The US$150K Challenge Family Pro Athlete World Bonus 2021 was decided following a final points race at CLASH Daytona – with Patrick Lange and Anne Haug finishing the season at the top of the table, each earning a US$30K end-of season bonus.
However, further down the rankings, the Daytona men’s race shook things up. Patrick Lange’s lead was never under threat; but Magnus Ditlev’s performance at Daytona saw him leap from eighth to second in the bonus rankings.
Ditlev showed his dominance on the bike and held off a seemingly unstoppable Kristian Blummenfelt for the first two laps of the run. However, Blummenfelt took the Daytona win. With Ditlev taking second, this still earned him enough points to propel him into second behind Lange and an extra US$20K in his pocket.
The final men’s Challenge Family World Bonus standings and corresponding points are:
1. Patrick Lange (DEU) – 1,325
2. Magnus Ditlev (DEN) – 1,080
3. Frederic Funk (DEU) – 1,050
4. Pablo Dapena (ESP) – 1,000
5. Thomas Steger (DEU) / Braden Currie (NZL) – 950
In the women’s standings, while Anne Haug’s dominance at the top of the world bonus table was assured, there was a chance Laura Siddall could knock Nicola Spirig down to fifth with points from Daytona but her fifth place finish ensured Spirig stayed safe.
Lucy Hall lead in Daytona until the final 2km when she was knocked off the top spot by Jackie Hering. However, Hall still earned her third place in the world bonus.
Final women’s standings and corresponding points are:
1. Anne Haug (DEU) – 1,925
2. Sarissa de Vries (NED) – 1,530
3. Lucy Hall (GBR) – 1,450
4. Nicola Spirig (SUI) – 1,020
5. Laura Siddall (GBR) – 950
The Challenge Family Pro Athlete World Bonus initiative was established to provide professional athletes with the opportunity to race for a share of a US$150K end-of-season bonus as well as the prize purse at races.
The world bonus pays five deep across both men and women with the top ranked pros taking home US$30K, second earns US$20k and third wins US$14k, fourth US$8k and fifth US$3k.
The ranking is decided through a points system based on placings earned at the athletes’ six best performances at Challenge Family races during the season, of which no more than one can be a full distance race.
www.challenge-family.com
www.clash-usa.com
