Oftringen, August 20, 2026 – The world’s toughest duathlon is heading toward a historic race weekend. At the exclusive partner and media event held at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Oftringen, the Organizing Committee (OC) unveiled groundbreaking innovations. In addition to a spectacular surge in registrations for the upcoming World Championship on September 5 and 6, 2026, the focus is on new leadership, radical sustainability, a digital debut, and global expansion by 2028. The spirit of optimism was palpable in the room: organizers, sponsors, and partners are looking forward to the upcoming sporting highlight with great enthusiasm and anticipation.
Global Expansion: Goal—a new Duathlon World Series starting in 2028
Behind the scenes at Powerman Zofingen, strategic planning for the future is in full swing. A high-caliber task force of sports and brand specialists has spent months defining the framework for the new Duathlon World Series. The official launch of this new global premier series is scheduled for 2028. The format closely follows the new branding and distances of the World Triathlon Series, which will debut with a new look in 2027.
In addition, the Organizing Committee has submitted the official bid for the World Cup Finals and the World Championships for 2027/2028. The chances of being awarded the event are good; the decision will be made in late September by the World Triathlon Executive Board.
A Surge in Participants and an 83-Year-Old Phenomenon
OK President Stefan Ruf announced impressive registration numbers: With well over 700 athletes already registered, the race has seen a 15 percent increase compared to last year. The field stands out for its extreme international diversity, with first-time participating nations such as Morocco, Zimbabwe, and Qatar. The most emotional story of the year comes from Germany’s Paul Thelen: At 83 years old, he is the oldest competitor and is taking on the grueling long-distance course (10 km run, 150 km bike, 30 km run).
The strongest elite field in years
On the sporting front, fans can look forward to a spectacular climbing and running event featuring many top stars and five current and former world champions:
The defending champions: Last year’s winning duo, Baptiste Domanico (France) and Merle Brunnée (Germany), will once again be the ones to beat.
- A historic opportunity: With another victory, four-time world champion Brunnée could surpass British icon Emma Pooley as the sole record-holder for the most world titles in the modern era.
- The Rematch: Frenchman Emile Blondel, the 2024 champion, is eager to redeem himself after being stopped by a bitter technical failure last year. Maxim Kuzmin, a former Russian world champion (2017 champion), is also competing under a neutral flag as he makes another bid for the podium.
- According to Swiss national coach Cameron Lamont, Switzerland is sending two men to the race who have long shots at winning medals: The experienced Jens Michale Gossauer, who has won everything in Zofingen except gold, and Benjam Ueltschy, who recently turned heads with a commanding victory at Ironman Switzerland.
New Management Expertise & 100% Volunteer Work
With Sandro Cattaneo as Head of Strategic Partnerships and Silvia Christen as Director of Services, the Organizing Committee is strengthening its structure. Cattaneo is focusing on emotional brand partnerships rather than traditional sponsorship and is establishing the new event experience zone as a modern replacement for the traditional expo. Christen coordinates all services, from accommodations to the Race Office. This massive undertaking is supported by a 35-member Organizing Committee and approximately 600 volunteers—a 100 percent volunteer effort that is no longer a given in today’s world.
Digital Innovation: The First Virtual Starter Kit
The virtual starter bag, launched in cooperation with Sportsparadise Switzerland AG, is considered the most important digital innovation of 2026. As Chairman of the Board Oliver Klaus pointed out, this digital tool replaces the waste-intensive physical goodie bags. Athletes will receive all information and partner vouchers directly on their smartphones. This saves kilograms of paper, eliminates the logistical effort involved in packaging and storage, and allows sponsors to target their messaging. This technology will be used for the first time at the Powerman Zofingen. In addition, Sportsparadise Switzerland AG has newly committed to serving as an official sponsor for the 2026 World Championships.
Endurance Meets Sustainability: The Hunt for Eco-Gold
Under the leadership of Roger Müller, Head of Safety and Sustainability, the event is driving forward its sustainability initiative. The stated goal is to achieve World Triathlon Silver Level status—with an eye toward eventually attaining Gold Level status. To this end, a comprehensive and rigorous emissions calculation process has been launched. With support from partners such as AMAG, which is converting its entire official fleet to electric vehicles, environmental measures are being implemented in the areas of mobility, energy supply, infrastructure, and printed materials.
A Major Financial Effort and Strong Partnerships
Funding remains a challenge in light of rising event costs, as sponsorship revenue has remained at a similar level for some time. Thanks to substantial contributions from Swiss Olympic and the Swisslos Sports Fund Aargau, the budget is on a solid footing. Roland Häuptli, executive director of the Sports Fund, emphasized at the event the immense importance of AargauTopSport as an exclusive umbrella brand that reaches a broad, highly attractive audience throughout the summer.
The event will receive massive media coverage from TV24, Tele M1, Swiss Sport TV, and “Schweiz am Wochenende.” Cyprus Tourism is joining as an international partner, and Peak Punk will now be providing catering for the athletes.
Historic Route Debut in the Oftringen Area
There will be no changes to the traditional distances. However, due to unavoidable construction work in the final section of the bike course, there will be a first in the event’s 37th year: The Powerman Duathlon will pass through the municipality of Oftringen for the first time. This detour prompted the Oftringen Electric Company (EWO) to spontaneously step in as a regional partner to actively support this major international event.
Networking Over a Lunch Buffet
To wrap up the informative event, the Holiday Inn Express Oftringen treated the partners, sponsors, and media representatives in attendance to a lavish lunch buffet. In a relaxed atmosphere, attendees exchanged insights, engaged in discussions, and took full advantage of the opportunity to further expand the valuable athletic and business network surrounding the Powerman Zofingen.