Around 2,000 athletes from 50 nations are expected to race at Challenge St Pölten on Sunday, May 25, 2025, with a 50-strong professional field preparing to take on the Austrian middle-distance event.
Known for its fast course and double-lake swim, the event also features ‘Austria’s toughest middle-distance climb’. The event organisers are expecting both competitive racing and an international atmosphere in what is billed as Austria’s triathlon capital.
In the men’s elite race, Will Draper (GBR) will face strong competition from Jesper Svensson (SWE). A trio of Germans – Florian Angert, Hannes Butters and Jannik Schaufler – will also start. Austria’s Michi Weiss and Slovakia’s Ondrej Kubo are among the local favourites.
Gabriele Obmann (AUT) will start as one of the top contenders in the women’s race. Fellow Austrians Tanja Stroschneider – who is transitioning from short-course racing and incorporates HYROX into her training – and Anna Pabinger will also be on the start line.
Chloe Sparrow (GBR) and Tiina Pohjalainen (FIN) are also among the names to watch.
Challenge St Pölten continues to enforce the Challenge Family 20m drafting rule and will use RaceRanger anti-drafting technology to support fair racing across the field.
The pro women’s start is scheduled for 07:00 CEST on Sunday, followed by the pro men at 07:20. The race will be broadcast live on ORF Sport Plus and streamed via www.challenge-family.live.
