One month to go until the most extreme race on the XTRI circuit: over 5,000 metres of elevation gain in one of the most impressive and spectacular natural settings on the planet.

For the past ten years, no event in the world of endurance sports has combined spectacle, toughness, and allure quite like ICON Xtreme Triathlon. From September 2 to 5, Livigno will once again host the most extreme race on the XTRI World Tour, the prestigious international circuit that brings together the world's most iconic triathlons—from the mountains of Norway to the peaks of the Himalayas, via Canada, Brazil, Colombia, France, Australia, and many other destinations where nature has challenged humanity in extraordinary ways. An atlas of pure endurance, where Livigno holds a truly unique place: the race that, more than any other, pushes the very concept of extreme triathlon to its absolute limit. The competition will begin at dawn on Friday, September 4, but the entire week will guide athletes and their support teams through a carefully designed preparation program focused on physical, technical, and mental readiness. Briefings, course reconnaissance, lake familiarisation sessions, and shared experiences will culminate in a guided meditation on the eve of the race.

With its 3.8 km swim, 195 km bike ride, and 42.2 km run, ICON Xtreme Triathlon is far more than a race. It is a journey through some of Europe's most spectacular Alpine landscapes, taking athletes from Livigno at 1,816 metresabove sea level to Carosello 3000 at 3,000 metres, the highest finish line on the entire XTRI World Tour. A challenge shaped by altitude, mountains, and the determination to keep pushing beyond every limit—even when the body feels it has nothing left to give.

Each edition brings together athletes from all over the world, united by the pursuit of something that goes beyond athletic performance alone, reaching into the realms of psychology and the deeper spirit of endurance sport. Taking on ICON Xtreme Triathlon requires months of physical, technical, and mental preparation, as well as the constant support of a dedicated support team, who accompanies each athlete throughout the entire race, sharing every challenge and every achievement. It is this unique bond that makes ICON one of the most profound endurance experiences in the world—a race where individual performance is always the result of a collective journey, built on trust, sacrifice, and determination.

At dawn on September 4, the race start will once again deliver one of the most powerful moments of the entire experience. As darkness still blankets Lake Livigno, athletes will enter the water accompanied by the rhythm of drums and the flickering reflections of flames across the lake's surface. An ancient and deeply evocative ritual, suspended between silence and adrenaline, it marks the beginning of a day destined to remain etched in the memory of everyone who experiences it.

From that moment on, the race unfolds along a route that crosses two countries and some of the most iconic mountains in the Alps. Following the swim in Lake Livigno, the cycling leg takes athletes over the Forcola Pass, Bernina Pass, and Forno Pass, before tackling the legendary 48 hairpin bends of Stelvio Pass, the second-highest paved mountain pass in Europe, and returning to Livigno via Foscagno Pass. A total of 195 kilometres on the bike, with more than 5,000 metres of elevation gain. The final marathon then leads competitors from Trepalle to Carosello 3000, at 3,000 metres above sea level, where the highest—and arguably toughest—finish line in the world of endurance awaits.

It is there, at the summit, that ICON reveals its truest meaning. The finish line celebrates far more than a sporting achievement—it marks the culmination of a deeply personal journey shaped by months of preparation, doubt, sacrifice, and determination. Since the very first edition, every finisher has been welcomed as the hero of their own story, together with the support team that stood by them every step of the way. For many, this shared moment of celebration becomes the most unforgettable memory of their sporting career. The following day, the 2026 Awards Ceremony and the traditional Pasta Party will bring the event to a close, giving athletes and their support teams one final opportunity to celebrate together before heading home. The celebration is not only for the winners, but for everyone who has completed a journey that tests the body, the mind, and the strength of the human spirit.

Through events such as ICON Xtreme Triathlon, Livigno continues to strengthen its position as an international benchmark for endurance sports and elite athletic preparation. A destination where performance is part of its very identity, combining high altitude, world-class facilities, unspoilt natural surroundings, and a culture of hospitality designed around the needs of athletes.

From September 2 to 5, all of this will come to life once again in one of the world's most spectacular and demanding endurance competitions. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, ICON Xtreme Triathlon continues to attract some of the finest endurance athletes from around the globe and, year after year, proves that certain achievements can only be born in places capable of making them possible—because the setting matters, and the stage is every bit as important as the performance itself.