The third edition of IRONMAN 70.3 Cap Cana brought together more than 1,100 triathletes in a competition marked by heat, humidity, and strong winds.
At the end of the day, French athlete Mathieu Lapeyre claimed victory after completing the course in 4 hours, 14 minutes, and 44 seconds.
Lapeyre finished nine minutes ahead of Uruguayan athlete Lucas Cancela, who placed second overall.
Meanwhile, Dominican athlete Erick García Rossi finished in third place, improving both his time and his result compared to last year.
A demanding course starting at Playa Juanillo
The competition began at Playa Juanillo with 1.9 kilometers of swimming in calm waters during the early hours of the morning.
Lapeyre was one of the first athletes to leave the water, completing the swim segment in 32 minutes.
He then continued into the 90-kilometer cycling route through Cap Cana and the Coral Highway.
Although the course is mostly flat, the heat, humidity, and wind increased the level of difficulty throughout the race.
The difference came during the run
Lucas Cancela reached the final transition first after the cycling stage. However, the decisive gap appeared during the final 21 kilometers of running.
That was the moment when Lapeyre increased his pace and pulled away from the rest of the competitors.
“It’s a beautiful course. The Dominican crowd kept motivating me the entire time, despite the heat, the sun, and the humidity,” Lapeyre said after finishing the race.
The athlete also highlighted the beachfront finish line at Playa Juanillo.
“I had never competed in an IRONMAN with such beautiful characteristics as the ones here in Cap Cana, with a finish line right on the beach,” he added.
An event that continues to grow
The 2026 edition of IRONMAN 70.3 Cap Cana registered record participation numbers.
More than 1,100 athletes took part in the international competition, reinforcing the event’s growth within the Caribbean sports calendar.
With each edition, IRONMAN 70.3 continues to strengthen Cap Cana’s position within global sports tourism.
