Results from the inaugural Réunion Tri Tour 2026

The setting could almost be Kona. A lagoon swim, a volcanic island to ride around, heat and humidity as extra adversaries, then elevation and a long run to bring it home. But this isn’t the Big Island: the playground lies in the heart of the Indian Ocean, on Réunion Island. On September 5, 150 triathletes lined up for the first XXL edition of the Réunion Tri Tour, an event that served up a substantial challenge before anyone could even think about the Ultimate.

The basic schedule for this XXL Réunion Tri Tour was enough to fill a very long day: 3,000 m of swimming in the Saint-Leu lagoon, 234 km of cycling around the island, then 30 km of running between Pointe au Sel and La Savane. That meant several hours of effort in an environment where heat, and humidity above all, put serious pressure on pacing, hydration and the ability to stay sharp right to the finish.

On an event of this scale, aid stations take on a whole new importance. Drinking, fueling, cooling down and getting back underway without losing too much time all become part of the equation. On Réunion, the challenge isn’t just about the distance: it builds steadily through the duration of the effort, the weather and the terrain. But the Réunion Tri Tour had one more level in reserve: the Ultimate.

The fastest earn a shot at the Ultimate

To qualify for the Ultimate, athletes first had to complete the entire XXL course in under 14 hours. It was a race within the race, with every minute gained or lost over the 3 km swim, 234 km bike leg with 2,000 m of elevation gain, and 30 km run with 200 m of elevation gain potentially deciding whether they could continue.

Those who made the time cut then faced one final test: an additional 14 km of running and 832 m of elevation gain. The total run distance therefore came close to 44 km, taking the event into another dimension.

Robin Verdier and Olivia Percheminier take the wins

At this inaugural edition, 21 competitors completed the Ultimate course, becoming the first finishers in Réunion Tri Tour history.

In the men’s race, Frenchman Robin Verdier took the win in 13:11:07, ahead of Aurélien Bryan Fontaine, second in 14:00:05, and Martin Deleu, third in 14:09:30. In the women’s race, Frenchwoman Olivia Percheminier was the only athlete to complete the Ultimate, crossing the line after 16:30:55 of racing.

Ultimate results

Men

1) Robin Verdier (France): 13:11:07

2) Aurélien Bryan Fontaine (France): 14:00:05

3) Martin Deleu (France): 14:09:30

Women

1) Olivia Percheminier (France): 16:30:55

Full results