Internationaler Kalterer See Triathlon

The historic triathlon of South Tyrol

The Internationaler Kalterer See Triathlon is one of Italy's most prestigious and long-standing triathlon competitions. Established in 1989, it takes place every spring on the shores of Lake Caldaro (Kalterer See), the warmest swimming lake in the Alpine region, located in the municipality of Caldaro sulla strada del vino/Kaltern an der Weinstraße, in the province of Bolzano, Trentino-Alto Adige. The race is organized by the triathlon section of the Kalterer Sportverein (KSV) in collaboration with the local tourist board.

The Olympic distance

The competition follows the classic Olympic distance, consisting of three consecutive segments:

• Swim — 1.5 km in the mild waters of Lake Caldaro, featuring a signature starting dive and a second dive mid-course, which is always a crowd favorite;
• Cycling — 40 km across three 13.35 km laps around the lake, along a scenic route that winds through vineyards and orchards up to an altitude of 349 meters;
• Running — 10 km over two laps near the Lido and through the rows of vines in the Bassa Atesina region.

An event with a long history

The idea was born almost by chance when Hubert Andergassen, then president of the Kalterer Sportverein, attended a triathlon in Jesolo with Paul Sparer and a group of young athletes from Caldaro, deciding to bring the discipline to the lake's shores. The inaugural 1989 edition saw victory for Germany's Hermann Kramer and Italy's Carla Garbarino. Over the decades, the race has hosted numerous champions, including Olympic athletes, and boasts a roll of honor dominated by Italian talent.

The Lido and the village of Caldaro

The heart of the event is the Lido di San Giuseppe al Lago, the lakeside district of Caldaro, which serves as the start and finish line. Caldaro sulla Strada del Vino is one of South Tyrol's most renowned wine-producing towns: the triathlon thus takes place in a stunning landscape, nestled between the lake, the vineyards, and the mountains of the Bassa Atesina.