Over 50 professional athletes are preparing to start Challenge Almere-Amsterdam on Saturday, September 9, 2023. They all have the goal of winning the race and crownning themselves European Long Distance Champion.
Over the years, Challenge Almere-Amsterdam has hosted both the World Triathlon Long Distance Championship as well as the European Triathlon Union (ETU) Long Distance Tri Championship. In 2023, the European long distance crown will again be decided.
Challenge Almere-Amsterdam is a four-day event. On Thursday, September 7, the Junior Challenge and RABO Business Relay kick off the first side events. On Friday, September 8, the Senior & No-Limit Challenge race and a free Kids Run will follow. Saturday, September 9, will be the European Long Distance Championships and the Middle Distance. On Sunday, September 10, there will be an awards ceremony.
The pro women start at 07:10 CET on Saturday, Sept. 9. The pro men follow at 07:25. The race action will be broadcast for free via livestream with English commentary and friends and family can follow/track athletes at www.challenge-family.live.
In the men’s race, much is expected of defending champion, Kieran Lindars. The Brit finished last year in 7:55:44. Since 2012, Challenge Almere-Amsterdam has not had a Dutch winner in the men’s race: Dirk Wijnalda was the last to take that honour. This year that may just change, with Dutch athletes Menno Koolhaas and Evert Scheltinga in the mix.
The race’s three top seeds have dozens of other elite male athletes to reckon with. Among them are Andrew Starykowicz (USA), former winner Matt Trautman (RSA), Tomas Renc (CZE), Jesper Svensson (SWE), Pamphiel Pareyn (BEL) and Tom Bishop (GBR).
In the women’s race, the defending champion also returns to Challenge Almere-Amsterdam this year. Katharina Wolff won last year in a time of 9:10:10. The biggest favourite, however, is Dutch athlete Els Visser.
Other elite women include: Germany’s Lina-Kristin Schink as well as Renee Kiley (AUS), Vanessa Pereira (POR) and Marlene de Boer (NED).
