The professional field for this year’s Challenge London has been announced, with an array of international triathlon talent set to head to the world’s biggest city centre triathlon.
Amongst the highlights announced to race the event’s new middle distance are Fenella Langridge (GBR), ranked 13th in the world and Caleb Noble (AUS) who is currently sitting in second position in the Challenge Family World Bonus rankings following wins at Challenge Taiwan and Challenge Korea. Second in the women’s Challenge Family World Bonus ranking is Magda Nieuwoudt (RSA), who will be looking to continue on her impressive recent performances after winning 2023’s Ekoï Challenge Fréjus and Challenge Korea.
Also amongst the line-up is PTO ranked 48 triathlete James Teagle (GBR), who recently took the win at IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire, as well as 43rd in the world Matt Trautman (RSA) who took the win at Challenge Vansbro in a time of 3:34:59 earlier this month.
Challenge London is the world’s biggest city centre triathlon open to all abilities, seeing participants ride by Big Ben, the London Eye and Houses of Parliament, setting off from the ExCeL Centre in East London, the heart of the Docklands.
Challenge London consists of six distances and challenges, including: Super Sprint, Sprint, Sprint Relay, Olympic, Olympic Relay and Middle. The professional athletes will be joined by over 5,000 athletes across a range of abilities and experience, from first timers to age group.
2023 marks the first time the event has hosted a pro field over the middle distance, providing the required competition for many high-level and elite triathletes as part of their competitive season, with many striving for qualification for The Championship or ranking points for professional athletes as a PTO Silver Tier event.
The middle distance race will feature a 1.9km swim, 80km bike (with plans to increase to 90km in 2024) and finish with a half marathon on the same iconic course already enjoyed by thousands of triathletes over the years as London Triathlon. The swim will take place in the sheltered Royal Victoria Dock while the three-lap bike will take athletes from Docklands to Westminster and back, taking in some of London’s most memorable sights, while the multi-lap run will take place within Docklands, perfect for spectator support.
Fenella Langridge said: “I am really looking forward to returning to the capital at this year’s Challenge London. I raced in the event when it was an elite super series race a while ago so it will be nice to go back, in a new light, over a different distance. For me, London is a home race which is very exciting as there aren’t many opportunities to race so close to home. Having raced there before, I will have an element of familiarity, with the added plus of cycling, swimming and running in iconic London, which I don’t get to do very often.”
The professional field for Challenge London 2023, as of 20 July (subject to change), is:
Men
Matt Trautman – RSA
James Teagle – GBR
Caleb Noble – AUS
Thomas Davis – GBR
Jack Hutchens – GBR
Harry Palmer – GBR
Charlie Quin – AUS
Joshua Lewis – GBR
James Scott Farrington – GBR
Cameron McNair – RSA
Tom Davies – GBR
Will Munday – GBR
Brett Halliwell – GBR
Nicolas Quinette – CAN
Jack Shayler – GBR
Will Cowan – GBR
Harry Leleu – GBR
Dominic Pollizzi – USA
Kieran Lindars – GBR
Benjamin Goodfellow – GBR
Ori Mendel – ISR
Will Draper – GBR
Women
Fenella Langridge – GBR
Susie Cheetham – GBR
Magda Nieuwoudt – RSA
Eloise du Luart – FRA
Lizzie Rayner – GBR
Megan McDonald – GBR
Courtney Gilfillan – AUS
Brooke Gillies – GBR
Entries for Challenge London close on Sunday 23 July.
