Hyrox trial draws 650 athletes

Soho Training Center’s second Hyrox Trial in Ciudad Real drew 650 athletes on Saturday, May 23, according to local reports, giving a local measure of how far the race format has spread beyond its official circuit. The event was held at the Polideportivo Rey Juan Carlos and drew about 2,000 spectators through the morning, Lanza Digital and other local outlets reported. José Nieto, director of Soho Training Center, said organizers also deployed 130 volunteers, including judges and staff. The turnout came as HYROX itself continues to expand internationally and as more gyms build training around the format’s mix of running and functional stations. ### Why did a local event in Ciudad Real draw attention? Ciudad Real hosted the trial at the Rey Juan Carlos sports complex, where local officials said a new textile roof over the hangar helped reduce heat during competition. Pau Beltrán, the city’s sports councillor, said the installation was intended to make the space more usable in both hot and wet conditions, according to Lanza Digital. The same report said city officials estimated roughly 7,000 visitors across multiple events that weekend and an economic impact that could reach 2 million euros. (lanzadigital.com) Saturday’s turnout also exceeded the scale of the first local edition. Local coverage described the second Soho Training Center trial as a record for participation, with 650 athletes competing and no significant incidents reported during the event. ### What exactly is HYROX selling to athletes? HYROX describes its races as competitions built around repeated 1-kilometre runs broken up by functional workout stations. (lanzadigital.com) European Business Magazine said the format was founded in 2017 by Christian Toetzke and Moritz Fürste and has turned a standardised gym-based workout into a global race product. The publication said the company projects more than 1.3 million participants in 2026 across 85 cities in 30 countries. (lacerca.com) European Business Magazine reported that HYROX generated about 130 million euros in revenue in 2025 and is projecting more than 200 million euros in 2026. The same report said the business relies on three main revenue streams: entry fees, gym licensing and sponsorships. ### How are gyms using the format away from race day? Cincinnati Strength says on its website that it specializes in programming for “CrossFit, Hyrox, health and longevity,” showing how the format is being folded into regular gym offerings in the United States. (europeanbusinessmagazine.com) The gym’s site says members can train for sport-specific goals as well as general health inside group and individual programs. GymNation, which has promoted HYROX content and race calendars in the Gulf, says the format combines eight functional workout stations with eight 1-kilometre runs and offers singles, doubles and relay divisions. (europeanbusinessmagazine.com) Its published race explainer presents relay as the most beginner-friendly entry point and singles pro as the highest-demand individual category. ### How big is the official race circuit now? (cincinnatistrength.com) HYROX’s official race finder lists events in Lyon and Berlin running through May 24, followed by New York from May 28 to June 7 and Rimini from May 28 to May 31. The same calendar lists the PUMA HYROX World Championships in Stockholm from June 18 to June 21. The official calendar also shows races scheduled later this year in cities including Johannesburg, Washington, D.C., Salt Lake City and Bangkok. (gymnation.com) That schedule helps explain why local trials such as the one in Ciudad Real are drawing crowds: they now sit alongside a year-round calendar of official events and affiliated gym programming. That connection between local participation and the official circuit is an inference based on the event turnout, the company’s race calendar and the spread of gym-based training pages. (hyrox.com)