Racing on home soil at Parc Jean-Drapeau, Mathis Beaulieu, a Quebec City native, delivered a breakout performance. He ran away from a stacked international field – including American standout Morgan Pearson – to take the win in 51:30. His 14:21 5km run (an incredible 2:52/km average) wasn’t just the fastest of the day – it was a statement.
“I realized [I could take the win] once I started dropping Pearson on the run,” Beaulieu told Triathlon Magazine Canada in an exclusive post-race interview. “I just felt better and better over the 5km.”
It was a performance that marked a significant leap forward for the young Canadian, who just turned 21 on July 12. Beaulieu is a member of the ON Triathlon Academy and Project Podium. The win in Montreal follows his podium finish earlier this year at the World Triathlon Cup in Samarkand, and signals that his name belongs firmly on the list of Canada’s next-generation elite.
From Getting “Drowned” to Dominating
Beaulieu’s race was not without its challenges. A chaotic swim start left him fighting to stay in contention.
“After the first buoy I had to dig pretty deep,” he admitted. “I got drowned and had to work hard to come back on the first group.”
But once he bridged up, he stayed composed. His coach’s training plan – an intense altitude block in the weeks leading up to Montreal – was clearly paying off.
“I think our coach did a really good job training us the past two months at altitude to arrive here really sharp,” he said. “Personally, I would say not getting injured was the biggest reason I was in such good shape.”
What the crowd in Montreal did not see, however, was the emotional weight behind the race. Beaulieu had flown to Hamburg just two weeks earlier, and was first on the waitlist but ultimately left without a start.
“I didn’t have the opportunity to race in Hamburg the week before, which left me pretty mad,” he admitted.
His coach, Parker Spencer, reflected on the experience in an Instagram post after the Montreal win: “[Mathis] spent two weeks as first on the waitlist for Hamburg. He flew across the world and never got the start. Then he flew home and won the Montreal Conti Cup with a blazing run split… The highs [of this sport] are incredible. The lows hit hard. But every setback is part of the journey toward the next breakthrough and a critical piece of an athlete’s development.”
Fuelled by Fitness – and Family
Beyond fitness, there was meaning. Racing at home and in front of family gave the moment added weight.
“It means a lot because my family came to see me,” he shared.
And Beaulieu did not disappoint. He not only showed up, he outpaced one of the sport’s most consistent performers, crossing the line 15 seconds ahead of Pearson.
“We knew from training that we could run that pace,” he said. “But to beat Pearson? That still felt pretty insane.”
What’s Next for Canada’s Rising Star?
Beaulieu will line up again this Saturday at the Toronto SuperTri, but his eyes are already on a bigger prize: the U23 World Championships.
“One of the big goals is going to be Worlds U23,” he said. “That’s where we want to perform at our peak.”
Beaulieu’s win also marks the 25th podium this year for Project Podium, a development program that’s producing some of North America’s top emerging talent. As Spencer noted: “That doesn’t happen by chance. It reflects our depth, the daily work, and the belief in what we are building.”
Desirae Ridenour and Stefan Daniel also took wins in Montreal, capping off a phenomenal weekend of racing for Canadians.
The post “I Just Felt Better and Better”: Mathis Beaulieu Blazes to Victory in Montreal appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.