Midlands Ultra Triathlon

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13 Sep 2026, Saturday

The return of the legendary Midlands Ultra Triathlon will take place at the iconic Midmar Dam, one of South Africa’s premier endurance sport venues. We will also be staging a QUEST Open water swimming race on the Saturday morning.

The Midlands Ultra Triathlon is positioned as “The ultimate stepping-stone into ultra-distance triathlon racing in South Africa.” It bridges the gap between standard-distance events and full ultra/endurance challenges, making it the perfect next step for developing athletes while still offering a rewarding experience for seasoned competitors.

These two distances are designed to cater for both experienced competitors and developing athletes looking to step up into longer-format racing.

The Quest Swim will use the same swim routes (Sprint & Ultra) as the Triathlon on Sunday, but will be a family Friendly race for competitors who want to shake off their post winter blues.

Event Info

(Start times may be adjusted based on final entries and safety considerations.)

VenueMidmar Dam, Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands
Quest Swim Event
DateSaturday, 12 Sep 2026
Distances
Same route as Sunday
Swim: 750m, 1.6km, 3.2km
Race Schedule
06:00 - 07:45:
QUEST Swimming Registration
08:00:
3.2km SWIM Starts
08:30:
1.6km SWIM Starts
09:00:
750m SWIM Race starts
09:30:
QUEST Prize Giving
11:00 - 16:00:
Midlands Ultra Race registration
Midlands Ultra Triathlon Event
Ultra & AquaBike
DateSunday, 13 sep 2026
Distances
Swim: 1.6km (open water)
Cycle: 55km (road)
Run: 12km (road)
Race Schedule
05:00 - 06:00:
Midlands Ultra late registration
05:30 - 07:00:
Transition opens
06:45:
Race brieifing (all athletes)
07:30:
Ultra & Aquabike race start
08:30 ->
Athletes finish
11:00:
Prize Giving & Awards Ceremony

55km Bike Route

12km Run Route

Midlands Ultra Triathlon Event
Sprint
DateSunday, 13 sep 2026
Distances
Swim: 750m (open water)
Cycle: 20km (road)
Run: 5km (road/trail mix)
Race Schedule
05:00 - 06:00:
Midlands Ultra late registration
05:30 - 07:00:
Transition opens
06:45:
Race brieifing (all athletes)
07:00:
Sprint race start
08:30 ->
Athletes finish
11:00:
Prize Giving & Awards Ceremony

20km Bike Route

5km Run Route

Swim Course

  • Open water swim in the dam, starting at the main slipway
  • Clearly marked buoy course
  • Calm inland water conditions, ideal for all levels.

    Cycle Route

    • Out-and-back or looped route on the R103 to the Dargle road and back
    • Rolling hills with smooth tarmac
    • Fully marshalled with traffic police support at control points

      Run Course

      • The Run course will take place on the internal roads inside Midmar Dam
      • Scenic, slightly undulating terrain
      • Spectator-friendly laps around the event village

        Transition Area

        • Single transition zone (T1 & T2 combined)
        • Positioned adjacent to swim exit and event village
        • Racked bikes with clear athlete flow and directional signage

          Event Village

          • Registration, expo, medical, recovery zone, and food vendors
          • Family-friendly atmosphere with live commentary and entertainment

            What does it include

            • An awesome safe fun family event
            • Participation of one of the oldest Triathlon in South Africa
            • Legendary Goodie Bag
            • Race branded apparel in your Goodie bag
            • Branded Swim Cap
            • Timing Race Chip and Race number
            • Medical Assistance Safety Officer
            • Swim Lifeguards Run Marshals
            • Loaded Water Tables on the Bike and Run
            • Iconic Finishers medal
            • Ice cold aQuelle on the finish line
            • R15 000 Prize Money to Overall Race Winners
            • Lucky draw Sponsored prizes

            Triathlon Licences

            All athletes must either have an annual TSA licence or purchase a Temporary TSA DAY Licence which will be valid for the event only.

            • R381 for seniors
            • R330 for Juniors

            You can buy your annual licence here: https://triathlonsa.co.za/registration/

            (We strongly recommend all athletes to buy an annual Triathlon SA licence from TSA. It is a lot cheaper and easier for each event. It also supports Triathlon SA in a bigger way to build the Sport.)

            Midmar Dam: Where Endurance Meets Landscape

            Midmar Dam is one of South Africa’s premier endurance sport venues. This epic Triathlon returns to where the Ultra Series roots were planted back in 2009, with the staging of 9 successful events at Midmar Dam.

            Nestled in the scenic KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, the venue is renowned for hosting world-class events and offers a safe, controlled environment for open water swimming, cycling, and running. Being on 4hrs from Joburg and 1hr from Durban, the area and venue offers an exciting new race and routes for endurance athletes and weekend warriors.

            Set against rolling hills, fresh country air, and panoramic dam views, the Midlands Ultra delivers a premium race experience for both seasoned triathletes and aspiring endurance athletes.