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The countdown is on: in just eight days, the trails of Mont-Sainte-Anne and Charlevoix will come alive with the strides of 3,600 athletes registered across the 8 races of the Québec Mega Trail. This 13th edition, taking place from July 4 to 6, promises plenty of action, with the debut of the brand-new QMT-135 and the hosting of the Canadian Trail Running Championships in the 50 km and 80 km distances. All this, bolstered by the presence of international elites competing in the World Trail Majors rankings. Expect world-class sport, dizzying challenges, and showdowns that are as intense as they are inspiring!
“This edition has everything to make history: a new 135 km distance that will truly push participants to their limits, high-energy racing with the Canadian Championships, and a great international platform through the World Trail Majors. We expect spectacular performances and thrilling duels among both men and women, and across every race!” – Jean Fortier, General Director and Founder of Québec Mega Trail
A Turning Point for QMT
With a record 300 registrations, the QMT-135 is already shaping up to become the ultimate QMT challenge. By merging the 100 miles and the QMT-110, the course has become more strategic and accessible—yet relentlessly technical. From the start in Baie-Saint-Paul, along the river, to the steep slopes of Mont-Sainte-Anne, the QMT-135 offers a 100% wild adventure. New segments include the Sentier des Caps, Cap Brûlé, the Sainte-Anne River Canyon, Jean-Larose Falls, and two demanding ascents of MSA.
But QMT is not stopping there. This year, $12,500 in prize money will reward the top finishers in the QMT-135 and the Canadian champions in the QMT-50 and the QMT-80—two races that are part of the 2025 and 2026 Canadian Trail Running Championships. Another first in Québec: real-time GPS tracking for nearly 100 athletes, funded by MTLab. To follow the action live, QMT is launching a 12-hour LIVE TV broadcast, hosted by Yannick Vézina (Pas sorti du bois), Nicolas Danne (On), and Marie-Eve Pelland (Tout.trail), running from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday for full coverage of the QMT-135. And to enhance the race experience: free hot showers, menstrual hygiene products on course, and a festive new event program—all designed to make the race as human as it is epic.
QMT-135 : Local and Global Contenders Ready to Battle
Elevation gain : 6, 000 meters
The inaugural QMT-135 is already looking like a fierce battle between top international trail runners and up-and-coming Canadians. On the men’s side, Nelson Santos (Portugal – ITRA: 846), who recently placed 5th in the 111 km Swiss Canyon Trail, and Sébastien Camus (France – ITRA: 814), with a top-10 finish at UTMB, could steal the show. But they’ll face strong competition from Québec-based runners like David Jeker (ITRA: 800), Jacob Baril-Arnason (ITRA: 790), and Matthieu Saliou (ITRA: 750).
Among the women, expect a tight race between local specialists Mylène Sansoucy (ITRA: 672), fresh off a top 4 at the 2024 QMT-100 MILES, Geneviève Asselin-Demers (ITRA: 714), last year’s QMT-80 champion, Camille Girard (ITRA: 615), and Elisabeth Cauchon (ITRA: 608), as well as national and international stars like Amanda Nelson (ITRA: 670), winner of the 2024 Sulphur Springs 100-miler, Maryline Nakache (France – ITRA: 718), who won the Marathon des Sables in April, Emilie Mann (ITRA: 712), and Wenfei Xie (China – ITRA: 691), currently ranked 3rd in the World Trail Majors.
QMT-80 : Canada’s Best Go Head-to-Head
Elevation gain: 3,580 meters
The QMT-80, part of the Canadian Trail Running Championships (long trail), is shaping up to showcase a stellar national lineup. On the men’s side: David Savard-Gagnon (ITRA: 793), winner of the QMT-110 in 2024; Jean-Philippe Thibodeau (ITRA: 808), who took the QMT-80 in 2021; Victor Larocque (ITRA: 793), 125 km champion at Ultra-Trail Harricana of Canada (UTHC); and Elliot Cardin (ITRA: 848) will all be at the starting line. Americans Mead Binhammer (ITRA: 756), a Vermont-based ecologist, and Eric LiPuma (ITRA: 864), last year’s QMT-50 winner, add even more depth to this competitive field.
