Bayman XXL (Mont-Saint-Michel)

Mont-Saint-Michel, France · October · Independent

Why people love it

Finish on the dam facing the illuminated Mont-Saint-Michel.
Run climbs to the abbey on lap 1.
Seawater swim in the Couesnon canal, with spectators able to follow along the towpath.
Aid station every 2 km (1.2 mi) on the run.

3.6Very good

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 satisfactionLoved4.0
The Mont-Saint-Michel setting and a finish on the dam are strong draws, but no athlete reports were found; this is based on course descriptions. · Low confidence
OrganizationWell run3.6
About 600 volunteers, aid every 2 km (1.2 mi) on the run and 5 editions. No direct athlete feedback found. · Low confidence
First timer friendlyDoable2.6
Generous 15 h limit, but cold October conditions, a tidal swim and 1,535 m (5,036 ft) of climbing. · Low confidence

PR potentialAverage2.8
Sea level, but a rolling 1,535 m (5,036 ft) bike, a climb to the Mont on the run, and cold, exposed mid-October conditions. · Low confidence
Course easeTough2.7
Rolling bike, cold exposed coast, a seawater swim and a 15 h limit. · Low confidence

3.2Good

Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.9
Mid-October Channel water is about 14-16 °C (57-61 °F), far below the 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) limit. Wetsuit rule not published. · Low confidence
Water temperatureUncomfortable2.4
Estimated 14-16 °C (57-61 °F) in mid-October. Not published. · Low confidence
Calm waterMostly calm3.8
A canal behind the dam, so little swell, but tidal exchange and gate flow can create currents. No race accounts. · Low confidence
Swim easeModerate3.2
Two 1.9 km (1.2 mi) out-and-back loops with possible tidal current. No reports. · Low confidence
Swim experienceGreat3.6
Unusual seawater canal swim at the Mont with spectators on the towpath. It is a dam-controlled canal, not open water. · Low confidence

3.0Good

Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.

Road surfaceMixed3.0
No data. · Low confidence
Road closuresPartly closed3.0
No data on closures. · Low confidence
Bike sceneryBeautiful3.9
Views of the Mont and the bay, per course descriptions. · Low confidence
WindWindy2.3
Exposed bay on the Channel coast. Unverified. · Low confidence

Bike speedAverage3.1
Sea level but rolling, with 1,535 m (5,036 ft) of gain over 180 km (112 mi). Wind and cold likely slow it. · Low confidence
Bike flatnessRolling2.9
Two sources give 1,500-1,535 m (4,900-5,036 ft) of gain, which makes this a hilly course. · Medium confidence
Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.2
Two 45 km (28 mi) loops then one 90 km (56 mi) loop on rolling roads. No technical data. · Low confidence

4.2Very good

Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

Crowd supportStrong3.9
Multi-lap run, a convivial atmosphere and a finish facing the illuminated Mont. · Low confidence
Aid stationsGood4.0
Aid every 2 km (1.2 mi) on the run, per kerrun, with about 600 volunteers. · Medium confidence
Run scenerySpectacular4.8
The run climbs to the abbey, and the finish is on the dam facing the illuminated Mont. · Medium confidence
Run conditionsModerate3.1
Cold weather, mixed surface, four laps and the Mont climb. · Low confidence

Run flatnessMostly flat3.5
One climb of the Mont to the abbey (about km 8 / mi 5, lap 1). Rest of the profile unknown. · Low confidence

2.9Good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

Air temperatureHarsh1.8
Typical race-day air is 6-14 °C (43-57 °F), cold for most of the day. · Medium confidence
Weather reliabilityUnsettled2.3
Autumn on the Normandy coast: wind, rain and cold are likely. No multi-year data. · Low confidence
Venue beautyStunning4.9
UNESCO-listed Mont-Saint-Michel and its bay. · Medium confidence
Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Swim viewing from the towpath, and multi-lap bike and run. · Low confidence

2.7Good

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.

Hotel availabilityBook early2.5
Major tourist site with limited lodging near the Mont. Pontorson and Avranches are fallbacks. Unverified. · Low confidence
Hotel valuePricey2.3
Lodging near the Mont is typically expensive. Unverified. · Low confidence
WalkabilitySome driving2.8
Cheaper lodging is in Pontorson, about 9 km (5.6 mi) away. Mont parking and shuttles complicate things. · Low confidence
Travel easeOne connection2.7
Rennes airport is about 70 km (43 mi) away. There is no airport at the venue. · Low confidence
LogisticsSome complexity3.0
Single bay site. We have no detail on transitions. · Low confidence
Town and foodFine3.0
Touristy area. We have no food reviews. · Low confidence

Location: Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy (Manche), France
Typical month: October
Latest or next date: 10 October 2026
Organiser: Independent
Entry fee: About $480
First held: 2022
Distances: 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run
Cutoffs: Finish 15:00
Swim venue: Couesnon canal near the Mont-Saint-Michel dam (canal)
Swim laps: 2
Bike climbing: 1,535 m (5,040 ft)
Bike laps: 3
Run laps: 4
Air temperature: 6–14 °C (43–57 °F)
Altitude: 0 m (0 ft)
Nearest airport: Rennes (RNS) / Dinard (DNR), 70 km (43 mi) away
Where to stay: Pontorson
Booking: Not researched in depth; Mont-Saint-Michel is a major tourist site, so lodging near the Mont is limited and pricey while nearby towns (Pontorson, Avranches, Saint-Malo) are options (general knowledge, unverified).

Breizh-infoarticle · Positive
Regional press preview of the 2025 Bayman, presenting it as an out-of-the-ordinary triathlon staged in front of Mont-Saint-Michel, with the swim in a channel normally closed to swimmers. Page itself could not be fetched; content known only from search snippet, so treat as preview, not an athlete review.

Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.

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