Historic City of Versailles and Château de Versailles Confirmed as Newest French Host of IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon

VERSAILLES, France. / TAMPA, Fa. / LONDON, UK. (06 Feb 2026) - IRONMAN, the global leader in middle and long-distance triathlon, today announced that the historic city of Versailles will serve as the newest host of an IRONMAN® 70.3® triathlon in France. Home to Château de Versailles (Palace of Versailles), one of the world's most famous royal residences, the city provides a spectacular and culturally rich backdrop for the event.

Château de Versailles is one of the most visited attractions in France welcoming 8.2 million visitors annually. Renowned for the Hall of Mirrors and its meticulously designed geometric gardens, the Palace exemplifies the grandeur of French Baroque architecture and royal luxury. Together, these elements stand as symbols of French art de vivre and the nation's long-standing pursuit of excellence in art, design, and refinement.

Athletes will embark on this extraordinary journey, beginning with a truly iconic swim in the historic 'Pièce d'eau des Suisses' ('The Pond of the Swiss') - a vast 13-hectare basin dug between 1679 and 1682 by a regiment of Swiss Guards - with the majestic Palace of Versailles as their backdrop. The one-loop rolling bike course will take athletes through the City of Versailles and the surrounding areas, including the picturesque villages of the Chevreuse Valley. For the run portion, athletes will return to the Pièce d'eau des Suisses and travel through the Potager du Roi ('King's Kitchen Garden') famously created for King Louis XIV to be served the most exquisite fruit and vegetables, before running along the storied streets of Versailles, culminating with a spectacular finish on the 'Avenue de Paris' ('Paris avenue'), directly in front of the Palace.

Versailles, which is situated 15-minutes by train from capital city, Paris, is set to be popular with local Parisians along with international athletes wanting to race at a standout location. With average temperatures of around 25°C in July, the race will also offer favourable conditions.

The 2026 French IRONMAN® and IRONMAN 70.3 season showcases some of the country's most iconic destinations, having become one of the most popular countries in the world for athletes to race. The season kicks off with IRONMAN 70.3 Aix-en-Provence triathlon on 17 May and is then followed by the new IRONMAN Tours Metropole-Loire Valley triathlon on 14 June. Three consecutive race weekends will kick off with IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 Nice. The following weekend, IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d'OlonneVendée triathlon returns to the popular seaside resort after being held as a fulldistance IRONMAN race in 2025. The series then continues with the newest addition to the calendar, IRONMAN 70.3 Versailles triathlon, taking place in midJuly. The French race season will finish on 23 August with the IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy and the return of IRONMAN Vichy triathlons, before the eyes of the triathlon world once again turn to Nice for the 2026 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship on 12 and 13 September.

The jam-packed French season is testament to the growth of triathlon in France. As one of the fastest growing markets, France recently overtook Germany as the second largest triathlon market in Europe. Last year, around 14,500 French athletes registered to race an IRONMAN or an IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon - a 25% increase on 2024. For the first time in history, by the end of 2025, all of the 2026 IRONMAN & IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon races were sold out for the French region.

Thibault Vellard, Regional Director of the South-West & Middle-East said: "We have long had our sights set on Versailles as a host venue, with its proximity to Paris combined with its unique heritage and breathtaking setting, meeting our ambition to deliver premier experiences for our athletes. We have a strong legacy of racing in the south and west of France and we are excited to finally give our athletes the opportunity to race near Paris in such an iconic destination like Versailles. I would like to thank the City and the Château de Versailles for their collaboration, we are all really excited about this new race. Triathlon in France is at a really exciting place at the moment, and with all of our races for the 2026 season already sold out, we encourage athletes to act fast if they plan on being part of this extraordinary new race," he added.

IRONMAN Europe, Middle East and Africa Managing Director, Thomas Veje Olsen said: "In recent years the appetite for triathlon racing in France has grown tremendously with France already home to some of the most beautiful and challenging race destinations globally. Adding a presence in one of the world's most iconic destinations in Versailles is truly exciting for us as organisers and will be an incredibly special experience for our athletes."

