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Spirig and Funk fantastic in Mallorca: the day in pictures

2012 Olympic champion takes her fourth half-distance race of 2021.

Photo by: Jose Luis Hourcade
October 18, 2021
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There was lots going on in Mallorca this weekend in terms of triathlon – we reported on Ironman Mallorca on Saturday, and while that race was going on, not far away on the Spanish Balearic island in the Mediterranean Challenge Family was also hosting a half-distance race. Challenge Peguera-Mallorca showcased some of the beauty of the island – as you can see in these great photos from Jose Luis Hourcade.

The pro men hit the water – Belgium’s Noah Servais would eventually break away to a 30-second lead on a group of 25 men. Photo: Jose Luis Hourcade
The pro women hit the water. Photo: Jose Luis Hourcade
The athletes probably don’t spend much time taking in the beautiful views from out on the water. Photo: Jose Luis Hourcade
Great Britain’s Lucy Hall led the women out of the water. Photo: Jose Luis Hourcade
Hall extended her lead early on in the bike, but …
Behind her two-time Olympic medalist Nicola Spirig (SUI) was leading a group that included Imogen Simmonds (SUI) and Brits Jodie Stimpson and India Lee in hot pursuit.
Hall was able to open up a gap of over two minutes on Spirig by T2.
In the men’s race it was Germany’s Frederic Funk who would lead the bike.
Spirig and countrywoman Simmonds would find themselves having to chase Hall after the bike.
The bike course offered some challenging terrain.
After coming off the bike with countryman Nils Frommhold, Funk pulled clear to take the lead.
Magnus Ditlev suffered a mechanical issue on the bike that put him a minute down from the leaders and he was never able to get back in the mix for the win.
Out on the run course Spirig, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist and silver-medalist from Rio ran her way to the front.
Hall wasn’t able to hold off the two fast-running Swiss athletes …
As Simmonds would also get passed the 2012 British Olympian.
Funk would take the day in 3:45:50
American Collin Chartier would run his way to second, while Ditlev would managed to get third after overcoming his technical issue on the bike.
Nicola Spirig has won all the half-distance races she’s done this year, in addition to Peguera-Mallorca she won Challenge events in Walchsee, Davos and Gran Canaria.
Simmonds (l) would take second, with Hall (r) rounding out the podium.