AlpsMan Xtrem Triathlon
Saint-Jorioz (Lake Annecy), France · June · Independent
Why people love it
- Norseman-style summit finish at Semnoz, a 1,330 m (4,400 ft) trail climb for top finishers.
- Dark boat start mid-lake with a deep-water jump.
- About 4,000 m (13,100 ft) of bike climbing through Bauges cols in an Alpine setting.
- Small field of roughly 450 to 500 Xtrem entries.
Watch out for
- The 2026 Xtrem was cancelled about 2 weeks out over municipal bike-route bans; the 2027 route is not announced.
- 2025 race halted after a fatal bike collision; weather replaced the swim with a 5 km (3.1 mi) run.
- Tight cutoffs: 2 h swim, and 17:30 at Le Tournant (km 24.6 / mi 15.3) for the summit finish.
- Few first-hand Xtrem race reports exist; most coverage is previews.
- Water can be as cold as 10 °C (50 °F) in early June.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.1
Admiring coverage from Test 4 Outside and Slowtwitch, but few first-hand Xtrem reports and disruptions in 2025 and 2026. · Low confidence
- OrganizationAdequate2.7
About 350 volunteers over 9 editions, but a 2025 mid-race halt after a fatality and the 2026 Xtrem cancelled two weeks out. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyExperts only1.1
Extreme course with a 2 h swim cutoff, a 17:30 cutoff at Le Tournant (run km 24.6 / mi 15.3) and mandatory gear. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialVery slow1.1
About 4,000 m (13,100 ft) of bike and 1,330 m (4,400 ft) of run climbing. Winners take 11:06 to 12:09. · High confidence
- Course easeExtreme1.2
Norseman-style: about 4,000 m (13,100 ft) of climbing over 180 km (112 mi) and a trail marathon. The Lake finish softens the run. · High confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.8
Typical early June water is 16-20 °C (61-68 °F), well under the 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) wetsuit limit. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.4
Reported 19 °C (66 °F) in 2022, though locals trained near 10 °C (50 °F). Typical is 16-20 °C (61-68 °F). · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.4
Sheltered lake with a 05:30 start. The 2025 swim was lost to storms rather than chop. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeModerate2.7
3.8 km (2.4 mi) from a deep-water boat start in the dark, with a 2 h cutoff. Athletes report a swim scrum. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.3
Very clear water and a boat start at a mid-lake sandbar. The dark start limits the views. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
Not documented. Expect typical French Alpine roads. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.2
Roads were open to traffic in 2025, when a fatal collision with a truck occurred near Aillon-le-Vieux. · Medium confidence
- Bike scenerySpectacular4.8
Bauges cols and Lake Annecy. Slowtwitch ranks the setting among the most scenic in France. · Medium confidence
- WindMostly calm3.8
Mountain valleys, and no wind complaints found. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedVery slow1.1
About 4,000 m (13,100 ft) of climbing over 180 km (112 mi) across five passes. · High confidence
- Bike flatnessMountainous1.0
The official gain is 4,000 m (13,100 ft); older sources say 4,300 m (14,100 ft). · High confidence
- Bike simplicityTechnical1.5
Fast Alpine descents. Local mayors have cited them as a safety concern. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.2
Several loops through Saint-Jorioz and a summit finish at Semnoz. Few reports on crowds. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.3
About 350 volunteers staff the course. Little feedback on aid quality. · Low confidence
- Run scenerySpectacular4.7
The Semnoz summit looks over the lake, and the lake loops are pleasant. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsHard1.6
Trail marathon after a hilly bike. The final summit climb averages over 20%. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessHilly1.7
Summit finishers climb 1,330 m (4,400 ft). Lake finishers gain only 28 m (92 ft). · High confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
Typical air is 10-26 °C (50-79 °F). The 05:30 start is cool and afternoons run slightly above 25 °C (77 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.6
The 2025 swim became a 5 km (3.1 mi) run because of weather. Early June Alpine storms are common. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.8
Lake Annecy, the Bauges and Semnoz. · High confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.2
Loops through Saint-Jorioz, a summit finish and live timing. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow3.5
The lake is at 450 m (1,480 ft), but the run summit reaches about 1,650 m (5,410 ft). · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early2.6
1,600 to 1,800 weekend participants arrive in peak-demand Lake Annecy in June. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.5
A pricey area. Campsites are cheaper. Hotel Beauregard scores 8.3/10 and Le Pre du Lac 7.3/10. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.4
Lodging is within walking or a short ride of Saint-Jorioz, but the boat start is pre-dawn. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.8
Geneva airport is about 50 km (31 mi) away, and Annecy has rail links. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity2.6
Night boat start, summit finish and mandatory gear add planning. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.4
Lake Annecy is a major destination with plenty of good food. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Saint-Jorioz (Lake Annecy), Haute-Savoie, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 5 June 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 450 athletes
- Entry fee
- About $580
- First held
- 2016
- Distances
- 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Swim 2:00 (swim must finish by 07:30 from 05:30 start), Bike Bike park closes/dismissal 07:30 listed by organiser; Le Tournant (run km 24.6) closes 17:30 for Semnoz summit finish, Finish Stopwatch stops at midnight (~18.5 h); lake-loop closes 22:45
- Swim venue
- Lake Annecy (start mid-lake, between Talloires bay and Duingt chateau) (lake)
- Water temperature
- 16–20 °C (61–68 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- deep-water (athletes taken by boat at night, jump in one by one and line up)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 4,000 m (13,120 ft)
- Key climbs
- Col de Leschaux; Col du Plainpalais; Bauges massif cols (five passes in total per organiser listings)
- Run climbing
- 1,330 m (4,360 ft)
- Run laps
- 3 lake/trail loops to Le Tournant (km 24.6), then summit climb or 2 more lake loops
- Run shade
- Mixed forest and lakeside; not documented
- Air temperature
- 10–26 °C (50–79 °F)
- Humidity
- Not documented
- Altitude
- 450 m (1,480 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Geneva (GVA), 50 km (31 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Saint-Jorioz, Sevrier, Duingt, Doussard
- Booking
- Race weekend books up with ~1,600-1,800 weekend participants; Lake Annecy is a high-demand summer destination. Campsites (Europa, Le Solitaire du Lac) and small hotels (Le Pre du Lac, Hotel Beauregard in Sevrier) are nearby. Airport distance is approximate.
