IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz
Course breakdown, historical weather, and field analysis.
Basque Country endurance — a full-distance classic in northern Spain
Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain · July 12, 2026
IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz in the Basque Country is one of Europe's most established full-distance IRONMAN events. A lake swim, a challenging rolling bike through the Basque countryside, and a city marathon. The Basque passion for sport creates an atmosphere that makes this one of the most-loved races on the European circuit.
- Swim
- 3.8 km
- Lake
- Bike
- 180.2 km
- ↑1051m · Rolling
- Run
- 42.5 km
- ↑83m · Flat
- Air Temp
- 9–27°C
- Water Temp
- 17°C
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- E
Swim Course
Lake swim in the Basque Country
The swim takes place in a reservoir near Vitoria-Gasteiz. The freshwater conditions are calm and controlled. Water temperatures in mid-July are warm enough for comfortable racing. The mountain backdrop of the Basque Country provides a scenic start to the day.
- Calm freshwater reservoir swim
- Basque mountain backdrop
- Comfortable water temperatures in mid-July
- Protected conditions
Bike Course
Rolling Basque roads with real climbing
The 180 km bike course heads through the rolling Basque countryside. Northern Spain is not flat — the course features significant climbing through green, hilly terrain that is distinctive to the Basque Country. The roads are good and the scenery is beautiful — a mix of mountains, valleys, and traditional Basque villages. This is a demanding bike course that rewards climbing ability.
- Significant climbing through Basque Country hills
- Green, mountainous terrain — distinctly Basque
- Good road surfaces on well-maintained Spanish roads
- Demanding course that tests climbing fitness
Run Course
City marathon in Vitoria-Gasteiz
The marathon takes athletes through Vitoria-Gasteiz — the Basque Country's capital and European Green Capital. The course runs through the city's parks, old town, and surrounding areas. Basque sporting passion translates into exceptional crowd support. The terrain is relatively flat through the city, providing some relief after the hilly bike.
- Basque sporting passion — exceptional crowd support
- European Green Capital — parks and green spaces
- Relatively flat city running after a hilly bike
- Vibrant Basque atmosphere
Race Day Conditions
Northern Spanish summer — warm but not extreme
Mid-July in the Basque Country offers warm summer conditions without the extreme heat of southern Spain. Air temperatures range from 16–28°C with moderate humidity. The Basque climate is influenced by the Cantabrian Sea to the north, providing a more temperate environment than Mediterranean Spain.
Race Field Insights
How the Field Performs
Aggregated from 5,982 finishers (2021–2025)
- Total Starters
- 6,797
- Finishers
- 5,982
- DNF Rate
- 11.4%
- Years of Data
- 2021–2025
- Median Finish
- 11h 24m
Finish Time Distribution
How the Median Finisher Spends Race Day
What Each Pace Looks Like
Fast | Solid | Median | Back of Pack | Slow (P90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swim | 1h 01m | 1h 06m | 1h 13m | 1h 21m | 1h 29m |
| Bike | 4h 58m | 5h 18m | 5h 42m | 6h 12m | 6h 42m |
| Run | 3h 27m | 3h 48m | 4h 19m | 4h 55m | 5h 31m |
| Finish | 9h 36m | 10h 23m | 11h 24m | 12h 36m | 13h 42m |
Related reading
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Read postWhy Most Triathletes Blow Up on the Run (And It Has Nothing to Do with Running)
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Read postPlan IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz with Keiro
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Independent analysis. KeiroLabs is not the event organizer and is not affiliated with the race organizer.