The official Age Group Race Briefing has been published for competitors taking part in the Triathlon National Series Sprint and Sprint Aquabike at the 2026 Europe Triathlon Cup — City of Derry on Saturday 5 September.
The comprehensive briefing sets out everything athletes need to know ahead of race day, including registration and race-pack collection, parking, transition arrangements, course information, discipline cut-off times, competition rules, safety procedures and post-race arrangements.
Competitors are strongly encouraged to read the document in full before travelling to the event.
Friday evening registration and race-pack collection will take place at The AMP, Ebrington Square, from 6.30pm–8.30pm, with local competitors and athletes arriving in the city on Friday particularly encouraged to register then.
Race-day registration will be available at Catalyst, Derry~Londonderry, from 7.00am–8.00am on Saturday morning.
Photographic ID is compulsory at registration, while competitors must also hold a current Triathlon Ireland membership, Triathlon Ireland One Day Membership or a current licence or membership from another recognised triathlon federation.
Fort George Car Park, adjacent to Catalyst, is the recommended competitor parking area, with access through the Catalyst car park. Overnight parking is available from Friday, while additional daytime parking is available at Ebrington close to the finish area.
Transition at Queen’s Quay Car Park opens at 7.15am and closes at 8.30am sharp, before athletes make their way along the Quayside to the Fort George swim start.
The National Series and Aquabike race begins at 9.15am with a 750m point-to-point swim in the River Foyle. The swim is wetsuit compulsory and will use a self-seeded rolling start, with athletes entering the water three at a time.
Both races then take on the same 20km closed-road out-and-back bike course from Queen’s Quay towards Carrigans and back.
The briefing highlights a number of important safety points on the bike route, including the turnaround near Newtownhamilton, Nixon’s Corner, the descent back towards the city and controlled traffic-management sections around Foyle Road, Foyle Embankment and the city-centre roundabouts. Competitors are reminded to follow marshal, PSNI and Triathlon Ireland Technical Official instructions at all times.
Triathletes will finish with a single 5km run along the Quay Trail towards Bay Park before returning past transition, crossing the Peace Bridge and finishing beneath the gantry at Ebrington Clock Tower.
Aquabike competitors complete the same swim and bike courses, with their official finish recorded at the timing mat in T2 before making the short walk across the Peace Bridge to collect their medal and post-race refreshments in Ebrington Square.
Discipline cut-offs are 30 minutes for the swim, 90 minutes for the bike and 45 minutes for the run, with each applying to the individual discipline rather than cumulatively.
Transition will reopen at 12 noon for equipment collection and all bikes and equipment must be removed before 1pm. The National Series and Aquabike prize ceremony will take place in Ebrington Square at 12.45pm, with awards for the top three Overall Open and Female competitors as well as first, second and third in every eligible Open and Female age group.
International racing throughout the day
Age Group athletes and their supporters are also encouraged to stay in the city and enjoy a full programme of Europe Triathlon Cup racing taking place throughout Saturday.
International competition begins while Age Group athletes are preparing for their own race, with the Europe Triathlon Cup Junior Men starting at 8.50am, followed by the Junior Women at 9.00am. The Junior Elite prize ceremony will take place in Ebrington Square at 10.30am.
The focus then turns to the senior international races later in the day.
The Europe Triathlon Cup Elite Female race starts at 4.30pm, following athlete introductions from 4pm, before the Elite Men race at 6.30pm, with introductions beginning from 6pm.
The Europe Triathlon Cup Elite prize ceremony will round off the racing programme in Ebrington Square at 8pm.
The Athlete Village at Ebrington Square will remain open throughout the day, with music, children’s activities and refreshments, giving competitors, families, clubs and spectators the opportunity to stay and enjoy the international racing after completing the morning Age Group events.
Any late operational, course or safety changes will be communicated through official event channels and at the compulsory race-morning competitor briefing. Instructions issued by the Race Director or Triathlon Ireland Technical Officials on race morning will take precedence over the published document.
Competitors can read and download the full 2026 Age Group Race Briefing here.