Challenge Gdańsk is a middle-distance triathlon on the Baltic Sea, starting on the beach and finishing on the pier in Gdańsk's Brzeźno district. Competitors swim 1.9 km, cycle 90 km, and run 21.1 km, adhering to the standard half-iron distance. The swim is one lap alongside the Gdańsk Brzeźno Pier, beginning on one side and concluding on the other.
The cycling course is a single, flat 90 km loop that crosses Żuławy Wiślane, passing through Koszwały, Cedry Małe, and Kiezmark. Cyclists will also go by Polsat Plus Arena, the stadium featured in Euro 2012. The run consists of four 5.25 km laps along Gdańsk city beach and through Ronald Reagan Park, offering shaded areas that can be beneficial on a warm day. Challenge Family athletes previously selected this event as Best Race in the World; the pier finish provides the race with its most distinctive local characteristic.