The Canary Islands are probably the best place in Europe to train for a triathlon. A natural circuit with changes in the terrain that are perfect for cyclists, runners and trailrunners. Over 1,500 kilometres of coastline to prepare the swimming trials in open water. And all with the best climate in the world. Can you imagine anywhere better to train for a triathlon?
A pleasant, mild climate, 365 days a year
Extreme temperatures make triathlon training difficult in many places around the world. Indeed, there are few regions with constant temperatures that favour physical performance throughout the whole year. The Canary Islands are the exception: with an average annual temperature of 24ºC, their thermal stability makes them the ideal place for triathlon training.
In terms of preparation for open-water swimming trials, the conditions of the Atlantic are optimal for putting athletes' stamina to the test. This is due to the strong currents that swirl in this ocean, which represent a great opportunity to improve physical performance in the aquatic medium. In addition, the temperature of the water that bathes the Canary Islands ranges on average from 18 ºC in February and 25 ºC in August.
Another major route is the itinerary of the Lanzarote Ironman competition, which goes from Puerto del Carmen to Tías and El Golfo, with an accumulated elevation gain of 2,251 metres and constant exposure to the strong north winds, promoting endurance during the race. A perfect way to prepare any triathlon event.
Terrain changes to put yourself to the test
The orography of the Canary Islands is exceptional for triathlon training, with settings that ascend from the coast up to over 2,500 metres in altitude. All this with a wide diversity of routes that help improve performance, putting your stamina to the test.
The wide variety of terrains and inclines of the Canary Islands allows for triathlon training with variations in pace and intensity, in order to strengthen progression and aerobic resistance with a view to competition. There are many routes in the region which require changes in intensity and good resilience. One example is the ascent up to the Pico de las Nieves (Gran Canaria), considered the toughest mountain pass in Europe. A route with a difficulty coefficent of 467 on the Carrizal slope, an ascent of 26.7 kilometres with an average gradient of 6.78 %, reaching 14% in some stretches.
Specialist sports centres
On the Canary Islands there are specialist sports centres which have the necessary equipment for expert triathlon training: running tracks, Olympic swimming pools and professional bicycles, and mores. Centres like Club La Santa and Sands Beach (Lanzarote), Playitas Resort (Fuerteventura) or Tenerife Top Training (Tenerife) are among the most relevant.
The archipelago also has numerous centres specialising in electrostimulation, which round off training sessions by helping to tone muscles and accelerate recovery.
Year-round sporting events
Another reason for choosing the Canary Islands for triathlon training and competitions is the long, varied calender of events in this discipline. The archipelago stages numerous national and international competitions, so that you can develop your maximum potential and assess yourself before the big dates.
Throughout the year major competitions are held in the archipelago, like the Lanzarote Ironman or Ocean Lava (in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Fuerteventura). Triathlons are also held in Salinetas (Gran Canaria), Arrecife (Lanzarote), Guía de Isora (Tenerife), El Médano (Tenerife) or Puerto Naos (La Palma), among others. There can be no doubt that the islands offer a wide variety of events to challenge your ability as a triathlete. Are you up for putting yourself to the test in one of them?
