Everyone asks me the same thing after a race. Not “what was your time,” but “where should I go next?” I’m a plant-based age-grouper with Berkshire Tri Squad, coached by Nathalie Lawrence, with six Ironman finishes and well over a dozen halves on the legs. I’ve spent a lot of money and a lot of weekends working this out so you don’t have to.
The best 70.3 in Europe depends entirely on what you’re chasing. For sheer prestige, IRONMAN 70.3 Nice is tough to beat. For a UNESCO backdrop, Poreč in Croatia. For the hardest day of your life, Zell am See-Kaprun in the Austrian Alps. For a flat personal best, Les Sables d’Olonne.
Most 2027 dates weren’t officially confirmed when I wrote this, so I’ve listed the usual month for each race. Always check the official website before you book flights. For the full picture across both middle and full distance, see my Best Triathlon Races in Europe for 2027 guide.
Bucket-list races
Some races you enter for the finish time. These you enter for the story.
IRONMAN 70.3 Nice, France: the most iconic
If you race one European half in your life, this is the best. A Mediterranean swim off the Baie des Anges, a genuinely hilly bike into the Provençal backcountry, and a flat run along the Promenade des Anglais with deep crowds. Nice hosted the 70.3 World Championship in 2019 and again in 2026. Do not be fooled by the postcard—that bike course climbs.
IRONMAN 70.3 Versailles, France: the most spectacular venue
Swimming in the Grand Canal of the Palace of Versailles, then running through the royal gardens, is about as close as our sport gets to racing inside a painting. The 2026 debut sold out fast. This venue was built with money and centuries of history, and you get to race in it for the price of an entry. Watch the official site for the 2027 registration date. This one goes quickly.
Plava Laguna IRONMAN 70.3 Poreč, Croatia: the best UNESCO backdrop
Poreč sits on the Istrian coast and is home to the Euphrasian Basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997 and one of the finest surviving pieces of Byzantine art in the Adriatic. The race is the largest triathlon in Croatia and Southeast Europe, held late in the season on warm Adriatic waters. Sun, sea, sixth-century mosaics, and a half marathon.
The hardest middle distance in Europe
You read “brutal” and reach for your wallet.
IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun, Austria: the hardest mainstream 70.3
A crystal-clear lake swim under the Austrian Alps, then a bike course that treats “rolling” as a personal insult, followed by a run that gives your quads no mercy. IRONMAN itself calls it one of the circuit’s most demanding courses, and it regularly features as a pro series finale. If your idea of a good day involves elevation and suffering in equal measure, this is your race.
The old title of “hardest half in the world” belonged to IRONMAN 70.3 Andorra, which climbed over 2,000 metres from a lake at 1,600 metres of altitude. It no longer runs, so Zell am See-Kaprun inherits the crown among races you can still enter.
Fast and flat: built for a personal best
IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne, France: the fastest course
Widely reckoned to be the flattest and quickest 70.3 in France. The swim happens in the Vendée Globe sailing channel, the bike hugs a flat coastline, and the run gives you nowhere to hide and no excuses. If a shiny new PB is the goal, point the car here.
Outlaw Half Nottingham, UK: the best value personal best
You don’t need a foreign flight and an IRONMAN-sized invoice to race a cracking middle distance. A time-trial start at Regatta Lake in Holme Pierrepont, a flat and fast bike through the Nottinghamshire countryside, and that famous orange carpet at the finish. Individual or relay, welcoming to first-timers, and at a fraction of the price of branded events. British triathlon at its no-nonsense best.
The biggest and the most awarded
IRONMAN 70.3 Alcúdia-Mallorca, Spain: the biggest field
One of the largest 70.3 fields in Europe, with getting on for 3,000 finishers in recent years. A sea swim, fast roads through gorgeous Mallorcan scenery, and a flat run. It fills up months in advance, so enter early. Treat that as an instruction, not a suggestion.
Challenge Peguera-Mallorca, Spain: the award winner
A former Challenge Family Race of the Year, it earns the title. The bike winds up into the foothills of the UNESCO-listed Serra de Tramuntana; the run rolls along the promenade, and the whole thing doubles as the end-of-season party for European age-groupers. Fire dancers, festival atmosphere, and a genuinely tough but beautiful course.
