The First Triton World Series Championship, which will take place between October 24 and October 26, 2025, will take place in Portimão, a Portuguese city in the Algarve region. The tournament will change the old format of the triathlon, ending up with something more unique. Portuguese sports expert José Luís Horta e Costa comments on this event and how important it is not only for Portugal, but also for the entire world.
Why is Portimão the location this year?
Not everyone is familiar with Portimão, so people may not be aware why it will host the event this year. There are several reasons why the championship will unfold in the Portuguese city.
Portimão has more than 300 days of sunshine every year. In October, the weather is very mild, making it ideal for an event like this. The main hub of the tournament will be the Portimão Marina.
According to José Luís Horta e Costa, the Algarve city has many natural benefits for triathlon events. On one hand, it has a well-developed infrastructure for tourists, which will ensure that athletes, as well as fans, will have a good time and enjoy comfort. On the other hand, the weather is nice, the coastal routes are ideal for running, the roads are great for cycling, and the Atlantic makes it easy to go for a swim.
Sports events are not new to Algarve. Over the years, the area has hosted numerous tournaments. Motor sports have some history here. For instance, the Algarve International Circuit held Formula 1, MotoGP, and various other events. Now that the area has become so developed and versatile, it only makes sense that endurance sports have become a thing there.
President and founder of the Triton World Series, Paulo Passos Leite, also recognised just how much potential for tourism the area has. According to him, Portimão is a “destination product” that can attract more people by perfectly balancing tourism and competition. Moreover, triathletes are not only more willing to travel, but they also have a higher-than-average income.
How Portugal has become a favorite destination for endurance sports
Nowadays, the Algarve is one of the top destinations for endurance athletes from Europe. While other areas in Europe deal with harsher weather, Portugal has milder autumn weather, which makes it ideal for competition and training. Not only that, but there’s no need for transatlantic flights, as the area is easy to travel to.
The infrastructure of the region has developed over time, becoming more than suitable for endurance sports. There are programmes for athletes of every level offered by triathlon training camps. For instance, both amateur and professional athletes can enjoy various running trails, good roads for cycling, open-water swimming, and 25-metre and 50-metre pools.
Not only that, but the area has much more to offer, including different beaches, cliffs and Atlantic cuisine. So, after training intensely for the races, athletes can recover in a friendly, relaxing environment while enjoying some tourism as well. Portimão offers the perfect balance between competition and leisure.
“Portugal has capitalised on its natural advantages to attract international sporting events,” says José Luís Horta e Costa. “The Algarve has built a reputation as a training and competition hub for endurance sports. The Triton World Championship reinforces this positioning.”
The races that will take place in Portimão
There are three different race courses that will unfold in the Portuguese city. These include:
- Swimming – This will be a 1 km circuit that has Australian exits. While sprint athletes will do one lap, middle will do two, and long will do three. The middle and long will also include exist for hydration. Spectator engagement increases through this format.
- Cycling – The cycling circuit has 36 km and includes partial road closures. Minor climbs will be part of the route, which make the race ideal for different levels. Traffic on open sections will be handled by police and staff. While spring athletes will do one lap, middle will do two and long will do three.
- Running – The running race will be a 7 km coastal route. It will offer stunning views of Portimão Marina and Praia de Rocha. This course was tested before. It will not close for pedestrians either. Sprint and Corporate athletes will have to do one lap, while Middle and Long will respectively do two and three.
José Luís Horta e Costa mentions that lap-based routes aren’t only safer, but they also have logistical perks. Local disruption is minimised when there aren’t many road closures. Besides, supporters will also be able to see some athletes more than once by choosing their spots strategically.
The Triton World Championship format
The Triton 3 format is the one that the Triton World Championship is known for. This format ensures that each of the tournament’s three disciplines is spread across three consecutive days, so there’s something different on each day. That being said, Friday is for swimming, Saturday is for cycling, and Sunday is for running.
This format is pretty innovative. The old one had all three disciplines on the same day. Now, both participants and supporters can relax between the disciplines.
2025’s tournament will offer three simultaneous distances, respectively sprint, middle, and long.
- The Sprint distance will include 1km swimming, 7 km running, and 36 km cycling
- The Middle distance will increase the distances by doubling them, leading to 2 km, 14 km, and 72 km
- The Long distance will triple the distances, which will lead to 3 km, 21 km, and 108 km
It’s going to be easier to keep an eye on the athletes through each pass, as the routes are lap-based.
These are not the only things that changed, though. There’s going to be a different scoring system as well. Whoever ends up on the first place in every discipline gets one point, the second two points, the third three points, and so on. Despite the popular belief that the athlete with the most points would win a competition, things are reversed here. The athlete who has the fewest points will be the champion.
