The second edition of Patagonman – dubbed by its organizers “the most extreme triathlon in the world” – was held on Sunday, December 1. The event included 300 athletes who were launched from a ferry into the cold waters of the Aysén Fjord, first swimming 3,800 meters (2.36 miles); then pedaling 180 kms (111.8 miles) of the Carretera Austral, or Southern Highway, from Puerto Chacabuco to Villa Cerro Castillo; and finally running 42.2 kms (26.2 miles) along the Ibáñez River, passing waterfalls and forests until reaching Lake General Carrera.

 

Finishing with a time of 9 hours and 32 minutes, Tim Don won first place, while Flora Colledge was the first woman to reach the finish line. Both competitors hail from Great Britain, selected to participate in the race through the event’s lottery system.

 

Altogether athletes from 45 countries participated in the triathlon, rising in the early morning to swim guided by lanterns of the guide boats in waters with temperatures not exceeding 12 degrees Celsius. They then pedaled on paved roads that zigzag among imposing snowy mountains and traversed dirt roads that cross valleys to complete the race arriving at Chile's largest lake and the second largest in South America.

 

During the event the participants were allowed to have a support person, to assist them with food, water, and changing clothes.

 

The organization of the triathlon in Aysen, with its gorgeous pristine landscapes and unpredictable weather, was made possible thanks to the support of the Chilean Olympic Committee, National Tourism Service, National Sports Ministry, Chilean Navy and local authorities.

 

Below a selection of photos from Patagonman.