The Mont-Tremblant 70.3 Bike: Fast on the 117, Brutal at the End

The big picture

One 90 km loop, roads fully closed to traffic, few turns. Official elevation gain is 1,013 m (3,325 ft on the course page). GPS files shared by athletes show higher numbers, up to 1,667 m: almost certainly barometric noise. Plan around the official figure, but be ready for punchy ramps that don't show up on paper.

The loop's structure is deceptive: the fast part comes first, the hard part later. Athletes who read the course backwards — and pace accordingly — run a better half marathon.

Route 117: where the race is won or lost

Roughly 12 miles out and 12 miles back on the highway, with pavement reported as excellent in race reports. It's the fastest section of the course and also the most wind-exposed: about 24 km total where your aero position matters more than your watts.

What to do in practice:

• Stay aero as long as possible. If you can't hold your extensions for 30-40 minutes straight in training, start working on it now.
• Steady watts, no spikes. The wind tempts you to "answer" the gusts: don't. It burns reserves you'll need later.
• Don't be fooled by your speed: if you're flying on the 117, it's the course, not your day of grace.

Montée Ryan: a real but rideable climb

About 2 km at 5% average. This is not where the race is decided: ride it seated, high cadence, no surges. If you're already struggling here, rethink your plan for the finale.

Chemin Duplessis: the key section

The finale is where the course presents the bill. Grades up to 8%, descents hitting 60 km/h and, in the last ~20 km, short, steep ramps at 10-12%. A 2024 finisher notes on the forums that the last Duplessis climb is tough and that you need to pace yourself from the start of the loop — direct confirmation of what the elevation profile suggests.

The fast descents deserve respect: if you arrive a few days early, a recon ride of Montée Ryan and Duplessis changes how you manage the race. Knowing where the ramps hit is worth more than any pacing chart.

Gearing: spin, don't grind

Mount a generous cassette. The 10-12% ramps come at the end of the loop, with legs already loaded: better to spin at 75-80 rpm than mash big gears out of the saddle. If you run 1x or a compact, make sure you have at least a 30-32 in the back. This is not the course to be a hero with your gearing.

The pacing plan

• First 30 km and the 117: half-distance intensity, not TT intensity. If you race with power, stay below your usual 90 km ceiling, with margin.
• Montée Ryan: controlled effort, no surges.
• Last 20 km: here you spend what you held back. The short ramps are better handled with reserves than with pride.
• Remember there's a rolling half marathon afterwards with a steep ramp right out of T1: getting off the bike cooked here costs you dearly.

Ballpark times

Our estimates, not official data: 3:25 for a relaxed finisher, 3:00 for a mid-pack goal, 2:40 for fast riders, 2:25 for top age-groupers. Add margin if there's wind on the 117.

The test to do beforehand

In your build, simulate the loop's structure: 2 hours at steady race intensity in the aero position, then 30-40 minutes of hill repeats on short, steep ramps, capped with a 15-20 minute run on rolling terrain. If the final block falls apart, your pacing for the first 70 km was wrong. Better to find out in training than on June 20.