Köln Triathlon

There are moments you only get in Cologne: you swim with the current through the city center, the Old Town panorama and the cathedral on your left, and finally the Hohenzollern Bridge above you. For the Köln Triathlon, one side of the river is specially closed to shipping – and thousands of athletes swim right through the heart of the city, secured by DLRG boats. An opening leg that has earned this city triathlon its special reputation.

Whether you’re a triathlete, ambitious – or simply interested in sport: you’ll love the Köln Triathlon.

Three disciplines, Cologne as the race venue

Even after exiting the water, Cologne remains the backdrop for the annual triathlon with its sights and unique locations: the bike course leads over completely traffic-free roads, and the run crosses the Hohenzollern Bridge. The turnaround point: right by Cologne Cathedral. The finish is celebrated at the Tanzbrunnen in Rheinpark.

You can choose between middle distance, Olympic distance, and sprint; the swim courses are adapted to the current of the Rhine. On the middle and Olympic distances, you can also compete as a relay team. That means ambitious athletes and beginners alike will find the right race for them.

Join without a race number: cheer, browse, be amazed

Watching is free and well worth it: along the Rhine, you can follow the race up close – including goosebumps at the finish line. Around the event weekend, the Tri.EXPO also opens at the Tanzbrunnen, a trade fair dedicated to triathlon with equipment, nutrition tips, and all the information about the competitions.

Köln Triathlon: a Cologne sporting story since 1984

Triathlon has a long tradition in Cologne: as early as 1984, a European Championship was held at Lake Fühlingen. Today’s city-center edition of the Köln Triathlon, however, only premiered in 2022 – and has been growing year after year in terms of participant numbers.