Côme at Greek X Hero Triathlon 2025

Greek X Hero Triathlon 🏊‍♂️ 3.5 km – 🚵‍♂️ 175 km (2,600 m elevation gain) – 🏃‍♂️ 38 km (1,500 m elevation gain).

Wake-up call at 4:45 a.m., car packed and on the road by 5:15, bike already loaded. Arrival at T1, inside the castle, by 5:45. At 6:20, we boarded the bus.

A ten-minute walk through a dark park led us to a majestic torch-lit starting area. First encounters by the water with highly motivated triathletes from Canada, Switzerland, and France. Three of them had to finish the race to validate their entry for the Norseman.

We set off at sunrise for what must be the coolest mass start ever – 60 athletes already positioned in the water. 1h15 of swimming, with a bit of doubt about the route: three swimmers cut straight across the bay, skipping the two mandatory buoys.

We exited the water directly into the citadel — a stunning setting — and jumped on the bike for 7h30 of cycling. The roads were twisty, full of hairpin turns and a few traffic jams, but offered spectacular views under a bright 25°C sun. I shared some great moments on the climbs with friendly triathletes from Belgium.

The first planned aid station was at km 92, but… no support! Still, motivation stayed high after the toughest climb of the course. I carried on without water, managed to text my support, and finally got refueled at km 110, then again at km 144.

I reached T2 with solid energy for the run. I set off forgetting my phone — luckily, not my GPS! After about ten minutes, I met a triathlete running back to grab the GPS he’d left at T2.

A quick water stop at km 8, then came the crossing of three beaches followed by a long stretch of rocky terrain, slowing our progress considerably. At 6:30 p.m., the final ascent began — 600 meters of elevation gain. Time to pull out the headlamp and long-sleeve shirt for comfort as the evening set in. By 8 p.m., I reached T2A and started the final 18 kilometers alongside my brother.

I crossed the finish line at 10:50 p.m., after 15 hours and 58 minutes of racing. A great bivouac and barbecue followed, before catching the shuttle and a 40-minute drive back. We reached the hotel at 1:30 a.m. 😅, filled with an incredible sense of team accomplishment.

A huge thanks to my brother, my amazing coach and osteopath, who managed to relieve a worrying ankle pain just 48 hours before the race. 🙏

I highly recommend this incredible event, part of the Xtri World Tour — a challenging yet breathtaking experience. Next goal for 2026: with my brother again, the mythical Norseman in Norway.