IRONMAN 70.3 Leipzig 2027: date, course, relay

On 8 August 2027, IRONMAN 70.3 Leipzig is held for the second time: swim in Lake Cospuden, bike through the New Lake District, half marathon finishing in the arena at the Sportforum. Individual entries were gone by early October 2026, relays could still be booked. Here's how your running group can still make the start line.

Daniel Gruber · 4 October 2026 · 7 min read

IRONMAN 70.3 Leipzig 2027: date, course, relay

IRONMAN 70.3 Leipzig enters its second year: on Sunday, 8 August 2027 the middle-distance race starts on the north shore of Lake Cospuden (Cospudener See) and finishes inside an arena in the Sportforum (source: ironman.com, IM 70.3 Leipzig). The first edition on 23 August 2026 sold out quickly (source: tri-mag.de, premiere recap), and there are no regular individual entries left for 2027 either, only special entries and relays (source: ironman.com, registration). That's exactly what makes it interesting for runners: the relay is the realistic way into Leipzig, and the half marathon at the end is your territory.

The race in numbers

IRONMAN 70.3 Leipzig 2027
Date Sunday, 8 August 2027
Edition 2nd (first held on 23 August 2026)
Swim 1.9 km in Lake Cospuden, beach start, out and back
Bike 90 km, one big loop through the Leipzig New Lake District
Run 21.1 km, three laps through the Sportforum
Transition 1 north shore of Lake Cospuden
Transition 2 and finish Sportforum, QUARTERBACK Immobilien ARENA, Am Sportforum 2
Entry status individual entries only via special packages (IRONMAN Experiences powered by NIRVANA), relays still available
Relay €905.49 per team (€680 entry plus €225.49 processing fees), as of 3 October 2026
Qualification slots for the 2028 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship
Weather per organiser air up to 25 °C, low 16 °C, average water 22 °C

Sources: ironman.com (race page, course, registration, directions, world championship qualification). The course maps online are still from 2026; the organiser says 2027 maps will follow (source: ironman.com, course).

By early October 2026 the regular individual places were gone and no individual entry price was shown. IRONMAN prices by quota: once a tier fills, the price rises automatically (source: ironman.com, registration). Anyone registering by 9 December 2026 is covered by Flex90, with a fee-free transfer to another race and a partial refund; relay entries are excluded (source: ironman.com, registration).

Two transitions: your weekend plan

Unlike races with one central transition, Leipzig splits swim start and finish between two places: T1 at Lake Cospuden, T2 and the finish in the Sportforum (source: ironman.com, course and directions). That shapes the weekend. The 2027 schedule isn't out yet; the organiser points to the 2026 schedule as a reference (source: ironman.com, event schedule):

(Source: ironman.com, 2026 event schedule)

In practice, Saturday means shuttling between lake and city, and on Sunday you need an early ride to the lake while your supporters wait at the finish in the Sportforum. Leipzig is easy to reach by train; from the main station, both swim start and Sportforum are accessible by public transport, according to the organiser (source: ironman.com, directions).

The course from a runner's point of view

Swim: 1.9 km along the north shore, with a sandy beach start and a simple out-and-back layout in clear water that's easy to navigate (source: ironman.com, course). For people coming from running, that's about the friendliest first open-water start you can get: no maze of buoys, the shore as your guide.

Bike: 90 km in one big loop from lake to lake through the New Lake District, with fast flat sections and technical parts (source: ironman.com, course). Where the course went in 2026 is visible from the road closures: Markkleeberg, Gaschwitz, Güldengossa, Liebertwolkwitz, Kleinpösna and Baalsdorf, Dölitz-Dösen and finally the Sportforum (source: ironman.com, traffic impact). The lakes south of the city are former open-cast mines that have turned into a water-sports region since the 1990s (source: ironman.com, about host city).

Run: 21.1 km in three laps through the Sportforum, past the Elster flood basin and the RB Arena. Every lap leads through the QUARTERBACK Immobilien ARENA, where the finish line is as well (source: ironman.com, course). What that means for you:

Taking your running group to Leipzig as a relay

For a running group, the relay is the direct route to this race. A team has two or three members, you split swim, bike and run however you like, and everyone must be at least 18 on race day (source: ironman.com, FAQs). Teams can mix ages and genders (source: ironman.com, FAQs).

How it works (source: ironman.com, relay teams and FAQs):

  1. Two-step registration. The team captain registers, picks the team name, invites the others by email and pays for the whole team. The others complete their registration via the link.
  2. Complete two weeks out. A third member can be added up to two weeks before the race; team changes are possible up to ten days before.
  3. Everyone at check-in. Each team member must attend athlete check-in in person with photo ID.
  4. The chip is your baton. You get one timing chip, worn on the left ankle and handed over in the relay zone in transition. There is no separate relay wave.
  5. Finish together. There's a meet-up point in the finish chute so the team can run the last metres together.

At €905.49 per team (as of 3 October 2026), that's about €302 each for a team of three (source: ironman.com, registration). If you're looking for a cyclist and a swimmer in Leipzig, the Lauftreffs (group runs) under running in Leipzig are a good place to start.

Counting back from 8 August: Leipzig's running year as a plan

There are just over 44 weeks to go. Leipzig's calendar gives you fixed checkpoints along the way:

More races to build fitness in spring and summer are listed under running events in Leipzig.

Looking back: the 2026 premiere

Around 2,500 athletes started on 23 August 2026 (source: triathlon.de, 2026 recap), from 68 nations according to tri-mag.de (source: tri-mag.de, premiere recap). IRONMAN had expected around 2,700 participants beforehand (source: ironman.com, traffic impact).

In the women's race, Leipzig local Caroline Pohle won her home race in 3:53:42, ahead of Bianca Bogen (4:05:06) and Brooke Gillies (4:05:13). In the men's race, Wilhelm Hirsch won in 3:30:59 ahead of Rico Bogen (3:32:59) and Pierre Dupuy (3:34:14) (source: triathlon.de, 2026 recap).

How Leipzig compares

Germany has four IRONMAN 70.3 races in 2027 (source: ironman.com, registration): IRONMAN 70.3 Kraichgau on 23 May, Leipzig on 8 August, IRONMAN 70.3 Duisburg on 29 August and Erkner on 12 September. If you miss Leipzig, there are still late-summer options. For an overview of all major races from sprint to full distance, see our guide to the biggest triathlons and IRONMAN races in Germany.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

When is IRONMAN 70.3 Leipzig 2027?
On Sunday, 8 August 2027. It's the second edition after the premiere on 23 August 2026 (source: ironman.com).
Can I still register?
Regular individual entries are gone. According to the organiser, special packages (IRONMAN Experiences powered by NIRVANA) and relay places are still available, both limited (source: ironman.com, registration, as of 3 October 2026).
How much is a relay entry?
€905.49 per team: €680 entry plus €225.49 processing fees. The team captain pays for everyone. Prices can rise as quotas fill (source: ironman.com, registration, as of 3 October 2026).
Where is the swim?
In Lake Cospuden on the north shore, with a beach start and a 1.9 km out-and-back course. Transition 1 is there too (source: ironman.com, course).
What is the run course like?
21.1 km in three laps through the Sportforum, past the Elster flood basin and the RB Arena, passing through the QUARTERBACK Immobilien ARENA on every lap, where the finish is as well (source: ironman.com, course).
How old do relay members have to be?
All team members must be at least 18 on race day. A team has two or three members; mixed ages and genders are allowed (source: ironman.com, FAQs).

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