Carlow Duathlon returns flat, fast, and fierce for 2026
Eoin Bailey
Carlow Triathlon Club are set to host the third running of The Carlow Duathlon on Sunday, March 15th, at 10am, as athletes from across the country will descend upon the SETU Sports Campus for the annual event.
Now a key fixture in the Triathlon Ireland Duathlon National Series, this event has quickly earned a reputation for being one of the fastest ‘sprint’ distance courses on the Irish circuit and won race of the year in 2024 at the National Triathlon Awards.
The field includes the best Duathletes in the country competing for National points; seasoned triathletes using it a preparation for their season to come; and newcomers embarking on their first multi-sport challenge.
Some of the big names expected to be on show for the event include Enda Bagnell, Luke Smith, Eoin Bailey, Cillian Cloney, Michael Scully, and reigning National Champion Niall Cornyn; with Maura Barry, Kathleen Ryan, Aine Kinsella Carmel Moran and Geraldine Leete on the women’s side.
The Carlow Duathlon is one of 12 rounds in the National Series, which culminates with the National Finals in Phoenix Park, Dublin. Competitors will be scored on their two best performances throughout the year before everything is decided at the April Finals.
Athletes kick off on the stunning SETU athletics track - a flat route mainly on tarmac - and the hardcore surface around the SETU pitches. This offers plenty of viewing points for spectators to cheer on the runners.
Once out of transition, competitors head onto the open roads. The 20km bike leg takes in the scenic Carlow countryside, heading out the Kilkenny Road towards the motorway roundabout.
This loop is completed twice before heading to Transition 2. This course is famously flat, making it ideal for those looking to maintain a high average speed.
The race concludes with a shorter 3km burst, bringing athletes back through the campus to a grandstand finish on the athletics track.
This year’s event follows a massive push for inclusivity within the sport. Ahead of the race, the ‘Women in Sport: New to Duathlon’ programme has been running for six weeks at the SETU complex, coaching a new wave of female athletes in bike handling, transition skills, and race-day nutrition. Many of these participants will be lining up for their very first competitive start.
