On Friday, the 12th edition of Quebec Mega Trail (QMT) kicks off in Quebec’s Charlevoix region, and this year’s highly anticipated race promises heart-pounding action on tough terrain. QMT brings together an amazing lineup of elite athletes, ready to break course records and defend titles. Set against the stunning backdrop of Mont-Sainte-Anne and the Massif de Charlevoix, 3,300 runners from 18 countries will tackle some of the most challenging trails in North America.
100-mile winners return to defend titles
This year’s QMT-100 Miles event draws an exceptionally strong competitor field, ready to tackle an elevation gain of 6,500 metres. Course record holders Sangé Sherpa of Nepal and Newfoundland’s Kelsey Hogan are both returning. Hogan is enthusiastic about the event: “The QMT holds a special place in my heart: this event has helped me to grow as an athlete and I look forward to returning to the beautiful trails and supportive community this year. I am thrilled that QMT is attracting even more incredible athletes and getting well-deserved international recognition, all while staying true to its community-driven history and grassroots values. This is going to be a fun year!”
Men’s race
Sherpa, whose recent accomplishments include taking third at the 2023 editions of both the Cervino Matterhorn Ultra Race in Italy and the Trail Verbier St Bernard by UTMB 140K race in Switzerland, faces some fierce competition. Other notable athletes on the men’s side include Abel Carretero from Spain, who finished fourth at Transgrancanaria in the Canary Islands, Portugal’s Luis Fernandes and U.S. runner Anthony Lee, who took second at Hawaii’s HURT 100 earlier this year. Local runners Elliot Cardin, Jean-François (Jeff) Cauchon and Philippe Poulin are also set to impress.
Women’s race
Among the elite women, France’s Claire Bannwarth, known as the “Duracell bunny” is expected to shine after completing 28 ultras last year. Bannwarth’s prolific accomplishments in the past year include the Colorado Trail FKT and a win at the Montane Winter Spine Race in the U.K.
Alyssa Clark from the U.S. and Quebec’s own Mylène Sansoucy (who won the QMT 80K last year) will also be formidable contenders. Hogan, who set a new record last year by more than three and a half hours, will face tough rivals like Viktoria Brown from Whitby, Ont., who recently captured the Canadian 48-hour record, and Dominika Stelmach from Poland who, in 2023, broke the record for most kilometres run in 12 hours (152 km) during the Spartanion Race in Israel.
A battle for redemption in QMT 110
The QMT 110K covers 4,580m and has runners speeding through untamed trails and past towering waterfalls. Former champion Benoit Gaillard from France aims for a comeback, facing off against Quebec-based runners Marvin Foucher, Yannick Bernard and David Savard-Gagnon, who are all familiar with the region’s tough trails. The women’s race will see Maria Fátima Buchas from Portugal and Samantha Stimac from the U.S. vying for victory.
World Trail Majors spotlight
QMT’s inclusion in the World Trail Majors cements its status as a prestigious race that draws from trail running enthusiasts worldwide. As the only Canadian race in this series, QMT stands alongside other iconic races in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America.”I’m especially excited to take part in 2024 as it will be the first edition of the World Trail Majors, and a chance to race on some of my favourite trails with a lineup of pretty incredible athletes,” says Hogan.
To check out the live stream of the finish line on YouTube throughout the QMT races, click here. To learn more about the race, head to the QMT website.
