Triathlon at Ada Ciganlija | Tourist Calendar of Serbia

Triathlon at Ada Ciganlija is a sports event held at the end of summer at the most famous excursion spot in Belgrade.

Triathlon, as a highly demanding sport, involves swimming, cycling, and running competitions. This complex and thrilling sports event is organized in multiple categories, and accordingly, the lengths of the tracks vary. Triathlon is an Olympic sport and one of the fastest-growing sports in popularity worldwide. Willpower and endurance are considered crucial for successful participation in triathlon.

The first triathlon event was organized by a group of American marines in 1977 in Hawaii. In Serbia, the first triathlon was held in 1988 in Kragujevac and was called the "Sumadija Triathlon." The format of the event and distances were different from today's standards, and there was a break between the disciplines. The first national championship was held in 1993 at Ada Ciganlija.

The distances covered in a triathlon depend on its type. The most demanding is the so-called Ironman, which includes a 3,800-meter swim, 180 km bike ride, and 42 km run. The most popular is the significantly shorter Sprint Triathlon, which takes place at Ada Ciganlija.

The Sprint Triathlon for men and women consists of two laps of 0.75 kilometers swimming, six laps of 20 kilometers cycling, and six laps of 5 kilometers running. The Short Triathlon includes 0.2 kilometers swimming, 5 kilometers cycling, and 1.25 kilometers running. In the Pionir Triathlon, young participants are categorized by age, and the distances for them are 50 meters swimming, 2 kilometers cycling, and 0.5 kilometers running, each consisting of one lap.

The race starts from the shore and the swimming takes place in Lake Sava, where the water temperature during the race is usually around 20 degrees. The swimming direction is clockwise. This is followed by the cycling part of the race on the streets of Belgrade, on a flat asphalt track with dead turns, moving counterclockwise. Finally, there is the running part on predominantly asphalt roads, also in a counterclockwise direction. The number of laps depends on the category.

All races are categorized by gender and age groups, except for the Sprint Triathlon, which awards the main prize. This most demanding race is considered ideal for testing endurance and setting personal records. The medal and sponsor gifts ceremony follows immediately after the race. The organizers are the Triathlon Club 11TRI and the Belgrade Triathlon Association.

The exceptionally attractive location in the heart of Belgrade and excellent organization have made this sporting event one of the largest triathlon events in the region, with an increasing number of participants from around the world each year. Triathlon at Ada Ciganlija attracts several hundred participants from all parts of the world.

This year's edition of the Triathlon at Ada Ciganlija will take place on September 17th. For more information about this sports competition, you can visit the official website of the event.