Barcelona's Triathlon to include Middle Distance competition, first in history

The Challenge Barcelona Thriathlon 2025 will see a historic change as, for the first time, it will include a Middle Distance competition.

The event, scheduled for October 26, will allow athletes to "face a high-performance challenge in an exceptional stage," a statement from the city council reads. The middle distance comes after many athletes "are looking for more challenging competitions in an urban but seaside landscape."

Barcelona's councilor for sports, David Escudé, celebrated the historic event, stating that "Barcelona will host a medium-distance triathlon, " a change that will "mark a new era."

The Middle Distance Triathlon competition will start with a 1,900-meter swim in the Mar Bella beach, followed by 88 kilometers by bike from Barcelona to Mataró by the Maresme coastline, and finishing with a 21-kilometer run near Barcelona's shoreline.

Applications for the triathlon open online on Friday 23 at 10am with different prices for the first contestants. 

There will be 1,800 athletes in the Middle Distance competition. This will avoid drafting (when someone bikes behind another cyclist to avoid wind resistance) during the trial.

Meanwhile, there will be 1,000 athletes in the Sprint Distance and 100 for the Junior Challenge. The Junior Challenge allows children between 12 and 17 years old to take part in the Super Sprint competition in "a secure and professional" site.

Organizers have also announced 200 spots for the Aquathlon, and 400 for the Open Water competitions, which will be held on the morning of October 25. The Open Water competitions are one of the other new events scheduled for 2025.

The aquathlon will be a 750-meter swim followed by a 5-kilometer run. Meanwhile, there will be Open Water of a distance of 900 meters, and a second one of 800 meters.