The New York City triathlon is officially returning to the city on Oct. 10, bringing more than 2,000 athletes to a challenging course that cuts through the Hudson River, runs along the West Side Highway, and finishes in Central Park, according to event details. Thousands of participants representing 30 states and 13 countries have signed up for the multisport event, which arrives as a major addition to the local autumn sporting calendar alongside the U.S. Open and the New York City Marathon.
For more than two decades, the New York City Triathlon served as a bucket-list race for professional and age-group competitors alike, debuting in 2001 and drawing up to 4,000 participants at its peak under the Life Time Fitness Series, as reported by Yahoo Sports. However, the historic event faced persistent hurdles in recent years, ranging from extreme heat and COVID-19 disruptions to water quality concerns. The 2023 race saw its swimming segment canceled after heavy rain impacted the Hudson River, and the 2024 event was entirely scrapped before registration opened after its previous organizer, Supertri, failed to coordinate a viable date with municipal authorities.
Now, Saugerties-based organizer Alpha Win is breathing new life into the historic endurance competition under a new name: the Big Apple Triathlon. Tommy Struzzieri, CEO of Alpha Win, noted that bringing a major triathlon back to the city required navigating municipal red tape. “There is not a stricter place to put on a race than New York City,” Struzzieri said, adding that safety remains paramount. “And we would never allow you to be unsafe in the water.”
Course Options and Logistics
The Big Apple Triathlon features multiple race formats designed to accommodate both first-time competitors and seasoned endurance athletes. The sprint option features a 1,500-meter swim, a 12.4-mile bike ride, and a 2.5-mile run. For experienced participants looking for a stiffer test, the Olympic-distance race extends the bike leg to 24.8 miles and the run to 6.2 miles.
While cycling along the closed West Side Highway and running through Central Park offer classic urban scenery, the opening swim in the Hudson River remains a focal point for many competitors. According to the Hudson River Park organization, water quality has vastly improved over the past four decades due to stricter environmental regulations. First-time participant Abhinav Kasamsetty, 27, expressed enthusiasm about tackling the urban course. “I think it’ll be a cool experience to say that I’ve swum in the Hudson River—I know it sounds a little weird, but I heard they cleaned it up—to bike the West Side Highway and run in Central Park,” Kasamsetty said.
Paralympian Competitors and Inspiring Debuts
The field will feature notable athletes overcoming extraordinary challenges, including French Paralympian Grégoire Berthon, who is scheduled to make his triathlon debut in New York City. Berthon acquired a disability in 2022 at age 30 after falling more than 300 feet into a glacial crevasse while skiing. He suffered a head injury, spent a month in a coma, and remained hospitalized for seven months before undergoing 18 months of rehabilitation.
After returning to competitive athletics, Berthon joined the French team and competed at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Reflecting on his journey to the Big Apple start line, Berthon shared a perspective shaped by his recovery: “Life is very short, and I just—I have a lot of luck to be here right now. For the competition, I dreamt about it. I wanted to do it—it is New York.”
Reviving a New York Tradition
The revival under Alpha Win marks a fresh chapter for a race that once seemed in jeopardy of disappearing permanently from the global triathlon calendar. Struzzieri, who took over Alpha Win from his father Tom in 2020 after decades of experience running large-scale equestrian showjumping events, explained that choosing the name Big Apple Triathlon was a deliberate choice to establish a distinct identity.
“It’s about putting our own stamp on it. This is a new race in New York—not the previous race returning exactly as it was. We respect what they built, but we want to create something new with our own identity,” Struzzieri told Yahoo Sports.
As preparations continue toward race day on October 10, organizers will coordinate closely with city agencies to finalize street closures, transition zones, and water safety protocols. Athletes and spectators looking for further updates, registration details, or volunteer opportunities can monitor announcements through official Alpha Win channels as the autumn race window approaches. We invite readers to share their thoughts or experiences in the comments below.
Worth a look