Lidl Setubal Triathlon (Half)
Setubal, Portugal · April · Independent (HMS Sports / Setubal municipality)
Why people love it
- Genuine 70.3 distances: 1.9 km (1.2 mi) / 90 km (55.9 mi) / 21.1 km (1.2 / 56 / 13.1 mi).
- Bike through the Serra da Arrábida natural park with about 970 m (3,183 ft) of climbing.
- Sold out with 1,000+ athletes and a city-centre finish.
- Flat four-lap run.
Watch out for
- Swim was shortened in 2020 to about 950 m (0.6 mi) and in 2022 to 700 m (0.4 mi).
- Roads in the Arrábida were very slippery when wet in 2020.
- April weather swings: fog, rain and some hypothermia cases were reported.
- No first-person athlete reports are published.
- Entries and hotels sell out.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.7
Sold out with about 1,000 athletes and a praised Arrábida bike, but no first-person reports and two shortened swims. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
Sold out, 592 finishers handled in 2022 and the fog-hit swim shortened sensibly; the press credits the organisers. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.0
Hilly 90 km (56 mi) bike with 970 m (3,183 ft) of climbing and slippery wet roads, but a flat run and good support. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.8
Winners took 3:46:53 (2022, short swim) and 3:58:23 (2020), slow for a 70.3, on a bike with 970 m (3,183 ft) of climbing. · Low confidence
- Course easeTough2.8
970 m (3,183 ft) of bike climbing in the Arrábida, with cool and wet conditions. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.9
April estuary water is likely 14 to 16 °C (57 to 61 °F); wetsuit rules are not published. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable2.5
Likely cool in April, 14 to 16 °C (57 to 61 °F); medics reported hypothermia cases in 2025. · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop2.7
The 2020 swim was halved for rough Sado water and the 2022 swim cut for fog; the estuary is tidal. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.0
A rolling start eases contact, but fog and chop hurt visibility in two editions. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine2.8
Urban estuary swim that has been shortened in two recorded editions. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.0
Very slippery when wet in 2020; no other surface data is published. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.5
A city-run event; closures are not documented. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.2
Arrábida natural park coast and hills. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
No wind reports are published; coastal Portugal. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage2.7
970 m (3,183 ft) of climbing over two 45 km (28 mi) laps, with wet roads in 2020. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessHilly2.4
970 m (3,183 ft) over 90 km (56 mi) is above the hilly band for a half. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.9
Serra descents that were slippery in the wet. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.6
Four-lap run in the city with a central finish at Largo José Afonso. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.7
Organisation is praised; no detailed aid reports. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.2
Urban waterfront laps. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy4.0
Flat laps in cool April weather. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.7
A flat four-lap half marathon of 21.1 km (13.1 mi). · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.5
Likely 10 to 20 °C (50 to 68 °F), with fog, rain and some cold in recorded years. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.6
Fog in 2022 and rain in 2020, so both documented editions were affected. · Medium confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.1
Sado estuary, Arrábida hills and an old port city. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Four-lap run with a central finish. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Setúbal is at about 10 m (33 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early2.8
Hotels were fully booked in 2022 and entries sell out. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
No pricing data is published; mid-range Portuguese prices are likely. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Start at Albarquel park, finish in the city centre. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.1
Lisbon airport is about 40 to 50 km (25 to 31 mi) away. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
City-based event; transition arrangements are not documented. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.1
A seafood city with plenty of restaurants. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Setubal, Setubal District, Lisbon region, Portugal
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 12 April 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (HMS Sports / Setubal municipality)
- Field size
- About 1,000 athletes
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Sado estuary, Albarquel Urban Park (river)
- Swim start
- rolling
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 970 m (3,180 ft)
- Bike laps
- 2
- Key climbs
- Serra da Arrabida
- Run laps
- 4
- Air temperature
- 10–20 °C (50–68 °F)
- Altitude
- 10 m (33 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Lisbon (LIS)
- Where to stay
- Setubal city centre
- Booking
- Setubal hotels were fully booked in 2022; entries sell out.
What racers and reviewers say
- Revista Atletismo (6th edition)Raced 2022 · article · Positive
Fog delayed the 8:00 start and cut the swim to 700 m (0.4 mi). 592 finished, roughly 30% foreign, entries sold out and hotels were full. Bike runs through the Arrabida with a flat half-marathon, and organisation is credited.
- Revista Atletismo (4th edition)Raced 2020 · article · Mixed
Pandemic-era edition: swim cut to about 950 m (0.6 mi) probably due to rough Sado water, a wet and slippery bike with 970 m (3,183 ft) of climbing in the Arrabida, and a flat four-lap run. 372 classified. (Via search snippet.)
- Visit SetubalRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Official-style 2024 preview: 1.9 km (1.2 mi) Sado swim from Albarquel Park, two 45 km (28 mi) bike laps through Mitrena and the Arrabida, four-lap run to Largo Jose Afonso. Sold out with over 1,000 athletes.
- Revista Atletismo (entries)article · Positive
Entries sold out with about 800 triathletes in an earlier edition, showing consistent demand. Title only read via search result.
- Hospital da Luz SetubalRaced 2025 · article · Mixed
Medical-support note for the 2025 edition about 1,000 athletes: few bike crashes, some cramps and a few cases of hypothermia and dehydration. (Details via search snippet; the page itself was empty.)
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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