The international middle-distance triathlon community is heading to northern Poland this weekend for what is being reported as the largest-ever edition of LOTTO Challenge Gdańsk. Scheduled for June 19-21, 2026, the event has reportedly drawn a record-breaking field of participants alongside a competitive elite pro athlete line-ups contesting the Baltic coast course.
The mass-participation sports property in Gdańsk is organised by Challenge Poland under the global parent brand Challenge Family (which is itself now owned by PTO).
There are over 1,000 amateur (age group) athletes on the start list for the Challenge Gdańsk middle distance and sprint distance triathlons, with further participants signed up for the youth aquathlon and 5km road race.
Recognized for its ultra-flat course layout, the 2026 race features a newly modified bike route. The revised route has been reduced to just two laps, significantly decreasing the number of technical turns to promote a faster, continuous aerodynamic pace before athletes finish on Brzeźno Pier.
Elite women’s field
The professional women’s division is highlighted by a close battle between top-seeded international competitors:
- Rebecca Anderbury (GBR): The world number 39 enters as the highest-ranked athlete in the field. Having secured a strong fourth place at IRONMAN Lanzarote earlier this season, she represents the primary target for the field.
- Elisabetta Curridori (ITA): Sitting at world number 53, Curridori holds strong recent form with two victories this season at Peniscola Infinitri and Challenge Salou-Costa Daurada, alongside a fourth-place finish at The Championship in Slovakia.
- Marta Lagownik (POL): Positioned closely at world number 56, the top Polish athlete enters with three consecutive top-ten finishes this year and holds a distinct home-turf advantage.
International outsiders including Marta Bernardi and Magda Nieuwoudt add further depth to the starting list.
Elite men’s field
On the men’s side, world number 78 Ognjen Stojanovic of Serbia enters as the favourite. Stojanovic has logged substantial mileage during the 2026 season, completing two full long-distance events and securing a tenth-place finish at The Championship.
He faces a strong contingent of challengers capable of exploiting the high-speed bike course, led by Great Britain’s Tom Davis and Andrew Horsfall-Turner, alongside Florent Lefebre and Trent Thorpe.
Race weekend schedule
The expanded three-day festival weekend caters to all tiers of triathletes:
- Friday, June 19: Trefl Aquathlon (youth development racing for athletes aged 7 to 17).
- Saturday, June 20: Challenge Sprint (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) and the standalone Challenge Women by Brooks 5km road race.
- Sunday, June 21: Elite and Age Group Middle Distance championships (1.9km sea swim, 90km bike, 21.1km run)
