The Pálmaces Triathlon will not be held in 2026, leaving its future uncertain.
The Pálmaces Triathlon will not be held in 2026 after its organizers announced the end of the event after more than three decades on the Spanish popular triathlon calendar.
The decision comes after several seasons in which closure was already on the table and also leaves the future of other events linked to the same organizing team up in the air.
The news communicated This Monday, through the event's social media channels, a brief, very emotional message focused on thanking those who have been part of its history was shared.
The organization acknowledges that the possibility of closing this chapter had been on the table for some time. “The day we didn’t want to come has finally arrived… Even though we’ve had the idea in our heads for several years, saying goodbye is not easy at all,” they stated in the press release.
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The Palmaces Triathlon is dropped from the calendar in 2026
The farewell affects at least the current format of a test that reached its peak in 2025 Edition 30 and which for years was one of the most recognizable events on the national calendar.
El Pálmaces triathlon He built his own identity with his swimming in the reservoir, the cycling segment through the mountains of Guadalajara and the running around the village.
Beyond the course, one of the key aspects of the race has always been its local character. Pálmaces managed to transform a demanding sporting event into one deeply connected to the town, to volunteering, and to providing a personal touch to the participants. This connection is also reflected in the farewell message.
Three decades of popular triathlon in Guadalajara
During years, Pálmaces It was one of those races with its own unique character within the Spanish triathlon scene. Not only because of its course, but also because of the atmosphere it managed to create in each edition.
“The affection you showed us each year was undoubtedly the main driving force behind our continued adventure,” the organizers explained. In the same message, they also highlighted how the passage of time transformed the event into something more than just a competition: “This whole journey has meant that many of those who started as participants are now great friends.”
That community component was one of the hallmarks of the event, always heavily supported by the work of neighbors, collaborators and volunteers.
Organizational strain, one of the keys to the end
The statement also points to organizational strain as one of the underlying factors. Organizing an event of this caliber from a small rural area has required continuous effort for years.
The organization summarizes it like this: “Pálmaces is a very small town that needs to make a huge effort to put on this event. This effort, repeated for more than 30 years, has taken a great toll.”.
The decision doesn't just affect triathlon. The message also casts doubt on the future of other events linked to the same organizing team, such as the Tour and the Picozo Trail.
The latest editions of the Palmaces Triathlon
The last edition held was that of 2025, coinciding precisely with the thirtieth anniversary. On that day the winners were Pelayo Gonzalez y Marta Pintanel, both making their debut in the event.
A year earlier, in 2024, they won Vicente Hernández y Marina Muñoz. In 2023The victories went to Julen Lopetegui García y Anna Noguera.
These names are part of a list of winners that perfectly illustrates what Pálmaces has been for decades. Although it has always maintained a popular character, the race has regularly attracted top-level triathletes from across the country.
An uncertain future, but with the door ajar.
For now, the disappearance is not necessarily presented as an irreversible closure. The organization leaves open the possibility that someone will take up the mantle in the future and keep the municipality's sporting events alive.
“We are waiting to find out if someone will continue organizing the sporting events,” the statement reads. That phrase leaves the door ajar, although as of today the actual situation is clear: The Palmaces Triathlon will not be on the 2026 calendar.
The final message once again focuses on those who have sustained the event throughout these years, especially the volunteers. “What can I say about the volunteers… Thank you all for making this happen. Without you, none of this would have been possible.”
If no one takes up the mantle, Spanish triathlon will lose one of those races that had achieved something unusual: to have one's own personalityPálmaces wasn't just a summer date. For many triathletes, it was one of those races remembered for the course, the atmosphere, and the feeling of competing in a unique place.
