Lanzarote brings back middle-distance triathlon in 2027

Plan your race pace

Middle-distance triathlon returns to Lanzarote on April 24, 2027, with the start at Club La Santa in the municipality of Tinajo. The event will cover 1.9 kilometres of swimming, 90 kilometres of cycling and 21.1 kilometres of running, restoring a distance that had disappeared from the sports complex’s calendar in 2023.

The new event joins the Volcano Triathlon legacy, but it will have its own date and a course distinct from the Olympic-distance format. The swim will take place in a saltwater lagoon, followed by a single-loop cycling course across Lanzarote and three running laps to finish. The race is scheduled for 7:40 a.m., according to the available event information, although full operational details will need confirmation in the athlete guide.

A new date on Lanzarote’s calendar

The return of the middle distance expands the island’s spring triathlon schedule. In 2027, the traditional Volcano Triathlon and its sprint option are scheduled for March, while the middle-distance event will take place five weeks later, on April 24. The separation gives each event its own place and avoids confusion over distances and demands.

The organisers describe this edition as a new chapter in a historic competition. For athletes who have already taken part in the Volcano, Club La Santa and Lanzarote’s scenery will feel familiar. For newcomers, the format means facing a prolonged effort across three disciplines in a single day, from the swim to the final half marathon.

The April 24, 2027, date appears in the event information provided and is also associated with the race in the official timing system’s listing. The published start time is 7:40 a.m. The schedule and start procedure should be read alongside the final race instructions, particularly because cut-off times are calculated from each athlete’s individual start and not necessarily from one mass start.

Distances and course: three distinct stages

The day begins with a 1.9-kilometre swim in the saltwater lagoon beside Club La Santa. The course will be marked, and water temperatures in April are typically around 19.5 degrees Celsius. That estimate gives a sense of conditions, but it does not determine whether wetsuits will be allowed: the decision will depend on the official race-day water temperature and the applicable rules.

The cycling stage covers 90 kilometres in a single loop. The route crosses Lanzarote’s volcanic terrain and requires athletes to manage their effort over considerably more than a coastal ride. Wind exposure can affect speed and energy use, even when the road appears favourable. The intermediate cut-off is set at kilometre 62.5 in Los Valles at 12:22 p.m.; the final limit for the segment is six hours after each individual start.

The final stage consists of 21.1 kilometres of running, divided into three laps from Club La Santa along the coast of La Santa to Las Betancoras. The route makes it possible to assess effort in sections, but accumulated fatigue from swimming and cycling turns each lap into a test of pacing and concentration. The intermediate cut-off is at 3:25 p.m., after 10.5 kilometres, and the finish-line limit is eight hours and 30 minutes after each individual start.

These cut-off times are not merely rough guidelines: they determine how long athletes may continue in each segment. In the water, the limit is one hour and 10 minutes from each athlete’s start. Cycling and running also have published intermediate and final limits, so the actual time available depends on when each participant begins. The official guide will need to explain how these limits work with the start procedure.

Registration, categories and minimum age

Information checked on October 11, 2026, indicated that registration had not yet opened and that the organisers were announcing an upcoming opening for 2027 without naming a specific day. No final entry fee or published field limit was available either. Preliminary figures loaded into the registration system should not be treated as current prices while the form remains closed; therefore, the entry cost has not been confirmed.

The event offers individual entry and men’s, women’s and mixed relays. Age-group categories advance in five-year bands, from 18-24 through 75-79. The minimum age is 18 by December 31, 2027, a rule applied at the end of the year rather than solely on race day.

A professional category is also planned, with demanding performance benchmarks: under 4 hours and 40 minutes for men and under 5 hours and 15 minutes for women. The reference material does not provide any additional qualification procedure, so interested athletes should follow the conditions published when registration opens. The price, participant limit and entry rules still require official confirmation.

Rules and cut-offs that shape the race

The event follows the International Triathlon Union’s competition rules. Each participant must collect their race number in person and show photo identification or a passport. The torso must remain covered in all three disciplines, while cyclists must obey traffic rules and keep to the right to allow safe overtaking. Drafting, or using another cyclist’s slipstream, is not permitted.

