Catalonia, a destination for triathletes

If there is something that makes Catalonia stand out, it’s the varied landscape and the pleasant temperatures throughout the year, making it an excellent choice for preparing the triathlon season. You’ll find everything you need in the towns on the Catalan coast; these are the links between the roads and trails in the natural parks, the roads that wind along the seafront, the waters of the Mediterranean and the outstanding sports facilities.

Ironman in Calella

Train in Lloret de Mar and Calella

Numerous triathlons are held in Catalonia during the year in the super sprint, sprint and Olympic categories, including international events such as Ironman Barcelona, the European Championships in Banyoles and the Santander Triathlon in Barcelona. Many towns will therefore provide you with specialised coaches and gyms to guide you through the demanding preparation a triathlon requires, moreover there are also sports equipment rental companies and different kinds of accommodation tailored to your needs.

Lloret de Mar and Calella are two examples of this. The former enables you to enjoy different cycling routes along the roads of the Costa Brava, go running around designated traffic-free areas and improve your suppleness in the water of the 1,250m² municipal Olympic pool and the Via Brava (Sea Swimming Lane) in Fenals. The facilities also have fitness and cycling rooms and guided activities. On the days when you don’t want to train too hard, Nordic walking along the coastal footpath may be a good alternative.

Calella, the venue for the two Ironman events, is located on the Costa Barcelona and is another popular destination for triathletes when it comes to intensive training. Its long promenade is ideal for the race, it has cycling routes with various levels of difficulty and opportunities for road cycling and you can swim in the open water and at the Crol Centre Calella Olympic pool. The town has tailored accommodation with equipment rentals and spa facilities that enable you to give your body a break at the end of the day. 

Ironman in Calella

Major triathlons in Catalonia

We remind you of some key events for triathlon lovers in Catalonia. If you wish to compete in a major race, we recommend the Barcelona Triathlon in October, during which you can measure yourself against the best international triathletes. The town of Banyoles on the Costa Brava hosts annual events such as the European Triathlon Cup and the Triathlon World Cup, both organised by the ITU (International Triathlon Union).

There are three unmissable events on the Catalan Ironman calendar: Ironman 70.3 Barcelona, organised in the coastal town of Calella, the Salou Challenge, held on the Costa Daurada, and the Ironcat, which takes place in L’Ampolla in Terres de l’Ebre.

The TriTour events are an attractive proposal: Four triathlons held across the Catalan territory throughout the year. Two of them, the events held in Amposta in May and Deltebre in October, include the sprint, Olympic, short and half categories. The other two, held in Port de Suert in July and Tossa de Mar in September, offer the sprint and Olympic categories only.

Other popular races include the Tricircuit sprint event held in Calella in June, Sant Pol de Mar in September and Vilanova i la Geltrú in October. Others that date back several years are the Triathlons in Sitges, Sant Feliu de Guíxols and Banyoles. Several of them have teams and others are exclusively for children, such as the Trikids events in Pineda de Mar and Santa Susanna.

Which one would you like to start with?