Irish Olympian Aileen Reid has backed the return of elite international triathlon to Derry, describing her home city as an “amazing venue” to host world-class athletes from across the globe.
Aileen Reid (nee Morrison), who represented Ireland at the Olympic Games and competed for more than a decade on the World Triathlon circuit, believes the upcoming Europe Triathlon Cup — City of Derry has all the ingredients needed to become a major fixture on the international calendar.
The Europe Triathlon Cup event, which returns to Derry~Londonderry on Saturday 5 September 2026 alongside a Triathlon Ireland National Series race, will bring elite international athletes and hundreds of age group competitors into the city for a major spectacle of sport.
Now based on Australia’s Gold Coast and involved in high-performance triathlon coaching, Reid says the event’s timing — just three weeks before the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Pontevedra, Spain — makes it particularly attractive for international teams preparing for the season finale.
“Elite athletes love technical courses,” she said. “Elite athletes love a change in scenery and they do enjoy a high level competition with a deep international field.
“With this race being perfectly positioned three weeks prior to Pontevedra, it’s an excellent opportunity for teams travelling long distances across the world to sharpen the skills prior to the grand final.”
Reid confirmed there is already discussion within Australian triathlon circles about using Derry and the North West as a pre-championship training base.
“People have asked me about coming to the Derry race because they’re thinking about coming,” she said. “The Australian team are talking about going to Derry and basing themselves there for a while and I said it’s a fantastic idea.”
She believes the wider region offers a unique combination of elite training opportunities, particularly for cycling.
“The roads are quieter. You got hills immediately. The scenery is just amazing. Derry and Donegal athletes are spoiled with that they have.”
The Irish triathlon legend also highlighted Derry’s compact city-centre layout, technical racing potential and spectator atmosphere as major selling points for elite athletes and coaches.
“It’s an amazing city and there’s no better place to host it,” she said.
“The roads are good, the course is technical, and then you’ve got a fast flowing tidal river.
“I know I may be slightly biased but it’s a beautiful city. The people are so welcoming.
“We’ve got great food, great restaurants, great hotels now too. We’ve got everything that every other major city has — and probably more.”
The elite course for the 2026 event will feature four short technical bike laps through taking in Foyle embankment, Foyle Road and Craigavon Bridge while the River Foyle swim is set to provide one of the most distinctive race experiences in the world.
Reid believes that uniqueness is exactly what modern elite racing needs.
“Nobody wants to go to an out-and-back course. It’s boring,” she said. Elite athletes love technical courses and City of Derry provides that.”
Having grown up in Derry, trained in the area, and developed through local clubs before excelling among the world’s best for many years, Reid says the return of elite racing to the city could have a major long-term impact on young athletes in the region.
“If you can’t see it, you can’t be it,” she said.
“There’ll be kids standing watching the triathlon who’ll end up competing because they watched people racing in their hometown.
“That’s what it’s all about.”
Reid reflected warmly on her own journey through Derry’s sporting community, crediting local clubs, coaches and schools for helping shape her career.
“Derry has always had triathlon in its roots,” she said.
“Everything about Derry was supportive in terms of triathlon and the culture that it brought.”
For age group competitors, Reid believes the appeal of racing on the same day as elite international athletes creates a unique atmosphere rarely experienced at standard races.
“Every age grouper wants to know everything about what the elites are doing,” she said.
“They want to know what they eat, drink, wear and train with.
“Being able to watch it and see it and smell it and cheer them on is all part of the atmosphere.”
She described the relationship between elite and amateur racing environments as “symbiotic”, with the atmosphere generated by age group athletes and spectators also helping elevate elite performances.
“The elites love being cheered on too,” she said.
With the race village and finish line to centre around Ebrington Square, organisers hope to create a compact and highly spectator-friendly event atmosphere across the city.
Reid believes the energy created by local support could become one of the event’s defining characteristics.
“The atmosphere will be electric,” she said.
“Buzzing.”
Despite now living on the other side of the world, Reid said Derry still immediately feels like home whenever she thinks about racing there.
When someone mentions City of Derry Triathlon, she immediately thinks: “The Foyle… just the atmosphere… home.”
The City of Derry Triathlon takes place on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will feature five races:
Europe Triathlon Cup Elite Men (70 max)
Europe Triathlon Cup Elite Women (70 max)
Europe Triathlon Junior Cup Male (70 max)
Europe Triathlon Junior Cup Female (70 max)
Triathlon Ireland National Series Age Group race (550 max)
The event forms part of a wider weekend of sport in the city, alongside the Waterside Half Marathon which takes place the following day with up to 4,000 runners participating.