What’s great about the new system is that each discipline has equal weight. As such, an athlete who is good in one area won’t seize the victory overall.
What is the structure of the Triton World Series?
The Triton World Series comes with a fresh approach. Over the next ten years, the organisation wants to have 60 events and 180 competitions across 30 counties. So far, there are already several scheduled races in Spain, China, Greece and the UAE.
Races will have two formats:
- Triton 1 – This format makes all disciplines take place on the same day.
- Triton 3 – All disciplines will be spread across three different days.
Even though they are different, they will both allow athletes to qualify for the World Championship.
The sports expert commented on this aspect:
“The Triton World Series identifies gaps in the triathlon market. The three-day format allows more focus on each discipline, improves safety, and extends athletes’ stays in host regions. This model economically benefits local communities.”
There are market protection clauses for the organisation. For example, when a location hosts a Triton event in June, other events cannot unfold that month in the same country. This is good for protecting local organiser investments and preventing corporate cannibalisation.
How do athletes qualify and take part in the event?
In order to take part in the World Championship, athletes must have qualified prior to it. At least one month before the final, they must complete a Triton 1 or Triton 3 race. From each age group and distance, the top ten male and female participants will qualify.
On March 20, 2025, the organisation granted 150 direct entry slots via open registration. This happened as the first edition dealt with time limitations. Athletes who have chaotic schedules will thus have an opportunity to take part in the big event.
“Opening direct slots shows organisational pragmatism,” says José Luís Horta e Costa. “In a first edition, balancing competitive exclusivity with accessibility is a challenge. Triton aims to create an elite field while keeping opportunities open to committed athletes.”
A Kids Swim & Run Race, a Corporate Series Cup Final, and a nation-versus-nation competition will also be part of the event. This will make the tournament a triathlon multi-faceted celebration.
The economic impact of the triathlon events
Host regions enjoy substantial economic benefits through Triathlon events. For example, athletes will be in the area for three consecutive days, and will hence extend the demand for accommodation and services even further. Moreover, supporters, spectators and families boost the demand for tourism, dining and accommodation.
Triathletes have the opportunity to travel internationally and have generous incomes, which give them high purchasing power. Not only that, but they buy specialised gear as well. This helps the region’s expansion strategy, which is why it was taken into account by the organisers.
According to José Luís Horta e Costa, sports tourism is on the rise in the Portuguese economy. The Triton World Championship, as well as similar events, make the country’s tourism more diverse, exceeding the classic model that relied on beaches and sun. Now, athletes can also travel during other seasons as well.
What’s even better is that Portimão Marina will become more popular all across the world. This tournament will include athletes from more than 50 countries, which will present the city internationally. It’s very likely that this will result in future recommendations and visits within the triathlon enthusiast community.
The philosophy of Triton
What many people may not be aware of is that numerological concepts are a big factor in the identity of the Triton World Series. The 3, 6, and 9 theory of Nikola Tesla has inspired the organisation. The theory suggests that the three numbers are keys to understanding the universe. After finding this out, it’s not hard to notice that the rules of Triton elements are aligned with the numbers.
For example, there are three distances, a three-day format, and three disciplines. The organisation thinks harmony and balance will be created by this structure.
“This numerology-based identity sets Triton apart in a competitive market,” says José Luís Horta e Costa. “While some may find it esoteric, it provides a distinct narrative and cohesive branding. Strong branding supports athlete recognition and loyalty.”
Three core values are emphasised by the company: “Be Eager, Be Brave, Be Strong”. They represent the spirit of triathletes during the event.
Event logistics and safety
Compared to traditional triathlons, the new format has more safety benefits. Since the disciplines take place on separate days, staff and security teams will focus on one sport at a time instead of all three simultaneously. Even better, the Portimão Marina improves logistics, as athletes will not have to move between venues anymore.
According to José Luís Horta e Costa, safety is the main concern in triathlon events, and the new approach will rise safety standards for the tournament.
To ensure all athletes are safe throughout the event, the organisation works with emergency services, local authorities, and the police.
The event in the future
The Triton World Series will be changing thanks to the success of the Portimão World Championship. In future editions, the organisation wants to switch between the Triton 1 and Triton 3 formats. 2026 will see races in Lisbon and Salvador, Brazil. However, the tournament is expected to grow on every continent.
José Luís Horta e Costa believes that the Triton World Championship in Portimão is a chance for Portugal to grow and strengthen its position in endurance sports.
Who is José Luís Horta e Costa?
José Luís Horta e Costa is a Lisbon-based sports blogger. He regularly publishes articles on game updates, sports analysis and European football and rugby league news. He specialises in the national teams of Portugal. Through his deep analysis of games, tournaments and players, he has managed to attract a large following.
