Kaltern Confirms Status as One of Europe's Premier Triathlon Venues
The 37th International Kalterer See Triathlon once again confirmed why Kaltern an der Weinstraße is regarded as one of the most iconic and well-established triathlon destinations in South Tyrol and the Alpine region.
Set in the heart of wine country and framed by mountains and orchards, the race unfolds on the shores of Lake Kaltern, just outside Bolzano. The ETU Prestige Triathlon once again attracted a world-class field for the Olympic-distance format:
- 1.5 km swim
- 40.8 km bike
- 10 km run
Thomas Steger's Most Complete Kaltern Performance Yet
Thomas delivered one of the most complete performances of his career in Kaltern, reinforcing his strong historical connection with the race, where he has previously finished 5th, 3rd, and 1st.
Controlled Swim in Deep Field: 8th Out of the Water
The race began at a fast pace in ideal lake conditions. Thomas emerged from the water in 8th position, recording a strong 20:10 split and averaging approximately 1:20min/100m. He completed the swiminhisnon-sponsored Sailfish Ultimate IPS Plus wetsuit, maintaining contact with the main chase group despite a deep and highly competitive field. For the race, he competed in an OTSO racing trisuit, combining aerodynamics and comfort acrossallthreedisciplines. His transition setup was highly optimized, using fi'zi:k Hydra cycling shoes for fast T1 execution, paired with a fi'zi:k helmet to maximize efficiency on the bike leg.
First Olympic-Distance Triathlon Race on Scott RC Ultimate & KOM Performance
This race also marked a key equipment milestone: his first Olympic-distance triathlon on his new non-sponsored Scott RC Ultimate setup, paired with ultra-light Arcaris Pro 8848 wheels supported by Panda Podium.
The setup immediately proved its competitiveness on the demanding Kaltern course.
From early on the bike, Thomas moved through the field with confidence and control. He delivered a dominant performance, producing:
- Fastest bike split of the day (57:20)
- Average speed of 41.8 km/h
- Strava KOM on the Lake Kaltern bike loop segment
His pacing and aerodynamic efficiency made him one of the strongest riders on the course.
Fastest Run Split Secures Podium Fight
On the final 10 km run, Thomas elevated his performance further. Wearing PUMA Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 he produced the fastest run split of the entire elite men’s field in 30:47 (3:06 min/km pace).
He steadily closed the gap to French Pro Triathlete Basile Boris Fouchard, turning the race into a dramatic head-to-head battle in the closing stages.
As expected by Daniel Brunato, president of the Kaltern triathlon section, the race was ultimately decided on the run. In the final sprint, Fouchard managed to edge ahead in the last 200 meters.
Fouchard won in 1:49:47, with Thomas finishing just four seconds behind in 1:49:51 after a near-perfect all-round performance.
Performance snapshot
Discipline Overview
- Swim: 8th place (20:10 / ~1:20 min/100m)
- Bike: 1st fastest (57:20 / 41.8 km/h)
- Run: 1st fastest (30:47 / 3:06 min/km)
Race Result
- Overall: 2nd place
- Total time: 1:49:51
Equipment
- Wetsuit: Sailfish Ultimate IPS Plus
- Trisuit: OTSO trisuit
- Bike: Scott Addict RC Ultimate 2026
- Carbon Wheels: Arcaris Pro 8848 carbon wheels set
- Cycling shoes: fi'zi:k Transiro Hydra
- Helmet: fi'zi:k Kudo
- Running shoes: PUMA Fast-R Nitro Elite 3
- Sports watch: Polar Vantage V3
Additional Achievement
- Strava KOM: Lake Kaltern bike loop segment
Men's Elite Results 2026
1. Basile Boris Fouchard (FRA) – 1:49:47
2. Thomas Steger (AUT) – 1:49:51
3. Federico Murero (ITA) – 1:51:07
4. Jakob Meier (AUT) – 1:53:48
5. Tommaso Alba (ITA) – 1:55:52
Next target: 2026 The Championship of Challenge Family Triathlon Series - Challenge Šamorín (X-Bionic Sphere, Šamorín, Slovakia)
Following his standout performance in Kaltern, Thomas now turns his focus to the Challenge Family Triathlon Championships 2026 – Challenge Šamorin on 24 May 2026.
The half-distance race includes:
- 1.9 km swim
- 90 km bike
- 21 km run
He has strong history at the venue, finishing 3rd in 2022 and 4th in 2021, and will arrive in strong form after his exceptional showing in Kaltern.
