A record-breaking 2,500 triathletes are expected in the Lower Austrian capital this weekend, more than ever before. Alongside the NÖ BAUHAUS Company & Fun Triathlon on Friday and the Junior Challenge on Saturday, the highlight of the weekend will take place on Sunday with the middle-distance triathlon. An exciting race featuring numerous national and international professional athletes is expected.
St. Pölten will once again become the center of the triathlon world as a packed race weekend gets underway. Athletes of all ages and performance levels will compete across several events, beginning with the popular NÖ BAUHAUS Company & Fun Triathlon, followed by Saturday’s Junior Challenge, where young triathlon talents take center stage. The weekend culminates on Sunday morning when the professional women start at 7:00 a.m., followed 20 minutes later by the professional men, before the age-group athletes enter Lake Viehofen for the main event.
Richard Belderok, CTO of Challenge Family, is looking forward to the return to Austria’s triathlon heartland: “It is fantastic to return to the center of the Austrian triathlon community with record participation numbers. The incredible support from the city, the region, and all the volunteers makes this race truly unique within our annual calendar. A special thank you goes to the Schwarz family for their work over the past years. This event perfectly reflects our motto, ‘Every Athlete, Every Challenge’ — from international professionals to first-time participants, and from the youngest children to the oldest age-group athletes.”
For the city of St. Pölten, the event has become a permanent fixture on the sporting calendar. Marlies Eder, City Councillor of St. Pölten, emphasized the importance of the race: “Health is our greatest asset, and preserving and promoting it should be a shared goal. An event like this makes a valuable contribution. St. Pölten has established itself as a triathlon capital with one of the most beautiful courses in Europe, especially the impressive bike course, which is also reflected in the city’s positive tourism numbers. We wish all participants a safe and successful race.”
Martin Gabler of Niederösterreichische Versicherung added: “We are delighted to once again be part of this event as a partner. Both grassroots and elite sports are especially important to us. This event, particularly the many side events, is a true annual highlight and showcases the diversity of sport. It motivates people of all ages, creates an incredible atmosphere, and continually impresses with the outstanding performances of the athletes.”
International Elite Field Promises Exciting Racing
The women’s field is led by Germany’s Caroline Pohle, who arrives in St. Pölten following her victory at Challenge Šamorín. Although she admits to still feeling some fatigue from last week’s demanding race, she says her freshness is returning day by day. “I’m really looking forward to the race. I’ve already had a chance to see the course, and I especially like the bike course, it suits me very well,” said Pohle. Her goals for Sunday are clear: “A lot has to come together on race day, but a podium finish is definitely my ambition.”
Austria’s Anna Pabinger is among the favourites for a top result. The athlete from Upper Austria delivered a strong performance in St. Pölten last season, finishing second, and hopes to go one step further this year. Her early races in 2026 have been promising, and she believes the run will once again be her strongest discipline. The forecasted high temperatures are not a concern for her: “The heat will be challenging for many athletes, but those conditions tend to suit me quite well.”
Dutch athlete Diede Diederiks is another strong contender in the women’s race. She is particularly excited about the bike course: “Cycling is my strongest discipline, and I’m really looking forward to racing here in St. Pölten.” While she avoids setting a specific result target, she added with a smile: “We all want to win. That’s why I’m focusing entirely on myself and delivering my best performance.”
The men’s race also promises thrilling competition. Germany’s Finn Große-Freese and Frederic Funk headline the field, with Funk making a special return to St. Pölten after winning the race in 2021. His connection to the event goes back even further, as he competed in the children’s race years ago while his parents raced the middle distance. “Winning here as a professional in 2021 was something very special. That’s why I’m so happy to finally be back,” said Funk. Following a high-altitude training block and a race start last weekend in Šamorín, he feels optimistic heading into Sunday: “Preparation has gone well. Šamorín was solid but not perfect. Now I hope to return to the level I showed in 2021.”
Slovakia’s Ondrej Kubo is another strong candidate for a top finish. He has positive memories of St. Pölten and arrives confident after a strong preparation phase. Although his season opener last weekend did not go entirely to plan, he remains optimistic: “If you see me crossing the finish line with a smile, you’ll know I’m happy with my performance.”
Austria’s Raphael Lukatsch also enters the race with high ambitions. Last year’s best Austrian narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish and is determined to take the next step this year. “The bike course suits me perfectly, and I also really enjoy the run course with its changing terrain. It’s a very honest and beautiful course,” Lukatsch explained.
A true St. Pölten veteran is Michael Weiss. The Lower Austrian athlete will line up at his home race for the 13th time. “St. Pölten will always have a special place in my heart. The course, the organisation, and the atmosphere are unique,” said Weiss. He is especially pleased that many athletes he coaches will also be competing. For Weiss, the race will serve as an important form test ahead of his long-distance event in a few weeks.
Race Director Nina Schwarz is excited about the level of competition awaiting spectators and participants alike: “Both the women’s and men’s races feature a mix of strong international competition and top Austrian athletes. These are perfect conditions for exciting middle-distance racing.” She added: “For us, one highlight follows the next this weekend. It’s wonderful to see months of preparation finally come together.”
