Some of the world’s top triathletes are heading to the Algarve as the European Cup returns to Quarteira on March 28 and 29.
Around 250 athletes from more than 20 countries are expected to take part, including elite competitors and rising junior talents.
Saturday’s programme will focus on elite races, with 130 international athletes competing. In the men’s race at 4.30pm, Portugal will be represented by 10 athletes, including Vasco Vilaça, bronze medallist at the 2025 World Championships, and Miguel Tiago Silva, known as one of the strongest swimmers on the circuit. They will face tough competition from names such as Hugo Milner, Mark Devay, Seth Reider and Vetle Thorn.
The women’s race, starting at 1.45pm, includes Olympic athlete Maria Tomé alongside five other Portuguese competitors. One of the standout names is Jeanne Lehair, currently ranked among the top three in the world.
Sunday will be dedicated to the junior European Cup, with a strong Portuguese presence of more than 16 male and 11 female athletes. The event continues to play a key role in developing young talent, giving them valuable international experience.
“It is with great satisfaction that the municipality of Loulé once again welcomes the elite of world triathlon to the Quarteira International Triathlon,” says Loulé mayor Telmo Pinto.
“For us, this is more than a sporting competition: it is a moment that projects 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 will also have its biggest-ever media coverage, with live broadcasts on social media starting on 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 islands. We thank all the athletes who help make Quarteira a historic landmark of Portuguese triathlon, and we hope they achieve their goals”.
