More than 80 leading professional athletes are preparing to compete at Challenge Family’s The Championship on May 24, 2026. The flagship event, which is qualification-only, will take place at the x-bionic sphere sports resort in Šamorín, Slovakia.
While defending champions Kristian Høgenhaug and Hanne de Vet are absent from the 2026 start list, Challenge Family notes that the field remains deep with high-ranking contenders.
In the men’s race, Frederic Funk is considered a primary favourite. The German athlete has lined up at the Šamorín course six times, securing three podium finishes, though he is yet to claim the top spot. According to the event team, Funk is expected to use the bike leg to attempt to break apart the field.
He faces competition from Will Draper, the current European Champion following his long-distance debut at Challenge Almere-Amsterdam in the 2025 season. Other names to watch include Henry Räppo, Pierre le Corre, and Daniel Bækkegård, the latter of whom is seeking a return to top form this year.
The women’s field features 11 athletes from the international top 100. Ellie Salthouse, currently ranked 13th in the world, leads the contenders. She is closely followed by Caroline Pohle, ranked 17th, who recently secured a victory at Anfi Challenge Mogán-Gran Canaria.
The professional women’s field also includes: Marta Sánchez, Katrine Græsbøll Christensen, Lena Meissner, Justine Guérard, Elisabetta Curridori, and Anastacia Damm Nielsen.
Challenge Family adds that the weekend is a sell-out event, with over 1,200 age group athletes competing across various distances, including the Tryathlon and the Age Group Championship.
The race will be broadcast live and free-to-air at challenge-family.live, featuring commentary from Belinda Granger. The livestream is scheduled to begin at 08:15 CEST on May 24, 2026, with the professional men starting at 08:30 CEST and the professional women following at 08:40 CEST.
Now majority owned by the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), Challenge Family is an international triathlon series with a focus on athlete experience and community engagement. Its flagship event, The Championship, is known for its flat and fast bike course and the facilities on offer at the x-bionic sphere Olympic training centre.
www.thechampionship.de
www.challenge-family.com
