On June 24, I tackled the clear, calm water of the Baie des Anges. It was a much more aggressive start than usual for an Ironman, which I like. I fought for position and outdistanced the mass of swimmers. After 200 metres, I was in the lead group and I managed to hold my position in it until we exited the water.

I was very close to the peloton when I mounted my bicycle on the Promenade des Anglais. In the first twenty kilometres, flat and fast, I used the power expected and I felt strong. It was about forty-five minutes later, when I bent down to get my water bottle, that I felt a familiar discomfort. First there was a troubling pain at the back of the thigh. It was similar to what I had felt when I suffered that training injury. The situation got progressively worse. However, the crowd, very present up in the mountains, gave me its energy. It was almost like being at home. Everything was working together, but the vehicle was blocked. I tried to go abstract and block it out. Maybe with the beginning of the progressive descent things would go better. Unfortunately, it was not the case, and at 80 km of the bike portion, my race ended. Sometimes, in just a few hours, the wind can change completely. That, in short, is what happened in my race in France.

The objective of this logbook is to provide a window onto the reality of being a professional athlete. As you must know, while it’s true that we experience extraordinary, unforgettable moments, we also experience, like everyone else, major disappointments. In becoming fully engaged, we know that emotions will run high. We aim for ecstasy while accepting the risk of disappointment. That’s the deal, and that’s what makes us feel so alive during a race.

Here, in Mont-Tremblant, I’m in the best place in the world to find my smile again and come back from this misfortune. That’s what I’ll do now, by reminding myself that the most important thing is to manage always to find a smile again, come what may.

Thank you for being part of this adventure and…see you soon!