This weekend’s Challenge Barcelona Triathlon, on Sunday, October 8, is reportedly a sell-out with 3,200 participants from 57 countries. The field also includes a strong contingent of over 70 professional triathletes competing over a new Elite Short distance.
Taking place on Barcelona’s central waterfront, Challenge Family confirmed its partnership with the former Barcelona Triathlon earlier this year.
The new and rebranded Challenge Barcelona Triathlon offers six different distances, aiming to cater for all levels of triathletes. Its reported field size of 3,200 is also ahead of rival event IRONMAN Barcelona, which took place on Sunday, October 1, 2023, with a field size of 2,290 athletes.
The Challenge Barcelona Triathlon sell-out field marks an 88% year on year growth in the event’s participation. The event organising team has also reported a ‘significant increase in the share of female participation’, which this year has grown to 30% of the overall field.
Age group athletes will race over the Olympic, Sprint and Supersprint distances on Sunday, as well as an Aquathlon and Junior Challenge race on Saturday 7 October.
The professional athletes will race for a €25,000 prize purse over a new Elite Short hybrid distance – 1.5km swim, 60km bike and 16km run – with an elite line-up that includes Alistair Brownlee (GBR), multiple Olympic and World Champion, as well as local Catalan star, Sara Pérez Sala (ESP), winner of The Championship 2022.
Challenge Barcelona Triathlon Race Director, Eloi Moragues, said “This year’s race is characterised by placing Challenge Barcelona Triathlon among the leading events on the European calendar, both with age group participation, with more than 3,200 people, as well as with the very high level that will be in the Elite Short race, where we can enjoy the best triathletes both nationally and internationally, experiencing a great spectacle through the streets of Barcelona.
“We also want to highlight the very worthwhile project ‘Triathlon Without Borders’ in which athletes with intellectual disabilities have been enjoying the preparation for four months to face their great challenge on Sunday, October 8.
“It will be so exciting to see the happy face of all the boys and girls of the ACELL Federation crossing the finish line. It will be a great day full of stories and personal anecdotes.”
The Challenge Barcelona Triathlon Elite Short distance race will feature on the English language live stream at www.challenge-family.live with commentary by Belinda Granger along with live updates and results.
Coverage starts at 07:50 CET with race start at 08:00. In addition, Betevé (formerly Barcelona Televisió) in Spain will broadcast the event with a special programme starting early in the morning. This will be extended with a programme lasting more than six hours to cover the entire event.
Race content will be broadcast on betevé DTT and will be seen all over Catalonia as programming is made in collaboration with La Xarxa.
www.challengebarcelona.com
www.bcn.cat/esports
