The inaugural IRONMAN® 70.3® Versailles sold out in under three hours of general registration opening, setting a new benchmark as the fastest sell‑out across the 2026 global IRONMAN calendar and the quickest ever IRONMAN 70.3 sell‑out in Europe.
Over 2,500 athletes will race in Versailles this year, with 40% of the field travelling from abroad, highlighting that France is fast becoming a premier destination for athletes seeking world‑class racing experiences.
Thibault Vellard, Regional Director of the South-West & Middle East said: “We are delighted and proud of the enthusiasm generated by this new event. Filling the race in such a short time remains anecdotal but confirms that the destination meets expectations! Looking forward to July 12.”
This iconic race takes athletes through the grounds of the Home to Château de Versailles (Palace of Versailles), one of the world’s most famous royal residences, a swim through the ‘Pièce d’eau des Suisses’ (‘The Pond of the Swiss’), cycling through the picturesque villages of the Chevreuse Valley, and running alongside the Potager du Roi (‘King’s Kitchen Garden’), with the city providing a spectacular and culturally rich backdrop for the event.
Demand for IRONMAN racing in Europe is at an all‑time high, with nearly 19,000 athletes on the IRONMAN registration web page today trying to secure a slot for this coveted new event. Today’s sell‑out comes just one week after IRONMAN 70.3 Málaga reached capacity in only four days. This new race offered athletes another opportunity to secure a spot at an IRONMAN 70.3 event in 2026 and follows IRONMAN’s announcement of five additional new races for the 2026 season; IRONMAN 70.3 Alghero, IRONMAN 70.3 Leipzig, IRONMAN 70.3 Vitoria‑Gasteiz, IRONMAN 70.3 Málaga, and IRONMAN 70.3 Versailles – all of which have already sold out.
With the addition of Versailles, France’s IRONMAN calendar continues to grow in stature, complementing a landmark series of events including IRONMAN 70.3 Aix-en-Provence, IRONMAN Tours Métropole Loire Valley, IRONMAN France Nice and IRONMAN 70.3 Nice, IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne-Vendée, IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy, the return of IRONMAN Vichy, and the 2026 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.