Race the pros’ course
The Championship, Challenge Šamorín, Slovakia
Held at the X-Bionic Sphere, this is Challenge Family’s flagship professional race, complete with a serious prize purse and a world-class field. The draw for the rest of us is simple: you get to race the exact flat, fast course as the sport’s best athletes, on the same weekend. Bragging rights included.
The scenic and the Nordic
IRONMAN 70.3 Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland: the most scenic Swiss
A swim in Lake Zurich, a rolling bike through impossibly tidy Swiss countryside, and a finish through a medieval town. A Swiss institution since 2009 and one of the prettiest starts in the sport.
Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee, Austria: the most beautiful lake
A crystal-clear alpine lake swim in the Tyrol, ringed by mountains, with the warm community feel the Challenge circuit does well. Your race photos will look good.
IRONMAN 70.3 Elsinore, Denmark: the best Nordic race
You swim in the Øresund strait in full view of Kronborg Castle, the UNESCO-listed fortress that Shakespeare used as Hamlet’s Elsinore. Pair it with a Nordic full distance, and you’re eligible for the Viking of the North medal. History, cold, clean water, and a proper Scandinavian welcome.
The long-runners and the comeback
IRONMAN 70.3 Kraichgau, Germany: the longest-running
Running since 2004, Kraichgau predates the 70.3 brand and has one of Europe’s most loyal athlete communities. Reliable, beautifully organised, and a proper slice of European triathlon heritage. If you value a race that has ironed out every wrinkle over two decades, start here.
IRONMAN 70.3 St. Pölten, Austria: the comeback
The first-ever 70.3 hosted in Austria is back on the IRONMAN calendar for 2027 after a spell under a different banner. A scenic two-lake swim and a course rated among Europe’s most beautiful.
Season openers, city breaks and one glorious splurge
Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria, Spain: the best season opener
Typically, in mid-April, Europe shakes off winter. An Atlantic swim and hilly volcanic roads, with sunshine all but guaranteed. The ideal way to turn a dark British training block into an actual race.
IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia, Poland: the best value abroad
The Polish scene is booming, and Gdynia is a big part of it. A Baltic Sea swim, a fast coastal bike, and an entry fee that shames the Mediterranean equivalents. Genuinely excellent value for a well-run IRONMAN-branded race.
Cotswold 113, UK: the best first middle distance
If stepping up from Olympic distance feels daunting, this friendly, well-loved race in the Cotswolds is the gentle way in. Popular with first-timers and seasoned racers alike, and a lovely part of the world to spend a weekend. A confidence-builder before you go chasing the branded stuff abroad.
Challenge Barcelona, Spain: the best city break
A warm beach swim at Mar Bella, a flat coastal bike, and a promenade run, all in one of Europe’s greatest cities. Race on the Sunday, tapas and Gaudí for the rest of the trip. The ultimate late-season combination of sport and city break.
IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy, France: the best festival weekend
Vichy runs its 70.3 alongside the full distance on the same weekend, turning a spa town into a genuine triathlon festival. A river swim, rolling countryside, and enthusiastic French crowds. Bring the family and make a proper trip of it.
Challenge Forte Village, Italy: the splurge
If money is no object, southern Sardinia is where you spend it. A turquoise sea swim, a warm late-season course, and a luxury resort finish that makes every other race village look like a car park. Comfortably the priciest experience on this list.
How to pick your 2027 race
- Chasing a personal best? Les Sables d’Olonne, Alcúdia-Mallorca, or the Outlaw Half.
- After a bucket-list day? Nice, Versailles, or Poreč.
- Want to suffer for the tattoo? Zell am See-Kaprun.
- On a budget? Gdynia, Cotswold 113, or the Outlaw Half.
- Ending the season with a bang? Peguera, Barcelona, or Forte Village.
Still stuck? My triathlon matcher quiz narrows it down in minutes. You can also browse every event in my race directory. For a full distance, the best races in Europe for 2027 guide covers the lot, and there’s plenty of drama in my Challenge Roth race report.
As a plant-based athlete, I’m constantly asked whether fuelling a half on plants is a problem. It isn’t. I’ve written up what I learned about switching to a plant-based diet, if you’re curious.
The best races sell out faster every year. Pick your target now, set a calendar reminder for when entries open, and get your name on a start list before someone else does. Which of these is on your 2027 list? Let me know in the comments, especially if you’ve raced one and think I’ve got it wrong.
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