FrenchMan Triathlon XXL (Carcans-Maubuisson)
Carcans-Maubuisson, France · May · Independent
Why people love it
- Near-flat, fast XXL with a course record of 7:56:10
- EUR 50,000 bonus for beating the world XXL record here
- Four-day festival with thousands of spectators
- Lakefront hub with simple logistics
Watch out for
- Wind on the long straight Médoc roads
- Cold May lake, about 14-18 °C (57-64 °F), with chop at the mass start
- Heat can hit the run
- Accommodation fills for the festival
- Few first-hand reviews online and no official cut-offs found
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
A huge festival of about 6,000 athletes across formats, with records set here. Finisher reports are mixed: a rough mass start, a shirt shortage, wind. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
Thirteen editions, hundreds of volunteers across five communes and a praised central bag system. One finisher reported the finisher shirts ran out. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.8
Flat, with big crowds and a festival feel. A cold May lake, wind and contact at the mass start add risk for a first full. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.4
The course record is 7:56:10 (4:12 bike, 53 min swim, 2:46 run), with a EUR 50,000 world-record bonus. Wind and cold water hold it back. · Medium confidence
- Course easeModerate3.9
A near-flat 180 km (112 mi) bike and a sea-level run. Wind, chop and occasional heat are the real challenge. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.8
Mid-May lake water is about 14-18 °C (57-64 °F). A wetsuit is advised and is legal in most years. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureUncomfortable2.4
Mid-May lake water is likely 14-18 °C (57-64 °F), cold for a long swim. One report says it was colder than expected. · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop2.9
The lake is large, so wind has a long fetch. One edition had chop on the outbound leg. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.3
A 3.8 km (2.4 mi) mass start with contact and occasional chop, but no current. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.4
France's largest natural freshwater lake, described as clear and calm by organisers. One finisher found the mass start rough and the outbound leg wind-whipped. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.6
Médoc roads and forest cycle tracks. Athletes have not written much about surface quality. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
A large, well-staffed festival with hundreds of volunteers. We found no published detail on road closures. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.3
Press describes pine forest, dunes and marshes, though one finisher found the long straights monotonous. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind2.7
Coastal region with long straights. In one edition the return legs were noticeably harder. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedVery fast4.5
The winner rode about 4:12, near 43 km (26.7 mi)/h (27 mph). One finisher held about 34 km (21.1 mi)/h (21 mph) on the first loop. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat4.4
Mostly nearly flat, though one source says rolling. Full-course gain is unpublished; the 90 km (56 mi) option is about 300 m (980 ft). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityStraight and simple4.5
Long straights and forest tracks with little technical riding. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.7
Thousands gather in the lakefront village, and spectators call out athletes by bib number on the four-lap run. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.3
Little is written about aid stations, though the volunteer base is large. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.6
Shaded forest tracks at Bombannes and stretches along the lake shore. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.4
Four laps on mixed surfaces. Forest sections give shade, but heat caused problems in one year. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.3
Beach and forest paths with some short hills in the forest. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Race-day air is typically 10-22 °C (50-72 °F). Mornings are cool, and one year turned hot. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.1
Mid-May on the Atlantic coast brings wind, a cool lake and occasional heat. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.7
A lake setting with pine forest and dunes. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySee them often4.5
A compact lakefront village hosts every format and thousands of visitors. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
About 15 m (49 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilitySells out early2.4
Campsites, hotels and rentals fill up for the four-day festival, so book early. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.1
Camping and chalets are available. Huttopia starts from about EUR 184 per night. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.4
Campsites sit within 300 m (980 ft) of the lake, and Huttopia is in Bombannes forest on the shore. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD) is about 60 km (37 mi) away, roughly an hour by road. Bikes travel easily. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.0
One lakeside hub with central T1 and T2 bag tents. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine2.9
A holiday resort village with food trucks and restaurants. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Carcans-Maubuisson, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 8 May 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- First held
- 2014
- Distances
- 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lac de Carcans-Maubuisson (lake)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- mass
- Bike laps
- 2
- Run laps
- 4
- Run shade
- Forest sections shaded; seafront/lake exposed
- Air temperature
- 10–22 °C (50–72 °F)
- Humidity
- Coastal humidity; wind from Atlantic
- Altitude
- 15 m (49 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD), 60 km (37 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Maubuisson, Bombannes, Carcans-Plage
- Booking
- Camping de Maubuisson <300 m from the lake (mixed reviews on upkeep), Huttopia Lac de Carcans, Village Vacances Les Dunes (8.5/10), rentals; all fill for the 4-day festival.
What racers and reviewers say
- Martigne Runningblog · Mixed
Finisher in 11:36. Wind-whipped waves on the swim outbound, mass-start contact. Two flat 90 km (56 mi) loops with long straights and wind on return legs. Heat on the 4-lap run, family and spectators calling names. Liked central bag system but complained the finisher T-shirts had run out.
- ESdiario (Spanish daily)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Recap of the 13th edition: about 6,000 athletes, huge lakefront village atmosphere, fast but leg-punishing bike through pine, dunes and marshes, shaded forest run. Nicolas Rigaux near the men's record, Alexandra Tondeur broke the women's.
- Aquitaine OnlineRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Pre-race piece: course record 7:56:10 (Loiseaux, 2025; 53 min swim, 4:12 bike, 2:46 run) and a 50,000 EUR bonus for beating the XXL world record there. Hundreds of volunteers across five communes; festival ran Thursday-Sunday.
- PreparunRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Course guide: Médoc roads relatively flat; lake water can be colder than expected, wetsuit advised; coastal wind can affect bike; May usually mild. Includes anecdote about a finisher moved after the lake carried him through the XXL.
- Tonton OutdoorRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Travel-agency page describing Médoc roads as fast, shaded and almost flat; entry fee 359 EUR in 2026 listing; 2027 date given as 13 May.
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- werun.worldRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Event listing: XXL 3.8 km (2.4 mi) lake swim, 2 bike loops through Médoc communes, 4 run loops through Bombannes forest paths and cycle tracks; 2027 XXL on 8 May at 07:00 for about 335 EUR.
- Miles RepublicRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Event page with 2027 XXL Saturday 8 May and listing across formats; no participant ratings captured.
- CamperContact (Camping de Maubuisson)hotel-review · Mixed
Friendly welcome and a spot close to the lake, but uneven pitches, tired upkeep and showers without hot water. Large site with many permanent pitches.
- Campings.com (Village vacances Les Dunes)hotel-review · Positive
Average 8.5/10; set in forest near the lake with cycle paths from the site.
- Lastminute (Huttopia Lac de Carcans)hotel-review · Positive
Huttopia site in Bombannes forest with direct lake access and pool; 79 reviews, rates from about 184 EUR/night.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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