Best Ironman-distance triathlons for beginners in Europe
Which Iron-distance triathlons are best for first timers? A long-distance triathlon is never easy but there are some that are more beginner-friendly than others. Here we pick our top five European ironman-distance triathlons suitable for newcomers to 226km racing…
An Ironman triathlon is never going to be an easy experience. But some courses are more suited to Ironman beginners than others. Here’s our top picks for those new to 226km…
Obviously, all the races here have the 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run. In terms of housekeeping, races are given extra friendliness points for the size of the crowds, the ideal water temp is set at 21ºC (not too warm to make it a non-wetsuit swim but far from cold) and extra points are added for multiple swim laps (especially with an Aussie exit onto land and back into the water halfway through) for psychological and physical benefits.
A temperate climate free from the winds of Ironman Lanzarote, the chills of the Celtman or the humidity of Hawaii will certainly help triathletes complete the epic journey.
Elsewhere, a gently rolling bike course is seen as optimum (too flat and you’ll be pedalling constantly for 180km) and races are docked points for having a total cut-off time shorter than the usual 17 hours.
So which is the most beginner-friendly iron course in Europe? Here we pick our top top five events to ease you into world of Ironman.
1. The Outlaw
Location: National Watersports Centre, Nottinghamshire, England
When: July
Taking first place in this rundown is The Outlaw in Nottinghamshire. This regular 220 Triathlon award-winner offers arguably the friendliest atmosphere of all UK Irons, yet often in unfriendly British summertime weather.
“I chose The Outlaw because I’d heard it’s known for being considerably flatter than Ironman UK,” says Jason Stott, who finished in 302nd place in 2015 (11:47:19). “Registration is a breeze the day before, and you can get set-up quickly with no hassle.
“The Outlaw swim is a proper Iron start and can be a mass underwater wrestle! If you’ve positioned yourself correctly according to your predicted time, though, you should be fine; it soon thins out.
“It’s one large lap, which is in the rowing lake right to the end and back. If it’s a sunny early morning, sighting can be quite difficult as the sun is low, but follow the few hundred people in front of you unless you’re flying off the front!
“The bike course is a flat-ish 180km. It’s more rolling tarmac than anything else and a good average speed can be met quite easily. The course is three laps (one and three are the same), making it easy to mentally divide up. The feed stations are long that makes it easier to grab nutrition en route, and the support is excellent.
“The run is a flat and well-supported route, which starts off with a lap of the lake and then continues along the River Trent. This is done twice before a final loop of the lake to finish off.”
Support from the crew and marshalls also makes this a novice-friendly event – everyone working on the day has either done the event in the past or have been there before and know what you’re going through.
2. Ironman Austria
Location: Klagenfurt, Austria
When: June
“Without doubt it’s one of the top five Ironman races in the world for its organisation and beautiful scenery,” says Mark Kleanthous. Which is high praise indeed from a man with 40+ worldwide Ironman finishes to his name.
The swim of Ironman Austria takes place in the 24°C waters of Lake Wörthersee in Austria’s south, ringed by forested hills and snow-capped Alpine mountains. After the 3.8km in the turquoise, transparent waters, athletes embark on a two-loop course into the Alpine foothills around Carinthia for one of Ironman’s fastest bike routes.
Mostly flat (and on what Kleanthous calls “some of the smoothest roads in the world,”), the course features two steep gradients on each lap crammed with spectators lining the route ten deep, producing a motivational din up there with Challenge Roth in the decibel stakes.
After a hero’s welcome back in Klagenfurt, the largely flat and shady 42.2km run goes around the lake’s shoreline before heading into Klagenfurt for one of Ironman’s greatest finishes.
“When you run along the Magic Carpet to the finish line in Klagenfurt, you cannot fail to be overcome with emotion,” continues Kleanthous. “There are even more loud, cheering spectators, with some of the biggest crowds lining up just before midnight to see the last competitors finish.”
3. Ironman Copenhagen
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
When: August
Ironman took over the running of Copenhagen from the Challenge Family in 2013 and the race has become one of the most cherished M-Dots on the circuit, with the Danish capital truly embracing the experience.
The swim is a 3.8 km one-lap course in the lagoon at Amager Beach Park. The gently rolling 180km bike finds competitors winding through the city before two loops alongside bucolic farmlands.
The four-lap run course stretches along the city’s harbour, with the course flanked by a purported 150,000 spectators.
With a temperature climate, bumper support throughout and an agreeable course (calm swim, flat bike and run), Copenhagen seemingly ticks every box for the iron newbie.
The problem for some beginners, however, will be the 15:45hr cut-off time, meaning participants have to complete the swim and bike within the 9:30hr mark and the marathon in 6:45hr. The upshot is the relatively luxurious 7:30am start…
4. Challenge Roth
Location: Roth, Germany
When: July
Challenge Roth is the jewel in the Challenge crown and is, quite simply, unlike any other triathlon experience thanks to the raucous crowd of 250,000 hollering support from the 6.30am gun until the 11pm firework display.
It’s also a race course with plenty of beginner friendliness, with a one lap swim in the calm Main-Donau Kanal, a rolling (but far from flat) bike through northern Bavaria and a flat riverside marathon run.
Like Ironman Austria, it’s a race where historic iron-distance world record times are often made, for example Jan Frodeno’s world-beating time in 2016 and Chrissie Wellington’s record time of 8:18:13 in 2011. And all of this flanked with triathlon’s most legendary atmosphere.
