Sporting excitement, thousands of fans, Kraków’s historic city centre and a spectacular light show over the Vistula River with Wawel Castle in the background. The organisers of Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Kraków have prepared a show that goes far beyond sport. The highlight of Saturday evening will be a drone show, the first of its kind in the history of IRONMAN events in Poland and one of the most spectacular shows ever held in Kraków.
Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Kraków is not only about competition between the best triathletes from Poland and around the world. During the weekend at the turn of July and August, the city will become the stage for a major celebration of sport, open to everyone: residents, tourists and fans. The organisers have prepared dozens of attractions that will bring the spirit of triathlon to Kraków from morning until late in the evening.
A weekend full of sporting excitement
The triathlon weekend will begin on Friday with the opening of the Race Office and Expo at Szczepański Square. On Saturday, the heart of the event will move to the Main Market Square, where the Good Morning Run will start at 9:00 AM.
This is an event for everyone who wants to experience the atmosphere of Poland’s biggest triathlon celebration. The 5 km course will take runners through the streets of the Old Town, around Wawel Castle and along the Vistula River. At the finish line, participants will find a finisher zone and coffee provided by the event partner, Segafredo.
At noon, the Main Market Square will be taken over by the youngest participants of Pho3nix IRONKIDS. Hundreds of children will compete over six age-appropriate distances, showing that a passion for sport can begin at a very young age. On Sunday, the eyes of the triathlon world will turn to the athletes competing in Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Kraków.
Triathlon at the Foot of Wawel Castle
The highlight of the weekend will be Sunday’s Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Kraków. The race will begin with a 1.9 km swim in Zakrzówek, one of the most scenic urban swimming locations in Poland. Athletes will then take on a 90 km bike course through Kraków and the surrounding towns, before finishing with a 21.1 km half marathon. The run course will take athletes past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, along the Vistula River, around Wawel Hill and through the historic city centre. Just like last year, the finish line will be located in the Main Market Square, where thousands of fans will create an unforgettable atmosphere for the finishing athletes.
Cheering will be an attraction in itself
The organisers want the excitement of the race to be shared not only by the athletes, but also by residents and tourists. A large fan zone will therefore be set up in Bochnia’s Market Square, where the turnaround point of the bike course will be located. Local residents will prepare plenty of attractions for fans. Along the run course, there will be four themed fan zones, each with its own atmosphere and music. Fans will be able to move between the zones, creating a unique atmosphere throughout the race day. The zones will be located at different points along the three-lap run course.
Fan zones:
- Folk Zone, where the Krakowiacy Song and Dance Ensemble will bring the spirit of the Małopolska region to life. The artists will perform in traditional regional costumes, presenting live folk music, singing and dancing.
- Freestyle Zone, where the Domofonia collective will bring plenty of energy. Improvised cheering, freestyle rap, a DJ and live drums will create a unique atmosphere and motivate athletes to fight for every second.
- Drum Zone, where musicians from the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków will perform energetic rhythms inspired by Latin and African-American music, giving extra energy to both athletes and fans.
- Rock Zone, where professional drummer Damian Krawczyk and DJ Pedro will create a dynamic atmosphere featuring some of the greatest rock hits.
An additional attraction will be a city game connecting the fan zones. Volunteers will encourage participants to visit all the locations, turning cheering into an active way of taking part in the event.
A spectacle that will make history. The sky above the Vistula will light up
This will be a moment all of Kraków will be talking about. On Saturday at 9:30 PM, a spectacular drone show will begin above the Vistula boulevards, with free admission for everyone.
For the first time in the history of IRONMAN events, a drone show will become part of the official event programme. And for the first time, hundreds of synchronised drones will dance above the Vistula River, with one of Europe’s most beautiful landmarks, Wawel Royal Castle, providing a spectacular natural backdrop.
Light, music, modern technology and emotion will come together to create a show unlike anything seen before at an IRONMAN Poland event. The night sky will be filled with impressive animations inspired by triathlon, Kraków and the idea of pushing beyond your own limits.
This event has been prepared not only for race participants. The organisers invite all Kraków residents and tourists to join. Simply come to the Vistula River and look up at the sky.
Kraków has never seen a Saturday night finale like this before.
A sport that brings the city together
From the very beginning, Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Kraków was created as an event that goes far beyond the sporting competition itself. It is a weekend when residents can cheer together, take part in family activities, visit the Expo, follow the athletes as they race through some of the most beautiful parts of the city and experience the atmosphere of one of the world’s most prestigious sports brands. The combination of world-class triathlon and attractions for the whole family makes Enea IRONMAN 70.3 Kraków not only an event for athletes, but also one of the most exciting summer weekends in Kraków’s cultural and sporting calendar. During the first weekend of August, the city will live and breathe sport from early morning until late in the evening, both on and off the race course.
All details about the triathlon weekend are available on the official event website: https://ironmankrakow.pl/
ENEA is the title sponsor of the IRONMAN Poland series. The City of Kraków is the strategic partner of ENEA IRONMAN 70.3 Kraków. The Małopolska Regional Government and the City of Bochnia are event partners. Other sponsors and partners of the event include: Citi Handlowy, drWitt, Qemetica, Sportano.pl, Enterprise, Pho3nix, Cisowianka, Czanieckie Makarony, Wessper, Medical Sport, Arcyksiążęcy Browar Zamkowy Cieszyn, Shimano, Hydrex and 226ers. Jagiellonian University is the Social Partner.
