Recently I held a consultation with someone who wanted help choosing an IRONMAN event in Europe. We spent most of the call trying to find the cut off times for various European IRONMA events. This information is quite hard to find in some cases. Perhaps to mask the fact they have a shorter cutoff and encourage signups by hapless athletes.
This is a huge factor for an athlete who is looking to take on their first event. If you’re feeling nervous about the event, knowing the cutoff is essential information. So I thought I’d compile a list of European IRONMAN cutoff times (as of early 2026) to help others choose the right event. I’ll also include a brief description of each race and conditions you can broadly expect on the day.
A big, massive disclaimer before we get started. Any information in the athlete guide, or on the IRONMAN website supersedes anything you read here. This is merely the results of research I took at a single point in time. It may be that the race organiser changes the cutoffs from year to year as they renegotiate with local government. Or that I might simply make a human error in collection of this data. Make sure you go and check yourself before you sign up, don’t just take my word for it.
Broadly speaking you will have 2:20 to complete the swim. You then have 10:30 to complete the swim, T1 and the bike. Generally speaking, the run is the only discipline where shorter cutoffs have a meaningful effect. There will also be intermediary cutoffs on the bike course. If you are riding slower than the pace required to complete the course, you will be prevented from continuing.
All times are calculated from when you enter the water. Don’t line yourself up near the front to give yourself more time to finish your event. You will get swam over and have a terrible time.
With all that out the way, let’s look at the cutoffs. I will group events by country.
IRONMAN Leeds Cut Off
This hilly event has a 17 hour cutoff, which some people will need every second of. A lake swim will work in your favour, but the steep hills of Yorkshire and an undulating run course will test you. Thankfully, mild air temperatures will prevent you from overheating, and make this punishing course a little more bearable most years.
IRONMAN Wales Cut Off
Tenby has a 17 hour cutoff, which like Leeds, many athletes will require every second of. With a sea swim prone to currents, a brutal bike course, and probably the hilliest marathon course on the IRONMAN circuit, this is far from a beginner’s course, but at least you have the full 17 hours to complete it. You can also expect wet and windy conditions, just to add to the fun.
IRONMAN Vichy Cut Off
This is an event I have had trouble finding an official cutoff for. However, the results on the IRONMAN website suggests that IRONMAN Vichy has has historically had a 17 hour cutoff. A river swim rolling bike course and flat run route makes this an appealing course for first time athletes. However, with the water temperature averaging around 22 degrees, this could result in a non-wetsuit swim some years.
IRONMAN Tours Metropole Cut Off
This event only gives athletes 16 hours to complete the course. With a river swim, flat bike course and flat run however, it should not be overly challenging for well trained athletes to finish within the cutoff.
IRONMAN Nice Cut Off
One of the most famous courses in Europe, this mountainous epic hosted the world championship between 2022 and 2025. The sea swim, mountainous bike and coastal run must be completed within 16 hours for an official finish. This is not a race for the faint of heart. I would not recommend it for the first time athlete.
IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz Cut Off
The good news is that this event has a lake swim, rolling bike and flat run making it one of the easier courses in Europe. The downside is that you only have 15:30 to complete the event. This is quite a frugal cutoff, so make sure you’re confident in your ability before signing up.
IRONMAN Barcelona Cut Off
IRONMAN Barcelona is one of the most popular races on the calendar for first time athletes. What’s not so well publicised is that the cutoff is only 16 hours. The swim is in the ocean, but the bike and run are both as flat as they get. Combined with mild temperatures, you should not discount this race as a first timer.
IRONMAN Lanzarote Cut Off
The good news is that this event has a 17 hour cut off. The bad news is that it’s probably the most challenging IRONMAN course on the planet. With an ocean swim, hilly bike course famous for being windy and a rolling run course, anyone who finishes this event has my respect.
IRONMAN Portugal Cut Off
A popular alternative to Barcelona is IRONMAN Portugal-Cascais. This is a more rolling course than Barcelona, and is also held late in the season. This allows you to train through the summer rather than through the colder months. A 16:45 cutoff is quite unusual, it seems they weren’t able to negotiate that extra 15 minutes with the local authorities. The swim is in a sheltered bay which should be appealing to more nervous swimmer. Whether the rolling nature of the course is a fair price to pay for an extra 45 minutes to finish the event is for you to decide.
IRONMAN Frankfurt Cut Off
The IRONMAN in Frankfurt is known for its rolling bike, flat run, and a swim where wetsuits are often banned. Between this and the 15 hour cutoff, this is not the kind of event I recommend for nervous first timers.
IRONMAN Hamburg cut off
Another IRONMAN in Germany, another 15 hour cut off. For whatever reason. This time it is the European championship in Hamburg, which attracts the fastest athletes in Europe. With a lake swim, flat bike and flat run it is an incredibly fast course. However, you have two hours less to get round than other events. Great for PBs, not so great for someone who just wants to finish within the cut off.
IRONMAN Austria cut off
Sticking with our Germanic theme, it’s onto Kaernten-Klagenfurt for IRONMAN Austria. This race consist of a lake swim, rolling bike and flat run. Held in mid June the temperatures are normally warm, but not too hot. Added to this, you have the full 17 hours to get round the course. The downside is that the water temperature is on the higher side, and wetsuits have been banned here before. Proceed with caution if you are a new or nervous swimmer.
IRONMAN Kalmer cut off
A popular race due to its flat bike and flat run. The swim is in the ocean which may give weaker swimmers pause for thought. Despite this, its date in August and Scandinavian conditions make it a popular choice. You only have 16 hours to complete the race, but given the flat and fast nature of the course this should at least place it in the “maybe” pile for first time athletes.
IRONMAN Copenhagen cut off
Copenhagen is a popular race due to its ease of access from much of northern Europe. With a sheltered bay swim, rolling bike and rolling run, it’s a popular event. The downside is that the cut off is only 15:45. This is definitely on the shorter side of things.
IRONMAN Estonia cut off
Good news everyone! Another 17 hour cutoff. Yes, it’s been a while, but in IRONMAN Estonia we have another full length race. Phew! The fact the event itself is made up of a bay swim, flat ride and flat run is the icing on the cake. This event rivals Austria with the best event for first timers in Europe. The air temperatures are slightly cooler than Austria and the swim will never be in danger of having wetsuits banned.
IRONMAN Italy cut off
Finally, we have Italy’s offering. An ocean swim is followed by a flat bike and flat run which makes for a tantalising prospect for first timers, but you only have 16 hours to get round. Don’t discount this race completely, especially if you are a confident swimmer.
Conclusion
The length of the cut off for an IRONMAN race is an important consideration for first time athletes. Giving yourself the full 17 hours to get round is a sensible move. That being said, I generally I recommend choosing a flat event with a shorter cutoff over a hilly event with the full 17 hour cut off. The hills (and fatigue they generate in your legs) will cost you a lot of time.
Do your research, but also don’t be afraid to follow your gut.
