Italy is gearing up for an international pro triathlete battle at Challenge Cesenatico this Sunday on May 10, 2026. With a deep professional field, the middle-distance race is wide open and includes the return of defending champion Gabriella Zelinka in the women’s race.
The event, which takes place on the Adriatic Coast, features a closely matched men’s field. Local favourite Michele Sarzilla enters as the highest-ranked athlete at #76 in the world rankings.
Michele Sarzilla recently finished third at Challenge Mogán-Gran Canaria. With a second place at Challenge Sanremo and a victory at Challenge Peguera-Mallorca during the 2025 season, he is a formidable opponent on home soil.
Dieter Comhair is also expected to challenge for the podium. Ranked inside the world’s top 100, this marks the first race of the 2026 season for the Belgian athlete, who secured several podium finishes last year.
According to the event organising team, several others are capable of claiming victory in the men’s race. Louis Woodgate, Emmanuel Lejeune, William Mennesson, and Jannik Stoll are all positioned closely in the rankings and will likely contend at the front of the race.
The bike course is described as ‘rolling’ by the organisers, featuring 90km with approximately 900m of elevation and two significant climbs. The 21.1km run course is fast and flat, situated along the coast.
In the women’s race, there are three distinct favourites. Defending champion Gabriella Zelinka returns after winning in Cesenatico last year. Earlier in the 2026 season, she finished seventh at Challenge Sir Bani Yas.
Marta Bernardi will also be a contender, benefiting from home advantage. This race marks the season opener for the Italian, who closed the 2025 season with a third-place finish at Challenge Barcelona.
Lisa-Maria Dornauer is the third favourite, currently ranked 80th in the world. She began her year in March with a 19th-place finish at the T100 Gold Coast. After finishing fourth in Cesenatico last year, she is aiming for a podium position this time around.
Live race updates will be available from 09:00 CEST at challenge-family.live.
