What’s going on in Barcelona? A week after Ironman Barcelona, Challenge rolls into town
Alistair Brownlee returns to racing at unique-distance event in the heart of one of Europe’s most popular cities
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Challenge Family
Earlier this year it was announced that Challenge would be taking over an event formerly known as the Barcelona Triathlon. The new race comes just a week after Ironman and Ironman 70.3 Barcelona took place, although that event is actually set in Calella, which is actually 60 km northeast of the city.
Challenge Barcelona actually takes place in the city, with the swim taking place at Mar Bella beach, with “views of the entire coastline of Barcelona and with the Olympic Port and Parc del Forum as the main elements,” according to race organizers. The bike course follows the coast, while the run course allows athletes to “discover the promenade of Barcelona.”
Challenge’s inaugural event in Barcelona has attracted 3,200 participants for the weekend of racing that includes six different races:
Short Distance (only pros): 1.500m swim + 60km bike + 15km run
Olympic Distance: 1.500m swim + 40km bike + 10km run
Sprint Distance: 750m swim + 20km bike + 5km run
Supersprint Distance: 300m swim + 7km bike + 2,5km run
Junior Challenge distance: 300m swim + 7km bike + 1,5km run
Aquathlon: 750m swim + 5km run
Live coverage
The unique pro distance race will be offering 25,000 Euros in prize money and has attracted two-time Olympic gold medalist Alistair Brownlee (GBR0, who makes his return to racing after having a bone spur removed from his ankle earlier this year. (Brownlee heads to a half-distance at Challenge Peguera-Mallorca the following week.)
Brownlee will face off against pro cyclist/ triathlete Cam Wurf (AUS), Spain’s Antonio Benito, who was runner-up at the World Long Distance Championships in May and Youri Keulen (NED).
The women’s race features Switzerland’s Imogen Simmonds in her first race since taking third at the 70.3 worlds in Lahti taking on Spanish favourite Sara Perez Sala. Others in the field include Lucy Buckingham (GBR) and Italy’s Margie Santimaria.
There will be live coverage of the event, which starts at 8 AM local time (2 AM EST). You can click on the link below to access it.
