Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee

Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee is a half-distance triathlon held annually in Walchsee, located in Austria’s Kaiserwinkl region of Tyrol. Since 2010, it has been part of the Challenge Family world series. The primary event follows the standard middle-distance format: a 1.9 km swim, a 90 km bike course, and a 21 km run, with options for relay teams. The event weekend also features Aquabike, Challenge Women, Aquathlon, and Challenge Junior races, attracting a diverse range of participants beyond solo long-course triathletes. The swim course consists of a single lap in Walchsee, a lake used for drinking water, situated at the base of the Kaiser Mountains. Water temperatures during the race typically range from 20 to 24°C. The inaugural event saw 766 individual starters and 65 relay teams. The race has also served as the venue for Austrian and European middle-distance championships. Giulio Molinari and Frederik Funk each achieved three consecutive victories in separate periods. The current course records are 3:36:01 for men, set by Frederic Funk, and 4:03:38 for women, set by Julie Derron. Many competitors extend their visit into a short vacation in Kaiserwinkl, and organizers advise caution to cyclists regarding reduced speeds in villages and on blind corners during training.