IRONMAN announced today that Marbella, Spain has secured the rights to host the 2025 VinFast IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championship triathlon. Marbella will follow Lahti, Finland who hosted last year’s event, and Taupo, New Zealand who will host the 2024 edition. Marbella will become the fourth city in Europe and the first in Spain to host the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship (Zell am See-Kaprun, Austria in 2015; Nice, France in 2019; Lahti, Finland in 2023). The 2025 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship race will continue with a two-day format that was first adopted in 2017, with the professional women and age-group women racing on Saturday, November 8 and the professional men and age-group men racing on Sunday, November 9, with over 6,000 athletes anticipated to hit the start line across the two days.
“Marbella, Spain joins an exclusive group of worldwide locations that have demonstrated a history of successfully hosting IRONMAN and/or IRONMAN 70.3 events, and offers the perfect backdrop for an exciting and memorable race week experience for athletes and their supporters” said Andrew Messick, President & Chief Executive Officer of The IRONMAN Group. “Marbella has consistently shown that it can offer a racing experience with a host venue worthy of a world championship event. Steeped in culture, and a well-reputed holiday destination, Marbella is internationally accessible and will undoubtedly make for an incredible trip for athletes, their family and friends alike.”
Marbella receives a high number of tourists throughout the year and is known as an international destination for sporting events thanks to its diversity of offerings, warmth of climate, and excellent tourism activities. The city has numerous sports facilities, including world-class golf courses, tennis courts, soccer fields and several marinas and has hosted multiple national and international sporting events.
Marbella has been hosting IRONMAN 70.3 events since 2018, and last year it played host to the 2023 IRONMAN 70.3 European TriClub Championship. Many other prominent sporting events have also been held in Marbella such as the various Davis Cup qualifiers, World Padel Tour tournaments, Ladies European Tour golf, International Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix, ATP tennis tournaments, and Marbella Crossfit Championship. In addition, Marbella is also known for its wide range of water sports, such as surfing, kitesurfing, paddle surfing and sailing, among others.
José María Arrabal, General Secretary for Sport of the Andalusian Government, said: "We are really excited that Marbella has been chosen for this important international competition. Major sporting events are a huge draw for our region, thanks to the endless possibilities they bring. Having the 2025 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship is aligned with our mission to bring to Andalusia the best sporting events in the world that also generate positive economic impact, international tourism opportunities and the promotion of sport at the same time.”
“Marbella is a perfect destination to host an internationally renowned event like the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon and we are elated to be selected to welcome the world for this pinnacle IRONMAN 70.3 event,” said Mayor of Marbella, Angeles Muñoz. “It is a great tourist destination that has become a benchmark for world tourism without having lost any of its typically Andalusian flavour and its historical essence. Sea and mountains, tradition and modernity meet in this Mediterranean town to provide athletes and their friends and family with an environment rich in hues, both multicultural and cosmopolitan, open to progress, and a way of life based on co-existence and the welcoming nature of its people. We look forward to bringing the world’s best triathletes to Marbella in 2025!”
Located on southern Spain’s Costa del Sol, Marbella is flanked by the ocean and the mountains, and is often deemed one of the most beautiful and glamorous locations in Spain. This Andalusian city is a spectacular host for athletes and supporters, thanks to its ideal climate and Mediterranean seafront promenade views. The annual average temperature is around 18.5º C/65.3º F, with 320 days of sunshine a year providing for a perfect tourist and sporting destination. The city is 35 miles from the international airport of Malaga, making it easy to welcome athletes from all over the world.
The VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon is the culmination of over 120 global IRONMAN 70.3 qualifying events which see approximately 200,000 registered athletes every year competing for the coveted age-group slots. After a successful edition of the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Lahti, Finland, the event now shifts to Taupo, New Zealand on December 14-15, 2024.
The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship debuted in Clearwater, Florida in 2006 and since that time, has toured incredible destinations around the world with stops in Henderson, Nevada (2011-13); Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada (2014); Zell am See-Kaprun, SalzburgerLand, Austria (2015); Queensland, Australia (2016); Chattanooga, Tennessee (2017); Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa (2018); Nice, France (2019); St. George, Utah (2021-2022); and Lahti, Finland (2023).
Looking Ahead
2024 – Taupo, New Zealand – December 14-15, 2024
The Great Lake Taupo District is rich in history and is one of the world’s most unique and picturesque areas. Located in the center of the North Island of New Zealand, it has a fascinating volcanic landscape and a cultural heritage dating back to the arrival of Maori in New Zealand in the 14th century. The Great Lake Taupo District is one of the most pure, beautiful, and unspoiled areas in the country and encompasses the lakeside towns of Taupo, Turangi, Kinloch and Mangakino. As a popular year-round destination, it houses the largest freshwater crater lake in Australasia, geothermal attractions, and the mountains and ski areas of Tongariro National Park, a dual World Heritage National Park. Host of IRONMAN New Zealand since 1999, Taupo has become one of IRONMAN’s most iconic events. The race will feature a swim in one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes, a bike course through New Zealand’s renowned rural landscape and a run course which takes in views of the lakefront that will be lined with spectator and local support. Additional details can be found at www.ironman.com/im703-world-championship-2024.