The Sport · Multisport
Long Distance Triathlon
Go long: up to seven hours of racing where pacing — not drafting — decides the day.
Typical championship distances
~3km
Open-water swim
~120km
Non-drafting bike
~30km
Run
Distances vary by edition — the inaugural 1994 championship in Nice was raced over 4 km / 120 km / 32 km.
What is long distance triathlon?
Long distance triathlon is a continuous swim–bike–run race held over distances between an Olympic-distance (standard) triathlon and an iron-distance race. Athletes need deep reserves of stamina and endurance — elite races can last up to seven hours.
One major difference from standard racing: elite athletes are not allowed to draft on the bike, so many of the discipline's best come from a strong cycling background.
The ultimate endurance test
Long-distance racing runs double or triple the standard distances, with elite races lasting up to seven hours - and no drafting on the bike, so strong cyclists thrive. Lionel Sanders, Lucy Charles-Barclay, Javier Gómez and Marjolaine Pierre are among the greats to have taken the world title.
A different kind of racing
With drafting banned, long distance racing is an individual time trial from the first pedal stroke — a discipline of pacing, fuelling and patience rather than pack tactics. It rewards the complete endurance athlete.
Alongside it sits Long Distance Aquabike — swim and bike, no run — with its own world titles contested at the World Triathlon Multisport Championships.
Since Nice 1994
The Long Distance World Championships began on 26 June 1994 in Nice, France — Rob Barel (Netherlands) and Isabelle Mouthon-Michellys (France) took the first titles, and Nice went on to host five editions.
Today the championships are part of the annual World Triathlon Multisport Championships: at Pontevedra 2025, Antonio Benito (Spain) and Marjolaine Pierre (France) each claimed a second world title. Next stop: Abu Dhabi 2026.
Latest news
Upcoming events
Photo galleries
2024 LONG DISTANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TOWNSVILLE
2021 World Triathlon Long Distance Championships Almere-Amsterdam
2022 World Triathlon Long Distance Championships Samorin
2023 Long Distance Triathlon World Championships Ibiza
Latest videos
DO IT FOR YOUR COUNTRY 🇪🇸 🙌 Antonio Benito Lopez has done it… AGAIN! Your Long Distance CHAMP 🥇
Race Highlights | 2024 World Long Distance Championships | Elite Men's Race
Race Highlights | 2024 World Long Distance Championships | Elite Women’s Race
2023 World Long Distance Triathlon Championships: Race Highlights
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 swim–bike–run race over distances between an Olympic-distance and an iron-distance triathlon, with elite races lasting up to seven hours.
Championship distances vary by edition; a typical recent format is around a 3 km swim, 120 km bike and 30 km run.
No — elite athletes may not draft on the bike, which favours athletes with a strong cycling background.
In 1994, with the first edition in Nice, France — won by Rob Barel (NED) and Isabelle Mouthon-Michellys (FRA).
As of the 2025 championships in Pontevedra: Antonio Benito (Spain) and Marjolaine Pierre (France).
A swim–bike discipline (no run) contested over long distances at the World Triathlon Multisport Championships.
How long can you go?
Find a long-course start line and test your endurance against the distance.