An edition marked by strong symbolic value and deep emotion: before the race start, a minute of silence was observed in memory of Alex Zanardi, who had passed away just hours earlier. An icon of sport and a universal example of strength and resilience, Zanardi remains an undisputed champion, both in the IRONMAN world and across the Olympic movement.

The IRONMAN 70.3 Venice-Jesolo delivered a spectacular day of racing on Sunday, May 3, 2026. With 2818 registered athletes and the ideal meteorological conditions, the stage was set for an exciting race. The starting signal was given at 7:15, at Lido di Jesolo’s Lighthouse Beach, after the national anthem and a moment of silence in the memory of Alessandro Zanardi. Then, the athletes took on the challenge across swim, bike, and run in one of Italy’s most scenic endurance events.

In the men’s field, the local athlete Marco Lorenzon, from Jesolo Triathlon, took the win at home, with a mark of 03:45:35, while Melanie Altenbeck-Zorn, from Germany secured the women’s title in 04:30:27, following outstanding performances across all three disciplines.

This year’s edition stands out for its strong international appeal, with 73% of participants travelling from abroad, and a diverse field representing a wide range of ages, experience levels, and motivations.

The race continues to reflect the global growth of triathlon and the increasing accessibility of the sport with 46% of first-timers. Also, 19% of participants are women, highlighting continued progress in female participaton.

The average age is 39, following a tendency of younger athletes showing more interest in IRONMAN 70.3 races. The youngest athlete is 18 and the oldest is 78, highlighting that IRONMAN races are suitable for athletes of all ages.

A remarkable race course

With a course that connects Jesolo, Cavallino, Eraclea and the Venetian lagoon, the event delivers a unique blend of speed and beauty, reinforcing its position as one of the most attractive races on the European IRONMAN circuit, with the fastest course in Europe.

Athletes took on a scenic IRONMAN 70.3 race, marked by the presence of the sea. The athletes began with a 1.9 km swim in the Adriatic waters, then undertook 90 km of bike through the fast, flat roads across the coastline. The Venetian lagoon and its landscape surrounded the athletes before reaching Cavallino. Coming back to Jesolo, the athletes reached Cortellazzo and its unforgettable bridge of boats and up to the municipality of Eraclea which is characterized by the gorgeous picture-perfect canals. Athletes then rode back to Jesolo to begin the 21.1 km run along Jesolo’s vibrant seafront. The finish line was set at the Lighthouse beach, where the athletes celebrated their achievement.

The event offers qualifying slots for IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice. After the race, it took place the Awards Ceremony and Slot Allocation, where the athletes could accept their slots to the World Championship.

From sunrise at the swim start. to the final finishers crossing the line, IRONMAN 70.3 Venice-Jesolo once again delivered an unforgettable experience for athletes and spectators alike.

At the conclusion of the event, Mayor Christofer De Zotti reaffirmed the importance of the race in terms of international visibility and tourism impact. “When we talk about events of this scale,” explained the mayor, “some inconvenience is inevitable. We are talking about an event that generated at least 30,000 visitors over the weekend, with an economic impact exceeding €5 million. Changing the date? That is not our decision — this is an international circuit. We aim to host the event during the best possible period in terms of attendance and image return.”

The event continues to grow as a key destination on the European triathlon calendar, combining world-class racing conditions with a unique Italian setting.