The big issues for beginners are the 15hr cut-off time and how hot Roth can get in July, with 2014 just one date to experience a heatwave. There’s also just how darn hard it is to get a spot in the race, with the 6,000 spots usually selling out faster than the radlers on the race’s famous bier mile.
5. Challenge Almere-Amsterdam
Location: Esplanade, Almere, Netherlands
When: September
With the whole racing taking place below sea level, it’s safe to say that Challenge Almere-Amsterdam in the Netherlands is a brilliant, flat course option for beginner triathletes to get to grips with the Ironman distance.
The race is shared with the pro PTO calendar and has historically hosted the European Championships (and will continue to do so until 2028), promising an exciting atmosphere on race day.
Claiming to be the second oldest long-distance triathlon in the world, Challenge Almere-Amsterdam was established in 1981 as the Holland Triathlon. Based in Almere, just 25km from Amsterdam, the race is an incredibly flat, multi-loop course.
An initial 3.8km swim in the Weerwater is followed by 180km bike course through the flat polder landscape of Flevoland, racing past traditional dikes and windmills along the former Zuiderzee seabed of the South Sea.
The only challenge on a course as flat as this can be the wind. The run course is a four-lap loop around the Weerwater lake, taking athletes through the city of Almere at times, and others through the lush, green landscape.
6. Ironman Vitoria-Gasteiz
Location: Spain
When: July
A mild climate and warm lake swim add points to Ironman Vitoria-Gasteiz. Head to northern Spain for this culturally-rich event which will see you enjoy a (relatively!) straightforward beginner experience.
The swim is in Ulibarri-Gamboa lake, located in the Landa Provincial Park outside Vitoria-Gasteiz. This will see you avoid the chop, currents and saltiness of a sea swim with average temperatures around 21°C in the water. So warm enough to feel more than comfortable, but not so hot that wetsuits will be banned. In fact at this temperature they’ll be optional, meaning the choice is yours! It is a single loop though, so consider whether that feels comfortable for you as you’ll be swimming quite far out!
Air temperatures typically range from 12°C to 24°C throughout the day which bodes well for a cool(ish) start to the bike leg. This is rolling rather than hilly with an elevation gain of 1,166m. The wavy route showcases the beauty of the region of Vitoria-Gasteiz and takes athletes threw the most scenic towns of the Álava region.
Finally the run, which beginners will be pleased to hear is flat! It’s a four-loop route around the city which allows for brilliant crowd support – so if you find cheering fans a help and/or if you have family coming to watch you, then it’s the ideal choice!
7. Ironman Frankfurt
Location: Germany
When: June
As we get further down this list, compromises have to be made around the course spec… At Ironman Frankfurt, you get a lake swim and a rolling bike course, but points are docked for the odd steep climb, plus air temperatures can be a little higher than we’d like – up to 32°C.
The day starts with a swim over two laps, separated by a short Australian exit. Hidden deep in Frankfurt’s city Forrest, the swim kicks off with a spectacular start at the Langener Waldsee on race morning with its unique arena feeling. Water temperatures are likely to be around 23°C so there is a risk of a non-wetsuit swim in a very hot year (if they reach over 24.9°C).
The two-loop 180 km rolling bike course offers a mix of flat and fast passages and challenging hills, and combines the picturesque landscapes of the surrounding villages with the impressive skyline of ‘Mainhattan’. Total elevation gain is 1,334m.
Finally the run. Here elevation gain is a mere 95m as the flat four-loop 42.2 km (26.2 mile) HOKA run course leads along the banks of the river Main in the shadow of the imposing Frankfurt skyline. Again a superb one for spectator support!
8. Ocean Lava Poland
Location: Borówno, Poland
When: August
Head to Ocean Lava Poland for a race that won’t break the bank but will also keep beginner happy. The swim is a four-lap route in Lake Borówno, with water temperatures expected to be around a more-than-comfortable 20°C.
The bike course is relatively straightforward and again is four laps, between Borówno and the finish line at the Zawisza stadium in Bydgoszcz. The route is fast and relatively flat, with one significant incline (approximately 8%) which isn’t our preference for a beginner race, but just bear in mind that you will need to save your legs four times for that hill and not go out too hard on the flats!
Finally the run route (again four laps for the full distance) has a mere 38m of elevation and takes you around local parkland.
8.UK Ultimate Triathlon
Location: Whitchurch, Shropshire
When: June
When our writer Matt Baird needed a beginner-friendly, welcoming and affordable iron-distance triathlon for his first full distanfe event back in 2018, the UK Ultimate Triathlon in Whitchurch, Shropshire was his pick.
For beginners, the logistics are a big sell, with registration, T1, T2 and the finish line all at the same venue, which has plenty of cheap parking. While this may seem like a little thing, the more you can make your day easier (and registration/bike racking) the more smoothly your day will go!
The course keeps things supporter-friendly with a four-lap lake swim, reasonably-flat four-lap bike course and six-lap run. It is worth pointing out though that the longest distance here now is the ‘Ultimate 150’ which includes distances slightly different to the traditional iron-format, which is why this race bags the final spot in our list despite being beginner and budget-friendly.
Featuring a 3km open-water swim, a 117km cycle through sweeping countryside roads, and a 30km run to the finish – meaning you’ll do 150km rather than the usual 226km… So let’s call this a half-way house between a 70.3 and a full iron-distance race. Perfect if you’re not quite ready for the big one yet!
Read more
- How to pace your first Ironman
- Ironman: Are you ready for your long-distance triathlon?
- Ironman-distance triathlons: 10 of the cheapest
- Free Ironman training plans
Matt Baird
Editor of Cycling Plus magazine With contributions from