The women’s field is equally stacked. Kelsey Hogan (ITRA: 649), a two-time QMT-100 MILES winner; Alex Castonguay (ITRA: 645), QMT-50 course record holder; Julie Lesage (ITRA: 674), first in the 125 km at UTHC 2024; Claudine Soucie (ITRA: 681); and Jenny Quilty (ITRA: 639) will be among the favorites, joined by American Britta Clark (ITRA: 672).
QMT-50 : Twice the Prestige
Elevation gain : 2,300 meters
The QMT-50 will not only crown the Canadian short trail champions but will also debut in the World Trail Majors Short Series. This dual status makes it one of the weekend’s most coveted races.
On the men’s side, top names from Québec will be there: Benoit Gaillard (ITRA: 758), winner of the very first QMT-100 MILES; Pierre-Charles Gendron (ITRA: 774); Christopher Lévesque-Savard (ITRA: 796); Dany Racine (ITRA: 814); and Antoine Jolicoeur Desroches (ITRA: 769). The international flair will come from British athlete Robbie Simpson (ITRA: 899), multiple medalist at Sierre-Zinal, and Canadian-Peruvian Sergio Raez, fresh off a win at the Vancouver Marathon.
Among the women, Mélodie Gilbert (ITRA: 689) returns to QMT after winning last year’s 32 km. She’ll be joined by Elisa Morin (ITRA: 722), a double gold medalist at the most recent Canadian Mountain Running Championships; Laurie Proulx (ITRA: 675), first in the 42 km Saint-Siméon at UTHC in 2024; Maïka Lamoureux (ITRA: 655); Sarah Bergeron-Larouche (ITRA: 726); Lisa Perrett (ITRA: 666); and Stephanie Ryall (ITRA: 673).
QMT-32 and QMT-25 : Explosive Trail Showdowns
Elevation gain : 1,450 meters / 950 meters
The QMT-25 and the QMT-32, returning for its second edition, will bring together runners eager to shine in these fast-paced formats. In the 32 km, keep an eye on Samuel Audet (ITRA: 741) and Chilean Sebastian Eneros (ITRA: 745), known for strong performances on technical European courses. In the 25 km race, Benoit Didier (ITRA: 754), Olivier Gagnon (ITRA: 745), 2nd at the QMT-25 last year, and Timothée Courtois (ITRA: 759) will engage a fierce battle for the top spot on the podium.
World Trail Majors: Who to Watch in the Rankings?
With the QMT-135 and QMT-50 part of the World Trail Majors, runners will earn points toward the WTM rankings this weekend. Several athletes already on the leaderboard could climb even higher:
Ultra
Wenfei Xie (China) – QMT-135 – WTM : 3rd place / 1,764 pts
Maryline Nakache (France) – QMT-135 – WTM : 20th place / 1,310 pts
Emilie Mann – QMT-135 – WTM: 46th place / 1,080 pts
Mylène Sansoucy – QMT-135 – WTM : 63th place / 1,010 pts
Short
Mélodie Gilbert – QMT-50 – WTM : 35th place / 1,140 pts
Special Thanks to Our Partners
The entire QMT organization wishes to thank official presenter Salomon and all our dedicated partners.
Major public and host partners : Gouvernement du Québec, Mouvement Mont-Sainte-Anne, Ville de Beaupré, Destination Québec Cité, Tourisme Charlevoix, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Sentier des Caps, Sentier Mestachibo, Municipalité de Saint-Tite-des-Caps, Municipalité de Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Municipalité de Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, MRC de la Côte-de-Beaupré, Développement Côte-de-Beaupré, MRC de Charlevoix, MRC de Charlevoix-Est, Germain Hôtels, Kariane Bourassa, députée, and the Ville de Saint-Anne-de-Beaupré.
Major partners: Desjardins, Fenix, XACT Nutrition, La Souche, PCN Physio, Hôtel Delta Mont-Sainte-Anne, and Icebreaker.
Media partners : Canadian Running, Outside, and Tout.trail
Sustainable development partner : RECYC-QUÉBEC
Results official sponsor : COROS
Retail partner: La Cordée
