This is a preview of the race – click here to read how things played out in a record-breaking edition.

The Norseman Xtreme Triathlon, one of the toughest multi-discipline events on the planet, is set to take place once again this Saturday in a point-to-point event in Centra’ Norway in the Municipality of Eidfjord.

The race begins with a swim in the Hardangerfjord – a freezing cold Fjord – at the crack of dawn before a brutal climb up Gaustatoppen in the second half of the marathon to end one of the toughest days out in the sport.

Germany’s Laura Zimmermann and Sweden’s Sebastian Norberg took the honours one year ago, and there area plethora of contenders looking to claim the title in 2025.

2024 podium finisher Claire Weller dons the number one bib for the women, with Switzerland’s Laura Kessler, 2023 winner Flora Colledge and Germany’s Julia Skala, who finished 20th at the IRONMAN World Championship in Nice last year, also in contention.

Meanwhile the Norwegian trio of Kristian Grue, Hans Christian Tungesvik and Anders Langset will wear bibs 21, 22 and 23 respectively at the head of the men’s field.

Start time and how to follow live

The event starts on Saturday August 2, 2025 at 0500 CET. That is 0400 in the UK and 2300 EST Friday in the United States.

You can follow updates from Scandinavia with live tracking throughout the event.

What is The Norseman triathlon?

More than 6,000 people from 96 countries applied for one of the 250 slots in this year’s race and they will begin their jaunt around the Norwegian countryside with a dive into one of Norway’s most picturesque fjords.

Starting from the loading bay of a car ferry, the competitors will swim through the fjord to the local town of Eidfjord, and the first transition. Then it is on to the bike, where they will tackle a challenging course through the mountains before the run up to Gaustatoppen, which sits at 1,880m above sea level.

The race record for the full distance is 9:52:10 by Lars Christian Vold (Norway), set in 2017 for the men and 11:16:10 by Mette Pettersen Moe (Norway) in 2018 for women. The majority of the competitors come from the home country, with a handful travelling internationally to tackle the near mythical race.

However, Jon Sæverås Breivold set a time of 9:09:57 in 2023, albeit with a shortened run (32.5km) due to thunderstorms. That same day Sebastian Kienle recorded a time of 9:34:16. Colledge also set a time of 10:10:16 in the women’s race.

For the few who make it through the race to the summit at Gaustatoppen, a black finisher’s T-shirt awaits them, the only recognition for taking on and conquering one of the hardest endurance races in the world.