What racers and reviewers say
- Test 4 OutsideRaced 2017 · article · Positive
Photo-led feature on the 2017 edition. Calls it one of the toughest XXL triathlons, with 180 km (112 mi) of passes and a trail marathon with optional Semnoz ascent. Cedric Jacquot won in 12:09; the last finisher came in about nine hours later. Focuses on the mental battle athletes face.
- Outside.frRaced 2019 · article · Positive
Preview of the 4th edition: 05:00 boat start, ~183 km (114 mi) with five passes and ~4,300 m (14,100 ft) climbing, run finishing at the Semnoz summit for the fastest. 450 bibs sold out fast; ~15% foreign athletes. Compares the design to Norseman.
- Kiwami Sports (Half triathlon report)Raced 2021 · blog · Positive
First-person report from the Half (not Xtrem) that shares the Saint-Jorioz base and Semnoz finish. Describes ~2,400 m (7,900 ft) of climbing on the bike and a very steep final trail section (average >20%). Calls it a magnificent course.
“super experience sur un parcours magnifique”
- Trail SessionRaced 2022 · blog · Positive
Two-athlete Xtrem report written a week after the 2022 race. Describes the 05:30 boat start and water around 19 °C (66 °F), not as cold as expected; swim took just over 1h30. Page was unreachable when fetched, so details come from search-result excerpts only.
- 220 Triathlonblog · Positive
Blog by a self-described weak swimmer who started mid-pack in the swim scrum, then tackled the Semnoz run (~1,300 m (4,270 ft) / 4,300 ft ascent on a shortened run). Page returned 403 so only search excerpts were seen.
Show 7 more
- ICI (France Bleu)Raced 2023 · article · Positive
Preview of the 2023 XXL: 380 starters, ~350 volunteers, 05:30 swim start. Reports 2022 winners (Lemaitre 11:06, Davy 13:18). A local athlete mentions training in water near 10 °C (50 °F). Half bibs (700) sold out in under nine hours.
- SportmagRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Preview of the 8th edition with ~1,800 participants over the weekend. Describes the boat start enabled by a sandbar mid-lake and the very clear water. Event dates to 2016 and is co-organised by Valentin and Gerland.
- Triathlon TodayRaced 2025 · article · Negative
A 47-year-old athlete died on 7 June 2025 after colliding with a truck on the bike near Aillon-le-Vieux. Racing was stopped; Xtrem and Half were cancelled and remaining athletes sent to the Saint-Jorioz transition. The swim had already been replaced by a 5 km (3.1 mi) run due to weather.
- Slowtwitch (5 Unique European Triathlons)Raced 2025 · article · Positive
Lists Alpsman as one of five worthwhile trips. Praises the setting as one of France's most scenic and says the bike course will push even strong climbers to their limit; explains Top versus Lake finisher run format.
- Slowtwitch forumRaced 2026 · forum · Negative
Thread about the 2026 Xtrem cancellation after communes in the Bauges banned the bike route. Poster, who sees it as a bucket-list race, was frustrated after nine editions and hoped it would return. Another suspects a wider dispute between organisers and municipalities.
- Reference-TrailRaced 2026 · article · Negative
Explains the 21 May 2026 bans (nine communes, citing fast descents and an earlier fatal accident), Xtrem cancellation on 27 May affecting ~500 athletes, and the Grenoble court ruling that saved the Half on a fallback route. Describes deep frustration among athletes who had prepared and travelled.
- Google / Petit Fute / Trip.com via Savoie-Mont-Blanc listingshotel-review · Positive
Aggregated accommodation ratings for the host town: Camping Europa ~4.2-4.5/5 across 1,000+ Google and 194 Petit Fute reviews, Le Pre du Lac hotel 7.3/10, Hotel Beauregard (Sevrier) 8.3/10 from 1,162 reviews. Options are mostly campsites, small hotels and chalets around the lake.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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