After years of setbacks, triathlon returns to New York City in 2026

For more than two decades, New York City Triathlon It was one of the most famous races in the sport. Debuting in 2001, it quickly became a bucket-list event for age groups and pros alike: swimming in the Hudson River, biking the shuttered West Side Expressway, and running through Central Park. At its peak as part of the Life Time Fitness series, the race attracted up to 4,000 participants – and notable names such as Olympians Greg Bennett and Emma Snowsell.

But in recent years, the race has struggled to maintain its standing. Since 2017, it has faced a series of challenges, from extreme heat and water quality concerns to disruptions caused by the coronavirus. Even when an event occurs, it does not always go as planned. The 2023 race, which moved to the fall, saw the swim canceled after heavy rain affected conditions on the Hudson River. Then, in early 2024, The organizers announced that the race would be cancelled before opening registration, citing difficulties in securing a valid appointment with the city.

For many athletes, it felt like the final chapter in a long saga of a race that had previously seemed untouchable. But now, another company has stepped in with plans to bring the historic race back to life. Saugerties, New York-based Alpha Win, formerly known as HITS Endurance, aims to revive the event under a new name, Big Apple Triathlonscheduled for Saturday, October 10, 2026. At the helm is Tommy Strozieri, who took over the company from his father Tom in 2020 and has since been expanding his racing portfolio.

We caught up with Struzzieri to talk about bringing triathlon back to New York City — and what athletes can expect when racing returns.

Triathlon is back in New York City: An interview with Big Apple Triathlon organizer Tommy Strozieri

Triathlete: Tommy, let’s start at the beginning. Why did you decide to revitalize racing?

Ostrich: I think there is a real need for triathlon in New York. A lot of athletes I know have been asking about this. I’m from upstate New York, but we have a place in the city and run a restaurant there, Blackbarn NYC, so we’re in the community a little bit. There are a huge number of athletes who want to race there.

So we approached the city about bringing one back. The city generally wants things to be done the way they were before, but we’ve added some tweaks, like introducing a sprint distance. Overall, though, we’re just trying to bring back something that athletes have been asking for.

Your company, Alpha Win Racing, has a background in equestrian events. How did that evolve into triathlon?

Ostrich: My dad is a horse guy. He has spent nearly 50 years building one of the largest equestrian show jumping companies in the world, with venues in California, New York, Florida, Virginia and Chicago.

Our largest horse events will bring in 4,000 horses, which means tens of thousands of people. So, in terms of size, this isn’t actually the biggest event we’ve ever done.

In 2011, we launched the HITS Triathlon Series, running races across the country. Over time, as the triathlon landscape changed, we changed our brand to Alpha Win And adapt our events. We now conduct races primarily in New York and California, with plans to expand further.

From the time you came up with the idea of ​​restarting the race to now, how long did it take?

Ostrich: A few years. There’s a lot of red tape, especially in New York City. Nothing about organizing something like this is easy. But if it’s worth doing, it’s worth the challenge.

Why do we call it the Big Apple Triathlon instead of using the name New York City Triathlon?

Ostrich: It’s about putting our own stamp on it. This is a new race in New York, not the previous race that is back exactly as it was. We respect what they’ve built, but we want to create something new with our own identity.

Do you see racing growing to the size it was before?

Ostrich: We currently limit the maximum number of athletes to 2,500 athletes, split evenly between the sprints and Olympic distances.

The triathlon industry has changed since the racing’s peak years. After the coronavirus, a lot of veteran athletes left the sport, but we also saw a new wave of people joining triathlon. I expect the race to sell out fairly quickly.

Some people might say the entry fee is higher than other races, but you’re racing in New York City. Closing the West Side Expressway, ending in Central Park. That’s what it takes to host an event here.

For athletes who loved the old race, why should they feel confident signing up?

Ostrich: First, our track record. We’ve been producing events for years, and our experience speaks for itself. Secondly, timing. The race was held during the hottest part of the summer. It’s now October, which means cooler temperatures and a better racing experience. The water temperature in the Hudson should also be ideal, around 70 degrees, which is perfect for wetsuits.

Ultimately, the race is still special: swimming in the Hudson River, biking the West Side Expressway, and finishing in Central Park. It deserves to exist again.

Was it your idea or the city’s idea to move the race to the fall?

Ostrich: The city controls the dates of many events, so they set that timing. They juggle a lot of different events throughout the year.

But I agree with this step. October should provide much better racing conditions than the peak summer heat.

One of people’s biggest concerns about racing in New York City is swimming in the Hudson River. What changes – if any – are you making to help avoid swim cancellations?

Ostrich: The key is to work closely with the New York Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). They are the ones who ultimately determine whether we can swim in the Hudson River.

We are working with them now, and hope they will soon release information about how water quality in the Hudson River has changed over the past few years. From what they told us, it’s actually very clean. The narrative that the Hudson River is not clean is not true anymore.

Of course, if there is heavy rain for weeks before a race, water quality can become sensitive. This is true anywhere. But overall, the Hudson River has improved dramatically, and we want to help change the perception of that.

Will the cycle stay the same or will there be changes?

Ostrich: We will be offering sprints and Olympic distance races, with a little change. They will both swim the same distance, 1,500 metres. This may appear to be a typo on the site, but it is not. It’s simply the only way to make the course work in the Hudson River, because the swim will be with the current, which has historically produced very fast times — if we cut the swim for a sprint, you’ll barely be in the water.

The bike follows the traditional route along the West Side Highway: athletes head north, turn in the same location used in previous races, and return south to a single transition area. The sprint distance converts early to create a 12.4-mile bike.

The operating cycles are split up a bit as well. The race crosses the Central Park distance early and finishes on the west side, while the Olympic distance follows the traditional route, with both races heading to the same finish area.

The old race always had such a fun and lively atmosphere, even though it started so early in the morning. Are you trying to recreate that atmosphere?

Ostrich: definitely. We are very much planning to try out the race. We haven’t finalized things like the bands or the anthem yet, but creating that energy is always a priority for us.

A lot of it comes down to the details – the music, where the spectators are positioned, the location of the photographers, and what the background looks like in the finish line photos. It all contributes to the overall feel.

The previous organizers have done a fantastic job, and I have nothing negative to say about them. We’re not trying to replicate their race exactly. We’re creating our own version of it. I’ll add my own flavor, which tends to be more elegant. We’re a New York based company, we want to shake your hand, know your name, and be accessible to athletes.

Will there be a professional section?

Ostrich: Yes, there will be a pro section starting before the age group waves.

But one of the things we particularly focus on is the custom section. We’ve brought in someone who has worked with disabled athletes in previous triathlons, and we want to make sure we support that community well, especially with the lead up to the 2028 Paralympics.

Is there anything else you want athletes to know?

Tommy: After this race, Alpha Win has events throughout the year, including one in Napa Valley soon.

We are also expanding globally. In fact, we’re announcing a new race in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, this November. There’s a lot going on, but bringing triathlon back to New York City is definitely one of the things we’re most excited about.