This March, around 250 athletes from more than 20 countries will compete in the Algarve, with live broadcasts

Quarteira is preparing to welcome some of the world’s top triathletes as the 2026 Europe Triathlon Cup returns to the Algarve this March, bringing elite competition to the region.

Part of the European triathlon calendar, the event will take place between March 28 and 29, bringing together around 250 athletes from more than 20 countries. The line-up includes both established elite competitors and rising junior talents.

Saturday’s programme centres on the elite races, with 130 international athletes competing. The men’s race begins at 4.30pm, with Portugal represented by 10 athletes, including Vasco Vilaça, bronze medallist at the 2025 World Championships, and Miguel Tiago Silva, regarded as one of the strongest swimmers on the circuit. They will compete against leading names such as Hugo Milner, Mark Devay, Seth Rider and Vetle Thorn.

The women’s race starts at 1.45pm and features Olympic athlete Maria Tomé alongside five other Portuguese competitors. Among the favourites is Jeanne Lehair, currently ranked among the top three in the world.

Sunday shifts focus to the junior European Cup, with multiple male and female Portuguese athletes competing, highlighting the next generation of talent and offering valuable international experience.

Loulé mayor Telmo Pinto welcomed the return of the event to the region: “For us, this is more than a sporting competition: it is a moment that showcases our municipality internationally, reinforces our commitment to sport and generates a very significant socio-economic impact, boosting the local economy, tourism and the life of our community,” he added, highlighting the borough’s decades-long link to triathlon.

The event is also set to reach wider audiences than ever before, with the largest media coverage to date. Live broadcasts will begin on social media from March 27.

“We are preparing one of the biggest celebrations ever for our sport. We will have with us some of the best triathletes in the world and several leading figures from our national team,” said Fernando Feijão, president of the Portuguese Triathlon Federation (FTP).

He added: “Alongside the international athletes, we will also have, in another edition of the Portugal Cup on Sunday, around 550 triathletes from dozens of clubs across the country and the islands [Madeira and Azores]. We thank all the athletes who help make Quarteira a historic landmark of Portuguese triathlon, and we hope they achieve their goals”.

Article originally published by Michael Bruxo on The Resident.

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