Banyoles is set to become the centre of European multisport racing as the 2026 Europe Triathlon Multisport Championships arrive in Catalonia. Across an action-packed week, athletes from across the continent will battle for continental titles in Duathlon, Cross Triathlon, Cross Duathlon, Aquathlon and Middle Distance Triathlon.
With reigning champions returning, emerging stars stepping onto the international stage and home favourites eager to deliver in front of Spanish supporters, Banyoles promises another memorable edition of Europe's premier multisport festival.
Duathlon Championships
The championship programme gets underway on Saturday 11 July with the Elite, U23 and Junior Duathlon races before Age Group athletes take centre stage on Sunday in the Standard Distance Championships.
Belgium's Thibaut De Smet arrives as one of the form athletes of the season after a commanding victory at the Powerman Middle Distance Duathlon World Championships in Alsdorf. Crossing the line more than a minute clear of the field, De Smet has established himself as one of the favourites for the European title.
Joining him on the start line is fellow Belgian Arnaud Dely, who returns looking to reclaim the European crown he won in Coimbra in 2024. Dely has consistently proven himself among the continent's strongest duathletes and will be aiming to add another European title to his growing résumé.
France's Benjamin Choquert is another athlete who knows what it takes to win on Spanish roads. The experienced Frenchman claimed World Championship gold in Pontevedra last season and will be hoping to add a European title to his collection in Banyoles.
The Elite Women's race features a competitive field of 15 athletes led by Spain's María Varo Zubiri. After taking silver at last year's World Championships in Pontevedra, the Spaniard returns to international competition for the first time this season and will be hoping home support can inspire her to the top step of the podium.
Italy's Davide Menichelli enters the U23 race looking to bounce back after recording a DNF in Wels earlier this season, while Great Britain's Charlie Harding continues his encouraging campaign after securing a top-20 finish at the Europe Triathlon Cup in Holten.
Spain's Paco Martí Ballester faces one of the busiest schedules of the championships, lining up in both the Duathlon and Cross Triathlon events as he looks to make the most of competing on home soil.
Italy's Noemi Bogiatto will also contest multiple disciplines, racing in both the U23 Duathlon and Cross Duathlon Championships. The Italian enjoyed an outstanding 2025 season, winning the Europe Triathlon XTERRA Cross Triathlon Championships in Czechia, and will be aiming to continue that momentum in Banyoles.
The Junior Championships feature a field of 25 athletes, with Spain well represented across both races. Manuel Prada Viciano, Arcadi Sala Carbasse and Jonay Álvarez Almazán lead the home challenge in the men's event, while Julia Tenorio Albo, María Tenorio Albo and Alba Núñez Hernández will look to make home advantage count in the women's race.
Cross Triathlon Championships
Cross Triathlon brings another exciting programme to Banyoles, with technical mountain bike courses and demanding off-road running expected to provide plenty of drama.
The Elite Women's race includes one of the week's most intriguing storylines as Switzerland's Ladina Scherzinger makes her return to international competition for the first time since 2019.
Standing in the way is reigning World Champion Alizée Patiés of France. One of the sport's most accomplished off-road athletes, Patiés arrives as the rider to beat and will be joined by compatriots Emma Ducreux and Pauline Landron as France looks to continue its recent success in Cross Triathlon.
Italy's Marta Menditto returns after claiming silver at last year's European Championships in Prachatice. The Italian already boasts world titles in both Cross Triathlon and Cross Duathlon after a remarkable performance in Townsville in 2024 and will once again be among the favourites.
Belgium's Dieske Kruisselbrink also enters the championships in good form after securing bronze at this year's Powerman Middle Distance Duathlon World Championships in Alsdorf.
Spain's Kevin Tarek Viñuela González has already enjoyed a packed international schedule this season, racing in Huatulco, Torremolinos, Monte Gordo and Quarteira before returning home to compete in Banyoles. Alongside fellow Spaniard Vicente Hernández, he will be aiming to challenge for medals with home support behind him.
The host nation also boasts an impressive U23 squad featuring Eneko De Castro Cativiela, Alejandro Pla Estébanez, Paco Martí Ballester and Roberto Almansa Bauzá. Pla Estébanez heads into the championships after winning silver at the Africa Triathlon Premium Cup in Larache and will be hoping to carry that form into European competition.
Belgium's Louka Dumont enjoyed an outstanding 2025 campaign, claiming the Junior Cross Triathlon world title before adding silver in the Cross Duathlon. Now moving into the U23 ranks, he will be looking to make an immediate impact against older competition.
Great Britain's Mia Padmanabhan also returns to Cross Triathlon after winning bronze at last year's World Championships in Pontevedra. Having improved significantly from seventh place at the 2023 Europe Triathlon Duathlon Championships in Rumia, she arrives in Banyoles looking to continue that upward trajectory. Padmanabhan is also scheduled to compete in the Cross Duathlon later in the week.
