Swissultra Single Triathlon

Buchs (SG), Switzerland · August · Independent

Why people love it

Outdoor 50 m (164 ft) pool swim and short loops: 9.02 km (5.6 mi) bike, 1.22 km (0.76 mi) run
Volunteer non-profit with a long ultra-triathlon history
One venue and a 24 hour limit for the 226 km (140.6 mi) total
Easy rail access to Buchs SG

2.8Good

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 satisfactionLiked3.0
A distinctive pool-and-loops format run by volunteers. No single-distance athlete reviews found, so expect an unusual rather than a scenic day. · Low confidence
OrganizationWell run3.8
The ultra organiser has run events since about 2017 and allows 24 hours. No direct athlete reviews found. · Low confidence
First timer friendlyDemanding2.2
Older rules required a prior long-distance or ultra finish (check current rules). The field is tiny, but the venue is flat with 24 hours allowed. · Low confidence

PR potentialAverage3.3
Pool swim and a flat loop with about 400 m (1,300 ft) of gain. Twenty bike laps mean repeated turns, and no times are published. · Low confidence
Course easeTough3.2
The terrain is easy, but 76 pool lengths, 20 bike laps and 35 run laps are a mental grind, possibly into a cold night. · Low confidence

3.1Good

Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

Wetsuit legalSeldom1.5
It is a pool swim, and wetsuits are not expected to be used (not confirmed), so there is no wetsuit benefit. · Low confidence
Water temperatureComfortable3.8
Outdoor pool in August, typically 22-26 °C (72-79 °F). Temperature is not published. · Low confidence
Calm waterGlassy4.8
Outdoor 50 m (164 ft) pool with no chop or current. Expect a little wake from other swimmers. · Medium confidence
Swim easeEasy4.2
Lane swimming with no sighting or navigation, though you must count 76 lengths and share lanes. · Medium confidence
Swim experienceFine2.6
Outdoor 50 m (164 ft) pool, 76 lengths. Clear and controlled but unscenic, with a rolling start in a 7-9 am slot. · Low confidence

3.5Very good

Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.

Road surfaceGood4.0
Swiss public roads, likely good. No direct report. · Low confidence
Road closuresPartly closed3.4
A looped course with marshals. Whether roads are closed is not published. · Low confidence
Bike sceneryPleasant2.8
Rhine valley with an Alpine backdrop, but you ride the same 9.02 km (5.6 mi) loop 20 times. · Low confidence
WindSome wind3.4
No wind data. The open Rhine valley can see occasional Foehn winds and storms. · Low confidence

Bike speedAverage3.4
Flat 9.02 km (5.6 mi) loop, but 20 laps means repeated turns. No finish times published. · Low confidence
Bike flatnessPancake flat4.7
About 400 m (1,300 ft) of climbing per day on a valley loop, under the 600 m (2,000 ft) pancake mark. The figure is approximate. · Low confidence
Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.8
Twenty laps of a 9.02 km (5.6 mi) loop means many repeated turns. No detail published. · Low confidence

2.8Good

Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

Crowd supportSparse1.8
A very small volunteer-run field, so few spectators beyond helpers. · Low confidence
Aid stationsGood4.2
Aid sits near the start/finish, so you pass it every 1.22 km (0.76 mi) on the run loop. Volunteers are on site all day. · Low confidence
Run sceneryPlain2.0
Thirty-five laps of a 1.22 km (0.76 mi) loop beside the pool. · Low confidence
Run conditionsModerate3.4
Flat road and constant aid, but 35 laps after 180 km (112 mi) of riding, possibly on a cold night. · Low confidence

Run flatnessFlat4.8
A short flat 1.22 km (0.76 mi) road loop. Elevation is not published but looks negligible. · Low confidence

3.6Very good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

Air temperaturePleasant3.9
August days of 20-27 °C (68-81 °F) with cooler nights near 12 °C (54 °F). Not officially published. · Low confidence
Weather reliabilityVariable2.7
The 2017 multi-day event was stopped for thunderstorms and heavy rain. Summer storms and cold nights are plausible. · Low confidence
Venue beautyPleasant3.3
The Alpine Rhine valley near the Liechtenstein border, but the venue itself is a municipal pool and short loops. · Low confidence
Spectator friendlyEasy4.3
Short loops of 9.02 km (5.6 mi) and 1.22 km (0.76 mi) mean supporters see you constantly. · Low confidence

Low altitudeLow3.8
Buchs SG sits at about 450 m (1,480 ft), so altitude has no real effect. · Medium confidence

4.0Very good

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.

Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Small field, and hotels in Buchs and the Rhine valley should be plentiful. · Low confidence
Hotel valuePricey2.4
Switzerland is expensive. No race-specific pricing published. · Low confidence
WalkabilityWalkable3.6
The race area is about 2 km (1.2 mi) from Buchs station and the town centre. · Low confidence
Travel easeEasy4.1
Buchs SG is on the Zurich to Vienna main rail line, with Zurich airport as the main gateway. · Low confidence
LogisticsVery simple4.6
One venue with all loops around the pool, so no transition shuttles. · Low confidence
Town and foodFine2.9
A small Swiss town. Adequate but unremarkable. · Low confidence

Location: Buchs (SG), St. Gallen, Switzerland
Typical month: August
Latest or next date: 12 August 2025
Organiser: Independent
Distances: 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run
Cutoffs: Swim 2:00 window (start 7:00-9:00 slot), Bike 17:00 from swim start incl. transitions, Finish 24:00
Swim venue: Buchs outdoor pool (Freibad), 50 m lanes (pool)
Wetsuit: Banned
Swim start: rolling
Swim laps: 76
Bike climbing: 400 m (1,310 ft)
Bike laps: 20
Run laps: 35
Altitude: 450 m (1,480 ft)
Nearest airport: Altenrhein (ACH) / Zurich (ZRH)
Where to stay: Buchs SG town centre
Booking: Race area is about 2 km from Buchs station; Buchs SG is on the main Zurich-Vienna rail line. No hotel reviews found.

Swissultra official Single pageRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Organizer page: 226 km (140.6 mi) in one go, 24 h limit, swim window 7-9 am, bike cutoff 17 h, CHF 400 entry, start at Buchs outdoor pool. Non-profit volunteer organization. Source of structural facts only.
IUTA race facts - Buchsaggregator · Positive
Ultra-triathlon federation lists a 50 m (164 ft) pool, ~9.02 km (5.6 mi) bike loop and ~1.22 km (0.76 mi) run loop, with about 400 m (1,300 ft) gradient per daily distance. Facts for the loops, not an athlete review.
24ur.com (Slovenian news)Raced 2017 · article · Mixed
Covers a Slovenian athlete in the 2017 Deca (10x Ironman) at Buchs, one of 15 entrants worldwide. His team described a storm, cold and unexpected problems, with sleep solving many issues. Relates to the ultra race but shows weather and event scale.
IUTA results - Deca 2017 BuchsRaced 2017 · aggregator · Mixed
Results page notes the 2017 Deca was stopped for a time on day 4 due to thunderstorm and heavy rain for athlete safety. Illustrates weather risk at the venue.

Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.