoeing section.
Back on their bikes, the athletes faced a unique challenge combining canoeing and biking to cross a lake inlet—an unusual test of strength and strategy—before continuing to pedal through a swampy area. The next leg of the course had participants embarking on a long trail-running segment, including an off-trail section where their navigational skills were put to the test.
They then faced a rope challenge that involved rappelling down a cliff and crossing a slackline over water.
To conclude the course, the athletes finished with a final canoeing section downriver before sprinting to the finish line in the Timiskaming First Nation community.
After an intense and grueling first day, Québec’s Patrick Lussier and George Visser from Team Def Leoppard took the lead with a time of 5 hours, 52 minutes, and 30 seconds. They edged out their closest rivals, the Finnish Northern Adventure Team (Lauri Heinaro and Lauri Hollo), who completed the course just four minutes behind with a time of 5 hours, 56 minutes, and 30 seconds.
The two teams were neck and neck for much of the course, as Patrick Lussier noted: “We kept passing each other. At one point, we were in fourth and fifth place, then moved up to second and third. It was in the final canoe section where we pushed and pushed to beat the cold, and that’s how we managed to pull ahead.”
Meanwhile, the mixed team Raid Bras du Nord/100B7, consisting of Lyne Bessette and Philippe Côté Jacques, firmly secured third place with a time of 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 50 seconds.
"Temiscabitibian teams made a strong impression today, with four of them ranking in the top ten," says the release.
The mixed duo of Team Du Capitaine from Val d'Or, composed of Cédric de Marfette and Noémie Julien, clocked in at 6 hours, 15 minutes, and 50 seconds, securing fourth place. The other three teams from the region that made it into the top 10 are: Alerte Tempête (Michel Desy and Pascal Ogonowski), Les Conquérants (Marc Gaudet and Chloé Roberge), and Lafrenz & Gauts (Manon Gauthier and Pascal Lafrenière).
"All the teams demonstrated incredible tenacity, overcoming each obstacle with determination," said the release. "Many racers crossed the finish line with smiles on their faces, while for others, their exhaustion was evident. Visibly worn out and completely drenched, they only wanted one thing: to get dry and warm under shelter. Fortunately, the Timiskaming First Nation community was waiting for them with a traditional Algonquin meal, bringing a close to a memorable second day marked by endurance, camaraderie, mutual support, and pushing one's limits."
The third and final day of competition began. from the Eau-de-là trail in Notre-Dame-du-Nord. This final stage will took the athletes to Saint-Bruno-de-Guigues where the main event of the day was the zip line.
The finish line was at the equestrian ring of the renowned Guigues Western Festival.
For full results, visit the Raid International Témiscamingue Website or the Facebook and Instagram pages.
The Raid International Témiscamingue is a spectacular race organized by the Société de développement du Témiscamingue, the Témiscamingue MRC, and Endurance Aventure. This endurance race consists of a series of challenges that include trekking, running, cycling, swimming, canoeing, and spectacular rope sections.
Thirty teams from the region and around the world competed on a 170 km course in the northern part of the Témiscamingue, between Rémigny and Saint-Bruno-de-Guigues. Approximately one hundred high school students participated in the youth segment a 20-kilometer raid that preceded the international race.