"Demand for IRONMAN 70.3 races in Europe is at an all-time high with 26 IRONMAN 70.3 events for this season already sold out, including all spring races. The addition of IRONMAN 70.3 Versailles is welcome news for athletes who thought they had missed the opportunity to race in Europe this summer. We are anticipating a lot of excitement around Versailles, especially amongst first-timers, those looking to add an extra reason to their season, and athletes preparing for an IRONMAN race later in the year," he added.

A spokesperson for the City of Versailles said: "The City of Versailles is delighted to welcome this IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon. The event will showcase, to a global audience, some of the most iconic landmarks of Versailles: its Château, the Pièce d'Eau des Suisses, the Potager du Roi, the Avenue de Paris, and its historic districts. This exceptional urban and landscaped heritage, shaped by Louis XIV and André Le Nôtre, is unique in the world and has inspired cities such as Washington and Saint Petersburg. Even today, it remains a model for addressing a major contemporary urban challenge: restoring nature to the heart of the city. A modern and sport-oriented city, Versailles is home to 62 sports clubs and more than 15,000 registered athletes."

Christophe Leribault, president of château de Versailles said: "Today, the Château de Versailles enjoys exceptional renown, thanks to the enhancement of its historical and living heritage, and to the prominent place given to creation and the performing arts. Dozens of expert craftsmen and dedicated employees ply their trades to maintain the monumental Estate. I am delighted that Versailles is the iconic setting for the IRONMAN 70.3 race. This demanding event will push each athlete to their limits, inspiring them to give their very best. This same commitment is shared by our teams every day."

General registration will open on 12 February 2026 here: https://www.ironman.com/races/im703-versailles

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About The IRONMAN Group
The IRONMAN Group is the world's largest operator of participation sports with a portfolio of brands, events, media, partners, merchandise, and digital platforms operating in over 50 countries worldwide. A global portfolio consisting of hundreds of events includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150® Triathlon Series, IRONKIDS®, premier running events including the Rock 'n' Roll® Running Series, and City2Surf®, the UTMB® World Series of trail running, the Epic Series™ of mountain biking including the Absa Cape Epic®, and a collection of road cycling and other multisport races. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in 1978, millions of athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. From its beginnings as a single race among friends in Hawai'i, The IRONMAN Group has become a global sensation and collection of high-growth lifestyle brands that inspire people to unlock their potential in life. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.

About Versailles
Located in the Yvelines department, Versailles is the central city of a dynamic urban area in the heart of the Île-de-France region. Renowned worldwide, it owes its international reputation to an exceptional heritage dominated by the famous Château of Versailles and its listed gardens, outstanding symbols of French art and craftsmanship. The city benefits from a strategic location in the immediate vicinity of Paris, giving it strong national and international connectivity. Versailles is also admired for the remarkable quality of its urban planning: carefully preserved historic districts, grand avenues laid out during the Ancien Régime, harmonious squares, and vast green spaces. This rich heritage is complemented by a vibrant cultural life, supported by its museums, theatres, and renowned institutions. As a major tourist destination, Versailles welcomes several million visitors each year, further enhancing its attractiveness and influence well beyond its borders. With strong infrastructure and 62 sports clubs representing more than 15,000 registered athletes, the City of Versailles hosted events during the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Château de Versailles
The Palace of Versailles, a famous world heritage site listed by UNESCO since 1979, is at the same time a royal residence, a museum of the history of France created by Louis-Philippe and a national palace that has played host to the French Parliament in Congress. Besides its three historic residences - the Palace, the Grand Trianon and the Petit Trianon - the estate of Versailles boasts a large Baroque garden designed by André Le Nôtre with groves and fountains, the gardens of Trianon and Marie-Antoinette's Hamlet, a wooded park located beyond the Grand Canal. Stretching out over more than 800 hectares, the estate of Versailles welcomes over 8 million French and foreign visitors each year who all come to admire the collections composed of over 60,000 works. The former royal residence is a textbook in its own right of the history of France from the 17th century to the present day. Forever anchored in the present thanks to the importance it places on creation (programme of shows, contemporary art exhibitions, promoting artistic craftsmen and women etc.), the Palace of Versailles's reputation continues to spread across the world.