In its anniversary edition, the Powerman Alsdorf impressively reaffirmed its status as a top international duathlon event. Over 800 athletes from 25 nations created a thrilling sporting spectacle in the city center of Alsdorf, attracting more and more spectators to the course as the day progressed, despite cool temperatures in the morning. Above all: it stayed dry—ideal conditions for exciting races around Denkmalplatz. The focus was on the European Championships and the German Championships in the middle distance (10 km run, 60 km bike, 10 km run) for Elite and Para athletes as well as in the age groups. In addition, there was the Open Race and the popular sprint distance. The event ran smoothly and once again confirmed the high organizational quality of the host Marathon-Club Eschweiler under Race Director Patrick Thevis.
In the women’s elite race, the exceptional German athlete Merle Brunnée once again prevailed in impressive fashion. Although Britain’s Rachel Brown opened the race with a bang and set a new Alsdorf record of 34:05 minutes in the first run, Brunnée demonstrated her true class on the bike. With an outstanding performance, she built up a lead of more than three minutes, which she controlled during the final running segment. With her winning time of 2:41:48, Brunnée not only secured her second consecutive victory in Alsdorf but also set a new course record. Brown finished second, followed by Dieske Kruisselbrink of the Netherlands and Friedel Cuypers of Belgium. At the German Championships, Maja Betz (5th at the European Championships), Hannah Arlom (7th), and Lisa Strothmann (9th) finished behind Brunnée.
1st place: Merle Brunnée (Germany) – 2:41:48
2nd place: Rachel Brown (Great Britain) – 2:43:32
3rd place: Dieske Kruisselbrink (Netherlands) – 2:49:13
The men’s elite race was marked by several twists and turns. After an initially tight pack, Belgian Thibaut De Smet took the lead before the first transition – and never relinquished it until the finish. In 2:23:48, the Cross Duathlon World Champion confidently secured the European road title. Behind him, a thrilling battle unfolded for the remaining podium spots. Andrea Alagona (Switzerland) and Matthew Nelson (Great Britain) were rewarded with silver and bronze, celebrating the greatest successes of their careers to date. World champion Baptiste Domanico had to settle for fourth place, followed by world runner-up Silas Plambaek. German athlete Timo Schaffeld fought his way up to a strong sixth place during the race. Two dropouts added a dramatic twist: Simon Huckestein, who was leading the race, had to withdraw during the first run due to cramps. Jens Gossauer was also unable to continue the race later on.
1st place: Thibaut De Smet (Belgium) – 2:23:48
2nd place: Andrea Alagona (Switzerland) – 2:25:03
3rd place: Matthew Nelson (Great Britain) – 2:25:34
The award ceremonies were conducted by Kaisa Tamminen (Europe Triathlon), John Raadschelders (International Powerman Association), and Bernd Kapp (German Triathlon Union). Numerous international guests subsequently praised the professional organization, the precise course layout, and the atmosphere along the route. The combination of top-class competition, dedicated volunteers, and an enthusiastic crowd made the Powerman Alsdorf, even in its tenth year, a major event in the Aachen region and a significant race on the international multisport calendar.
We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the participants—over 800 athletes from 25 countries made this event truly special! Thank you for your trust, your passion, and your dedication! We’d also like to thank the international and national federations for their collaboration.
In addition to the athletes, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors: Sparkasse, EWV, Absolute Teamsport Rauscheid, Cinetower Alsdorf, Mercedes-Benz Autohaus Zittel, Edeka-Markt Holland, Beylich Transporte, Dextro Energy, Valensina, Leufgens & Leufgens Insurance Brokers, and Sportland-NRW. And we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to our incredibly dedicated helpers, the numerous volunteers from the Eschweiler Marathon Club and beyond! We couldn’t have done it without you all! We would also like to thank the town of Alsdorf, the Aachen City Region, the police, the aid organisations, the technical services, as well as the local businesses and residents along the route for their support and understanding. Without this strong sense of community, a European Championship in Alsdorf would not have been possible!
We’re already looking forward to seeing you again – next year in Alsdorf or as early as October 11 at the new Powerman Würselen!
All results: https://www.datasport.de/anmeldeservice/powermanalsdorf2026/ergebnisse
Event photos: https://fodoos.com/event/powerman-alsdorf
Registration for Würselen: https://www.datasport.de/anmeldeservice/powermanwuerselen2026