Felix Forissier wins inaugural Ironman 70.3 Málaga

French triathlete Felix Forissier won the first edition of the Ironman 70.3 Málaga on October 18, 2026. Forissier finished with a time of 3:40:46, narrowly defeating Swiss athlete Ben Fäh by just six seconds in a race decided during the final meters.

Janne Böttel of Germany secured third place. The competition was characterized by difficult weather conditions, including rain, wind, and storms, which tested the endurance of the more than 3,000 participants. Forissier, a specialist in off-road disciplines, utilized a progressive running strategy to overtake the leaders in the final stages of the half-marathon segment.

Both Forissier and Fäh have secured qualification spots for the 2027 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Chattanooga, United States. In the age group categories, Luismi Ruiz of the Melilla Triathlon Club won the M45-49 category with a time of 4:18:15 and placed sixth in the overall classification. The top Spanish finisher in the professional race was Mikel Arrasate, who placed fourth.