Swimmers must wear the cap supplied by the organisers, with the number visible on the side. Final wetsuit permission depends on the official water reading and current regulations. On the bike, the race number must be clearly visible on the back, alongside the specified stickers for the frame and helmet; during the run, the number is worn on the front of the racing kit.

The transition area has its own requirements. If a race official shows an athlete a blue card, the athlete must stop in the designated penalty box. In relays, the timing chip serves as the baton: it is worn on the left ankle and exchanged in the transition zone after the incoming athlete has crossed the timing mats. The chip handover marks the change between teammates and must not take place before that check-in.

Relay athletes must follow the general rules as well as the instructions for exchanges. Each member must attach the chip before starting their discipline at the team’s designated spot. According to the available information, the athlete guide will be published later and should bring together final instructions on race-number collection, transitions, road use and race procedures.

What entry includes and the announced prizes

The entry includes race organisation, traffic management and volunteer support, as well as aid stations along the course. A participant T-shirt and backpack, timing and results, first aid and accident insurance included in the entry fee are also planned, with the insurance provided through Mutuacat, according to the information supplied by the organisers.

Finishers will receive a medal and finisher patch. Relaxation massages will be available in the finish area, provided by students from a massage therapy school and offered on a first-come basis. They are not presented as clinical treatment: for therapeutic treatment, the stated recommendation is to consult a properly qualified physiotherapist.

Cash prizes are reserved for the PRO category. The published scale provides 5,000 euros for first place, 2,750 for second, 1,750 for third, 1,250 for fourth, 1,000 for fifth and 750 for sixth, for both men and women. Local taxes and bank fees will be deducted, and attendance at the awards ceremony, scheduled from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., is compulsory to claim a prize.

Trophies are also planned for the top three in each age group, the top six PRO finishers, the first participant born in Lanzarote and the first Canary Islands resident. The latter will also receive a 50% discount on the following year’s entry. In relays, every member of a finishing team will receive a medal and patch, with trophies for the winning men’s, women’s and mixed teams.

Lanzarote, the wind and travel planning

The island offers a setting quite unlike an urban course. Volcanic scenery, open stretches and changes in terrain are part of the experience, but wind can be a decisive factor over the 90-kilometre bike leg. A very deep-section wheel may be less stable in strong gusts; the race information advises against rims deeper than 50 millimetres to improve control.

Lanzarote’s temperatures make it possible to compete throughout much of the year, but sun and prolonged exposure make hydration and sun protection important. The guidance recommends SPF 50 sunscreen, sunglasses that guard against both glare and wind, and two bottles, particularly in areas far from towns. Front and rear lights improve visibility on the road when riding very early or before dusk.

The north of the island has more mountainous terrain, with climbs such as Tabayesco, Mirador del Río and Los Valles. In the centre are vineyards, wineries and flatter sections, including La Geria, Tinguatón and Tinajo; the south offers a different landscape around Timanfaya National Park. These places help illustrate the variety of the island’s terrain, but they do not replace the official course map, which should be checked once the final race documents are released.

Club La Santa is in Tinajo, and the usual airport for visitors to Lanzarote is Arrecife. Event information mentions car and bicycle rental through local providers, along with accommodation and sports facilities at the complex, but the reference material does not confirm prices or availability for race dates. Anyone who needs to transport or hire a bike should check terms, models and bookings directly with the providers identified by the organisers.

A middle-distance event with its own identity

The new event brings middle-distance racing back to Lanzarote and expands the Volcano Triathlon calendar. Its combination of lagoon, roads and coastal running brings together three settings that require different approaches to pacing, nutrition and focus: from relatively sheltered salt water to exposed cycling, and then to a run that begins after hours of accumulated effort.

The date, municipality, distances and main rules provide a solid foundation for understanding the event. However, registration opening, the final price, field limit and athlete guide were still pending in the information reviewed. Confirmation of those details will be essential for participants assessing costs, timing and logistics for a triathlon that marks the return of middle-distance racing to Lanzarote.