After Years of Setbacks, Triathlon Returns to New York City in 2026

For more than two decades, the New York City Triathlon was one of the sport’s most iconic races. Debuting in 2001, it quickly became a bucket-list event for age-groupers and pros alike: a swim in the Hudson River, a bike up the closed West Side Highway, and a run through Central Park. At its peak as part of the Life Time Fitness Series, the race attracted up to 4,000 participants – and top names like Olympians Greg Bennett and Emma Snowsill.

In recent years, though, the race has struggled to maintain its footing. Since 2017, it has faced a string of challenges, from extreme heat and water quality concerns to COVID disruptions. Even when the event has taken place, it hasn’t always gone as planned. The 2023 race, moved to the fall, saw the swim canceled after heavy rains affected conditions in the Hudson. Then, in early 2024, organizers announced the race would be canceled before registration opened, citing difficulties securing a viable date with the city.

For many athletes, it felt like the latest chapter in a long saga for a race that once seemed untouchable. But now, another company has stepped in with plans to breathe life back into the historic race. The Saugerties, New York-based Alpha Win, formerly known as HITS Endurance, is aiming to revive the event under a new name, the Big Apple Triathlon, set for Saturday, October 10, 2026. At the helm is Tommy Struzzieri, who took over the company from his father, Tom, in 2020 and has since been working to expand its race portfolio.

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

The New York City Triathlon returns: An interview with Big Apple Triathlon organizer Tommy Struzzieri

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

Struzzieri: I think there’s a real need for a triathlon in New York. A lot of the athletes I know have been asking about it. I’m from upstate New York, but we have a place in the city and run a restaurant, Blackbarn NYC, there, so we’re around the community quite a bit. There are a tremendous number of athletes who want a race there.

So we approached the city about bringing one back. The city generally wants things done the way they were previously, but we’ve added a few modifications, 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?

Struzzieri: My father is the horse guy. He spent nearly 50 years building one of the largest equestrian showjumping businesses in the world, with venues in California, New York, Florida, Virginia, and Chicago.

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

In 2011, we launched the HITS Triathlon Series, running races around the country. Over time, as the triathlon landscape changed, we rebranded to Alpha Win and adapted our events. Now we run races primarily in New York and California, with plans to expand further.

From the time you first had the idea to bring the race back until now, how long did it take?

Struzzieri: A couple of 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 call it the Big Apple Triathlon instead of using the New York City Triathlon name?

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

Do you see the race growing to the size it once was?

Struzzieri: We’re capping it at 2,500 athletes for now, split evenly between the sprint and Olympic distances.

The triathlon industry has changed since the race’s peak years. After COVID, a lot of longtime athletes left the sport, but we also saw a new wave of people getting into triathlon. I do anticipate the race selling 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 Highway, finishing 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?

Struzzieri: First, our track record. We’ve been producing events for years, and our experience speaks for itself. Second, the timing. The race used to take place during the hottest part of summer. Now it’s in October, which should mean cooler temperatures and a better racing experience. The Hudson water temperature should also be ideal, around 70 degrees, which is perfect for wetsuits.

And ultimately, it’s still an iconic race: swimming in the Hudson, biking on the West Side Highway, and finishing in Central Park. It deserves to exist again.

Was moving the race to the fall your idea, or the city’s?

Struzzieri: The city controls many of the event dates, so they determined that timing. They’re juggling a lot of different events throughout the year.

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

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

Struzzieri: The key is working closely with New York’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). They’re the ones who ultimately determine whether we can swim in the Hudson.

We’re working with them right now, and they’ll hopefully release information soon about how the water quality in the Hudson has changed over the past few years. From what they’ve told us, it’s actually very clean. The narrative that the Hudson isn’t clean just isn’t true anymore.

Of course, if you get weeks of heavy rain before any race, water quality can become sensitive. That’s true anywhere. But overall, the Hudson has improved dramatically, and we want to help change the perception around that.

Will the course itself stay the same, or are there changes?

Struzzieri: We’ll be offering both sprint and Olympic-distance races, with a bit of a twist. Both will swim the same distance, 1,500 meters. That might look like a typo on the website, but it isn’t. It’s simply the only way to make the course work in the Hudson, because the swim will be with the current, which has historically produced very fast times – if we cut the swim down for the sprint, you’ll barely be in the water.

The bike follows the traditional course along the West Side Highway: athletes head north, turn around at the same location used in previous races, and ride back south into a single transition area. The sprint distance turns around earlier to create a 12.4-mile bike.

The run courses split slightly as well. The sprint cuts into Central Park earlier and finishes from the west side, while the Olympic distance follows the traditional route, with both races funneling into the same finish area.

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

Struzzieri: Absolutely. We’re planning a lot around the race experience. We haven’t finalized things like bands or the national anthem yet, but creating that energy is always a priority for us.

A lot of it comes down to details – music, where spectators are placed, where photographers are positioned, and what the backdrop looks like for finish-line photos. All of that contributes to the overall feel.

The previous organizers did a superb 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 personable. We’re a New York-based company, and we want to shake your hand, learn your name, and be accessible to athletes.

Will there be a professional division?

Struzzieri: Yes, there will be a pro division that starts ahead of the age-group waves.

But one of the things we’re especially focused on is the para division. We brought in someone who worked with para athletes at the previous triathlon, and we want to make sure we support that community well, especially with the lead-up to the 2028 Paralympics.

Anything else you want athletes to know?

Tommy: Beyond this race, Alpha Win has events all year, including one in Napa Valley coming up soon.

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