Twenty-four Junior athletes complete the Cross Triathlon programme, with Spain fielding the largest team of eight competitors. For many athletes, Banyoles will provide their first taste of Europe Triathlon competition, including Great Britain's Euan Murphy, Italy's Luca Iannetti and Hungary's András Pongrácz, all of whom begin their international careers in Banyoles
Cross Duathlon Championships
The Cross Duathlon championships promise another fiercely competitive day of racing, with experienced off-road specialists joined by a number of rising talents eager to make their mark on the European stage.
Great Britain's Jonathan Barnes headlines the Elite Men's field. The 2022 Cross Duathlon World Champion returns in search of another major international title and will be one of the athletes to watch on the demanding Banyoles course.
France arrives with a strong contingent led by Marin Gautier, who enjoyed an impressive World Championship campaign last season. Gautier finished seventh in the Cross Duathlon before claiming Cross Triathlon gold during the same championship weekend. He will be joined by Arthur Forissier, Pierre Siméon and Corentin Lefer as France targets another podium finish.
Belgium fields the largest squad in the Elite Men's race with five athletes, underlining the nation's growing strength in off-road multisport racing.
Austria's Carina Wasle returns after winning bronze at last year's European Cross Duathlon Championships in Prachatice. The experienced Austrian has already added another international title to her collection this year after claiming victory at the Winter Triathlon World Championships and will be looking to continue that winning form in Banyoles.
Spain's María del Pilar Arias Nieto also enters with confidence after taking silver at the Spanish National Cross Duathlon Championships last season. Racing on home soil, she will be hoping to translate that domestic success into a continental medal.
The U23 men's race features Poland's Jan Chrzanowski as the nation's sole representative in the category, while Italy's Manuel Cossu and Alberto Ferrero renew a rivalry that has developed on the national circuit. The pair raced each other at the Italian Cross Triathlon Championships last year and will once again go head-to-head as they chase European honours.
Among the U23 women, Kyra Brouwer of the Netherlands continues her development on the international stage. A two-time bronze medallist at the Dutch National Cross Duathlon Championships, Brouwer will be looking to improve on her previous European Championship experience after recording a DNF in Coimbra in 2024. Like several athletes in Banyoles, she will compete across multiple disciplines, also lining up in the Cross Triathlon.
Aquathlon Championships
Fast, explosive racing awaits in the Aquathlon Championships, where swimming and running specialists will battle for continental honours.
Spain's Kevin Tarek Viñuela González returns as the defending champion after claiming gold in Navarra-Pamplona last year. Racing in front of a home crowd once again, he will be aiming to retain his European title despite a demanding week that also includes the Cross Triathlon Championships.
Great Britain's Ben Rawlins also returns after finishing seventh in last year's championship and will be hoping to move further up the standings this time around.
The women's race will crown a new European champion following the absence of defending gold medallist Zuzana Michalickova. That leaves Spain's Gemma Valentina Llabrés Busch as the only returning medallist from the 2025 championship.
Llabrés Busch secured bronze in Navarra-Pamplona and now has the opportunity to build on that performance in front of home supporters as she targets another place on the podium.
One of the most exciting names on the start list is U23 World Champion Christina Durbin. After an impressive performance in Pontevedra, where she finished less than a minute behind the Elite winner, Durbin has demonstrated that she can challenge at the highest level. Competing in both the Elite and U23 categories, she will be one of the athletes to watch throughout the championships.
The Junior Aquathlon programme also promises exciting racing, with 21 athletes contesting the men's title and 16 lining up in the women's event. For many competitors, Banyoles represents an important milestone as they make their Europe Triathlon Championship debut.
Middle Distance Championships
The final championship of the week sees athletes tackle the demanding Middle Distance Triathlon course around Banyoles, bringing the curtain down on an unforgettable week of multisport racing.
Spain's Guillem Montiel Moreno returns as defending champion after producing a commanding performance in Navarra-Pamplona last season. Crossing the finish line more than a minute clear of Serbia's Ognjen Stojanović, Montiel Moreno will be hoping to successfully defend his title on home soil and give Spanish supporters another reason to celebrate.
Stojanović also returns looking for redemption. The Serbian has enjoyed another consistent campaign, including a strong showing at the Balkan Championships in Ohrid, and will be determined to reverse last year's result.
Bronze medallist Fernando Zorrilla Medrano completes the list of returning men's medallists and will be aiming to step further up the podium after another year of international racing.
The Elite Women's race will also see a new champion crowned following the absence of Marta Łagownik. The Polish athlete dominated last year's championship, winning by almost six minutes before going on to finish third in Almere later in the season.
With the defending champion absent, Italy's Marta Bernardi moves into the spotlight. Runner-up in Navarra-Pamplona twelve months ago, Bernardi now has an excellent opportunity to convert silver into gold and add a European title to her impressive career.
As the final medals are decided, the Middle Distance Championships will provide a fitting conclusion to a week that showcases the very best of European multisport racing. From established champions defending their crowns to emerging talents making their championship debuts, Banyoles is set to deliver five days of outstanding competition across every discipline.
In addition to the Elite and Junior races there will be a number of para-athletes taking part in the championships with over 40 athletes competing across the week.
Age group racing also will be a focus of the weekend with over 2500 athletes competing across the week in Banyoles.
All races can be found here with race information, timings and results.