Istanbul is ready. On the Asian shore Europe and Asia meet this weekend for a cross-continental championship that literally builds bridges—between continents, communities, and our sport. The park is dressed, the pontoon is in, and the Bosphorus is the star. We can’t wait to get this iconic show started.
The city warms up on Thursday and Friday with the Expo buzzing and race-pack collection in full swing, before the Parade of Nations lights the fuse on Friday night. Then it’s straight into a full weekend of racing, from Age Group heartbeats in the morning to elite fireworks in the afternoon—live on the Europe Triathlon YouTube channel and on TriathlonLive.
Saturday begins with the Age Group Sprint, a fast morning swim from Küçüksu, a single-lap ride over the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, and a punchy riverside run—thousands of personal stories setting the tone for the weekend. As the cheers roll across the park, the stage flips to the elites: the Europe Elite Women line up first with Jolien Vermeylen, Alice Betto, Selina Klamt, Diana Isakova, Bianca Seregni, Verena Steinhauser, Ilaria Zane, Zuzana Michalicková, Maria Tomé, and Miriam Casillas García on the start list. Vermeylen arrives chasing the double European title after winning the Sprint Championships in Melilla, and the promise is for an afternoon of aggressive, front-to-back racing—live on our channels. Later, the Asia Elite Men take over under the same skyline, and all signs point to another fast, tightly bunched showdown.
Sunday dawns with the marquee amateur test, the Age Group Standard: a point-to-point Bosphorus swim into Küçüksu, a single-lap bridge bike (draft-illegal), and a three-lap run to the tape. With Age Group finishers streaming through the park, the spotlight swings back to the pros as the Asia Elite Women race first—expect attacking swim packs and decisive moves on the long straights—before the Europe Elite Men bring the weekend home. On the European men’s start list: Gergely Kiss, Sebastian Wernersen, Max Stapley, Jack Willis, Maciej Bruzdziak, Alessio Crociani, Antonio Serrat Seoane, Euan De Nigro, and Tjebbe Kaindl. Crociani—fresh from victory in Melilla—arrives as one of the favourites, and this one promises to be an electrifying finale.
For your calendars: Saturday 30 August — 07:30 AG Sprint wave starts (Europe & Asia), 13:00 Europe Elite Women. Sunday 31 August — 06:30 AG Standard wave starts (Europe & Asia), 16:15 Europe Elite Men. Every elite moment will be live on the Europe Triathlon YouTube channel and on TriathlonLive.
A quick note for everyone racing: there’s no official bike or swim familiarisation for Age Group athletes; please respect the safety rules, including no solo Bosphorus swimming and no riding the bridge when it’s open to traffic. Expect warm late-summer conditions—hydrate, protect from the sun, and soak up the atmosphere.
Two continents, one course, and a weekend made for triathlon. Istanbul is ready—and so are we. Join us at Küçüksu, or watch along live on the Europe Triathlon YouTube channel and on TriathlonLive.