Allgäu Triathlon 2027: Date, Distances, and the Lottery Entry
The 44th edition on August 23, 2026 is done – Tom Hug and Lena Meißner won the Classic distance. The organizer hasn't announced the date for the 45th edition in 2027 yet. Here's everything on distances, the lottery, and how to secure a start slot – plus who actually helps you train in the Allgäu.
Daniel Gruber · 24 July 2026 · 5 min read · Updated 24 September 2026
The Allgäu Triathlon in Immenstadt is one of the fixed points on the German endurance-sport calendar – since 1983, athletes from across Europe have made the trip to the Alpsee to combine swimming, cycling, and running against an Alpine backdrop. 2027 brings the 45th edition, and if you're thinking about racing it, you probably have two questions: exactly when is it, and how do you even get a start slot? We cover both as far as they're known – plus what actually matters for beginners in the Allgäu region: finding people to train with.
2026 in review: Tom Hug and Lena Meißner win the Classic distance
On August 23, 2026, Tom Hug won the Classic distance in 3:56:33 ahead of Jannik Stoll (4:01:09) and Samuel Böttinger (4:06:22). Among the women, Lena Meißner won in 4:28:47 ahead of Katharina Krüger (4:48:23) and Hannah Graf (4:51:27) (Source: tri2b.com 2026). It was the first edition with start slots allocated by lottery.
The 2027 date and the three distances
There's no official date for the Allgäu Triathlon 2027 yet (as of September 24, 2026). The organizer's site already lets you pre-register your interest for 2027 (Source: 808project.de 2026). For reference: in 2026 the race took place on Sunday, August 23, at Bühl am Alpsee near Immenstadt, with the race-weekend program kicking off on August 21 (Source: tri2b.com 2026). Three distances were on offer, from entry-level to middle-distance:
| Distance | Swim | Bike | Run |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprint | 0.5 km | 29 km | 5 km |
| Olymp (Olympic) | 1.5 km | 46 km | 10 km |
| Classic | 1.9 km | 92 km | 20 km |
(Source: 808project.de, official race regulations, 2026)
In 2026, starts were staggered through Sunday morning: Classic-distance women at 7:45 a.m., Classic men in three waves between 7:55 and 8:20 a.m., followed by Sprint (from 9:20 a.m.) and Olymp (from 9:40 a.m.) (Source: 808project.de 2026). Solo entrants must be at least 18; relay teams have lower per-discipline age minimums (Source: 808project.de 2026). The 2027 regulations may differ.
A classic since 1983 – Germany's oldest triathlon
Having debuted in 1983, the Allgäu Triathlon bills itself as Germany's oldest triathlon – hence the nickname "cult since 1983" (Source: 808project.de 2026). Around 3,500 athletes take the start, with more than 30,000 spectators lining the course and transition zone, making it the biggest summer sports event in the Allgäu region (Source: allgaeu.de 2026). For a lot of returning racers, the real draw is the Alpsee itself – clear, cold, open water – and the rolling climbs on the bike leg.
The lottery: how to get a start slot
Through 2025, the Allgäu Triathlon ran on a first-come-first-served scramble – whoever clicked fastest got in, which in past years crashed the registration servers under demand (Source: tri-mag.de 2026). For 2026, the organizers switched to a lottery for the first time, modeled on events like the Berlin Marathon and the Ötztaler cycling marathon (Source: tri-mag.de 2026; tri2b.com 2026).
Here's how it worked for 2026: from November 13–23, 2025, anyone interested could enter the draw for a €5 fee (covering system and payment-processing costs only, with any leftover cents donated). On November 27, 2025, random numbers determined the lowest 70 percent of entrants; group registrations were assigned one shared random number so a group had the same odds as an individual entry (Source: tri-mag.de 2026). Winners landed on the start list automatically, with the entry fee charged directly – no further registration step needed (Source: tri2b.com 2026).
The organizer hasn't announced the 2027 entry process yet (as of September 24, 2026). If you want in, sign up on the organizer's pre-registration form and keep November free: if it follows last year's pattern, the draw opens in late fall.
Watching from the Alpsee: what's on around the race
You don't need a bib to make the trip worthwhile. In 2026, admission was free, an expo ran at the Alpsee both days – Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. – alongside side events like the "Aloha Welcome Ride," the "Aloha Run," and a "Kult Sunset Party" on Sunday afternoon (Source: 808project.de 2026). Best spot to cheer: the transition zone at the Alpsee, where all three distances pass through multiple times.
Racing it yourself: who do you actually train with?
Most of the coverage of the Allgäu Triathlon centers on the lottery and the course profiles – but if you're new to triathlon and live in the Allgäu region, there's a different question: who do you actually train with for a three-discipline race? Open-water swimming in the Alpsee is colder and choppier than a pool, and brick training (bike straight into a run) feels strange the first few times – neither is something you want to try solo for the first time on race day.
A dedicated triathlon training group is rare in the rural Allgäu. What does exist: local running groups (in German, "Lauftreffs") built exactly for the run leg of your training plan – and for easy base mileage in between. On We Up you can filter running groups in the Allgäu by location and pace – a solid starting point so you're not doing every run session solo. Looking beyond the region, or want company for the swim and bike legs too, browse the full directory of communities on We Up.
Sources
- tri2b.com/triathlon-termine/allgaeu-triathlon-2026-immensta…
- events.endure-cycling.com/events/allgaeu-triathlon-immensta…
- 808project.de/allgaeutriathlon/ausschreibung-at
- 808project.de/allgaeutriathlon
- tri-mag.de/szene/neuer-anmeldemodus-beim-klassiker-allgaeu-…
- tri2b.com/allgaeu-triathlon-2026-startplaetze-werden-per-lo…
- allgaeu.de/veranstaltungen/allgaeu-triathlon
- tri2b.com/ergebnisse/allgaeu-triathlon-2026-immenstadt-clas…
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Allgäu Triathlon 2027?
- The organizer hasn't announced the date yet (as of September 24, 2026); you can pre-register your interest on the organizer's site (Source: 808project.de 2026). The 44th edition took place on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at Bühl am Alpsee.
- Who won the Allgäu Triathlon 2026?
- On the Classic distance, Tom Hug in 3:56:33 and Lena Meißner in 4:28:47 (Source: tri2b.com 2026).
- What distances does the Allgäu Triathlon offer?
- In 2026 there were three formats: Sprint (0.5 km swim / 29 km bike / 5 km run), Olymp (1.5 km / 46 km / 10 km), and Classic (1.9 km / 92 km / 20 km) (Source: 808project.de, official race regulations, 2026).
- How do I get a start slot for 2027?
- For 2026, start slots were allocated by lottery for the first time: entry into the draw ran November 13–23, 2025, with the drawing on November 27, 2025 (Source: tri-mag.de 2026). The 2027 process hasn't been announced yet; if you want in, use the organizer's pre-registration form (Source: 808project.de 2026).
- Is the Allgäu Triathlon beginner-friendly?
- The Sprint distance is the most approachable option, but this is a long-running, well-established "cult race" with a large field – solid preparation pays off. Anyone living in the Allgäu without a training group yet can find company for at least the run leg through [running groups in the Allgäu](/allgaeu/laufen).
- Can I watch the Allgäu Triathlon for free?
- In 2026 admission was free, with an expo at the Alpsee (Saturday 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.) and side events like the "Aloha Welcome Ride," "Aloha Run," and "Kult Sunset Party" (Source: 808project.de 2026). The best viewing spot is the transition zone at the Alpsee.