The 31st edition of La Tour Geneva Triathlon breaks records to become the biggest triathlon in Switzerland

• La Tour Geneva Triathlon becomes the biggest triathlon in Switzerland with more than 3,523 registered participants
• Intense competition expected across the 7 race formats
• The best, young Swiss talents to compete in the Youth League
• An event for all: from the youngest to the oldest, with or without disabilities
• Jérémy Desplanches, Olympic bronze medallist, confirms participation

Tomorrow, 18th September, the highly anticipated 31st edition of La Tour Geneva Triathlon will get underway from a new location at the Eaux-Vives beach. After the forced cancellation of the event in 2020, many seasoned athletes have been waiting for two years to be able to relive this flagship event, while newcomers are eagerly awaiting their chance to finally take part in the La Tour Geneva Triathlon.

This year, more than 3,523 athletes have signed up for the competition, securing the events place as the biggest triathlon in Switzerland.

Athletes set to make a splash

Among the numerous participants, event ambassador Thomas Huwiler will take part in the Half Distance, declaring, “the competition is going to be tough this year.” Some of the biggest competition is expected to come from the Swiss triathlete Tom Hug, a member of the Triathlon Club Geneva, who recently finished second in the Olympic format (also named standard) at the Lausanne triathlon and who will compete in his first Half.

In the standard race format, Louis Quiniou and Alexandre Di Giuseppe - both members of the Triathlon Club Genève - and Matthieu Wider, reigning Swiss champion in the Olympic distance in the 35-44 years old category, are the pre-event favourites. In the women’s category, Swiss triathlete Camille Nieto, winner of the Lausanne triathlon this year and of the short format in Geneva in 2018 (1H06’45), is a stand-out contender.

In the short race format, the battle amongst the men is expected to play out between Yoann Number, winner in 2019, and Matthieu Wider, who will compete in the short race format in addition to the standard. Loïc Bussard, a former basketball player who took up triathlon two years ago, and who recently won the short formats of the Nyon and Lausanne triathlons, will also be one to watch.

In the women’s race, the Swiss athletes Manon Pesse and Morgane Bussard will both be hoping to take the crown for themselves. Bussard, the elder sister of Loïc Bussard impressed at the last two regional triathlons in Nyon and Lausanne, claiming victory at both. A former national level swimmer and has recently taken up triathlon, Bussard has already proven herself as a tough competitor.

Triathlon, a sport for everyone

Historically a male-dominated sport, the event has seen an increase in the number of female participants from 29% to 34% of the total entrants in the last two years. Amongst these, interest from young women, has seen a significant increase. Coline Deschamps, a 17-year-old sportswoman, plans to run her first Half in Geneva as part of a project for her high school diploma: “I have always swum, but it is only since the first confinement that I have taken up cycling, then running. The objective is of course to finish this Half but also to prove that it is possible to combine sport and study and thus motivate young people and women to take part in long distance events.”

In the shorter distances, the young athletes of the Youth League (the best 14/15 year old in Switzerland) will also run on a dedicated course, designed as a pathway to the professional circuit. Indeed, the event will host the final of the Swiss Triathlon Youth League on Saturday 18th September.

As the race slogan says, “Tri for one, Tri for all,” and the event is proud to be able to welcome athletes with disabilities, including Pascal Fumeaux, Lisa Jennings and Céline Van Till.

The organisers are also honoured to welcome Jérémy Desplanches, Olympic bronze medallist at the Tokyo Olympics this summer, who will be taking part in the short relay format with friends.

For this year, a strict health protocol will be in place within the event, with, among other things, the COVID Passport to be presented by all participants.

Benjamin Chandelier, Event Director, is looking forward to the event: “We have all missed the triathlon; participants, partners, communities, media, volunteers and organisers. We are happy to launch this 31st edition on a new shore with our faithful institutional and private partners and, in particular, L’Hôpital de La Tour, our Main Partner. For the second year, UNHCR is the charity partner of the event, and we are proud to help raise funds to help refugee families. Together with all our partners, we have managed to get our heads above water and offer participants a sensational and environmentally friendly event that will mark the end of the summer in style.”