The Sport · Multisport
Duathlon
Run, bike, run — on road or off it. No wetsuit required, no mercy given.
The standard distance
10km
First run
40km
Bike
5km
Second run
The World Championship format since 1994. Sprint duathlon: 5 km run, 20 km bike, 2.5 km run.
What is duathlon?
Duathlon is a continuous run–bike–run race: a first run, a single longer cycling leg, and a second, shorter run. With no swim, it is one of the most accessible entry points into multisport racing — and it is raced from junior and age-group level all the way to elite world championships.
Prefer dirt to tarmac? Cross duathlon takes the same format off-road, swapping the road bike for a mountain bike and the run for trails.
Swap the swim for a second run
Duathlon replaces triathlon's swim with an opening run: the World Championships are raced over a 10 km run, 40 km draft-legal bike and a closing 5 km run. Spring and autumn racing keeps duathlon clear of the summer triathlon season - perfect for specialists, and for triathletes sharpening run speed and bike power.
Ways to race duathlon
5 km run · 20 km bike · 2.5 km run. Short, sharp and the perfect first duathlon.
No swim, no excuses
Duathlon strips multisport back to running and riding — no open water, no wetsuit, no excuses. That makes it the natural first step into World Triathlon racing for runners and cyclists alike, and a fierce specialist discipline in its own right, where the second run decides everything.
Three decades of world titles
The Duathlon World Championships have run annually since 1990, when American pioneer Kenny Souza won the first men's title in Cathedral City, California. Since 2017 the titles have been decided at the World Triathlon Multisport Championships — from Penticton to Fyn, Pontevedra, Targu Mures and Townsville.
Next up: duathlon and cross duathlon at Abu Dhabi 2026.
Latest news
World Triathlon Hosts Second Members Open Hours of 2026
French Duathlon powerhouse Legrand and Blondel-Hermant claim the 2x2 Duathlon Mixed Relay World Championships in Pontevedra
Benjamin Choquert defies age to win his second Duathlon World Title
Giorgia Priarone clinches thrilling victory at the 2025 Duathlon World Championships in Pontevedra
Upcoming events
Photo galleries
Latest videos
HIGHLIGHTS - WOMEN'S 2025 DUATHLON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS PONTEVEDRA
HIGHLIGHTS - MEN'S 2025 DUATHLON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS PONTEVEDRA
Why you shouldn't miss the World Triathlon Multisport Championships Pontevedra
Race Highlights | 2024 World Duathlon Championships | Elite & U23 Women's Race
Where to watch
Stream World Triathlon championship racing live and on demand with TriathlonLIVE, and catch international television coverage produced with Infront across the world's biggest sports broadcasters.
Frequently asked questions
A continuous run–bike–run race — two runs with a longer bike leg in between, and no swim.
Sprint: 5 km run, 20 km bike, 2.5 km run. Standard: 10 km run, 40 km bike, 5 km run — the World Championship distance since 1994.
The off-road version: run–mountain bike–run over trails and rough terrain, with its own world championship raced alongside cross triathlon.
In 1990, in Cathedral City (Palm Springs area), USA.
A 2×2 team format — one man and one woman per team, each racing twice. The first world titles were awarded at Targu Mures, Romania in 2022.
Since 2017 duathlon's world titles have been decided at the annual World Triathlon Multisport Championships — Penticton 2017, Fyn 2018, Pontevedra 2019, Targu Mures 2022, Townsville 2024, Pontevedra 2025 and Abu Dhabi 2026.
Run. Ride. Repeat.
Find a duathlon start line near you — on road or trail.