/ Town Hall
Saturday 15th October 2022
IMOGEN SIMMONDS AND JONATHAN WAYAFFE WIN THE SPECTACULAR 8TH EDITION OF CHALLENGE PEGUERA MALLORCA
More than 1.300 athletes in an international event that closes the Challenge Family season
The European CHALLENGE FAMILY season closed on 15th October 2022, with a world-class race, CHALLENGE PEGUERA-MALLORCA, the international middle-distance triathlon. The event, once again, met expectations and the more than 1.300 people participating in the different races and their families and friends enjoyed a great sports day in Mallorca.
Race chronicle
A magnificent sunny day and a completely calm Torà beach awaited the 800 participants in the Challenge Peguera Mallorca main event. Athletes and the attending public were preparing to enjoy an epic day of triathlon. Pre-race expectations were high, as the event featured an impressive professional field in both the men's and women's categories. Amongst the most prominent names, Pablo Dapena, Rico Bogen, Fenella Langridge or Sara Pérez Sala. The race responded to those expectations and provided attendees and participants with a spectacular triathlon day.
Men's race chronicle
The race began with the premiere of a new two-lap swimming circuit, in order to offer the large audience a more spectacular segment and at the same time, the participants swam less distance in the open sea.
A group of five athletes came out of the water together, the Italian Matteo Montanari, the Norwegian Jørgen Gundersen, the German Rico Bogen, the Swedish Alexander Berggren, the British Thomas Bishop and the Spanish Pablo Dapena.
Coming out of the first transition, bad luck hit Pablo Dapena who suffered a puncture in one of the wheels of his bicycle and had to leave.
The 90km of cycling were frantic, with Thomas Bishop, Matteo Montanari and Lukas Kocar swapping the lead. At the end of the first lap (km 45), Rico Bogen took the lead, closely followed by the Czech Lukas Kocar. As the race progressed, Kocar, Bishop and Bogen, who alternated at the head of the race, distanced themselves from the rest.
The run circuit was decisive, the heat was strong and the leading group began to feel the effects of the bike section effort. Bogen and Kocar slowed down, Bishop was also slowing down - but less, and, meanwhile, the Belgian Jonathan Wayaffe and the Italian Andrea Pizzeghella, were climbing positions, maintaining solid and fast rates during the half marathon. As declared by the winner, Jonathan Wayaffe, "I saw that the first ones were going at a slower pace, and I kept climbing positions, that motivated me to continue with a uniform rate.
Finally the victory went to Jonathan Wayaffe (03:53:36), followed by the Italian Andrea Pizzeghella (3:54:07) and the British Thomas Bishop (03:54:23).
Ranking here:
https://www.elitechip.net/index.php?zwshow=compdet&idcomp=7134094&compsec=clas
Women's category
The women's race had a clear dominator, the Swiss Imogen Simmonds, ultimately the winner of Challenge Peguera Mallorca. Although, after the 1.9 km of swimming, the Spanish Sara Pérez Sala led the race, followed by the British Fenella Langridge, at the beginning of the cycling sector the dominance of the Swiss began to be resolved.
Sara Pérez Sala had to withdraw due to stomach problems, while Langridge tried to keep up with the solid rate that Simmonds had had from the beginning of the sector.
With Simmonds, outstanding in first position, the German Anne Reischmann emerged, who overtook Fennella halfway through the circuit and moved into second position.
The race on foot continued with the same constant, Imogen maintaining the advantage over her pursuers, even increasing it at times, Anne maintaining the second position on the podium and Fenella, tired after her great performance last week in Kona, happy to maintain the 3rd position that places her as the favourite to win the world Challenge Family 2022 bonus.
Podium:
Imogen Simmonds: 4:20:58
Anne Reischmann: 4:25:24
Fenella Langridge: 4:26:11
Ranking here:
https://www.elitechip.net/index.php?zwshow=compdet&idcomp=7134094&compsec=clas
The best place to finish the CHALLENGE FAMILY circuit of the year
Challenge Peguera Mallorca is the last opportunity for professional athletes to score points in the Challenge Family ranking (and opt for important financial prizes amongst the top finishers), since it is the last competition to take place in European territory.
This condition, together with the privileged geographical, climatic and equipment conditions that the municipality has, make this race an opportunity for athletes to conclude the triathlon season and take a break in a place of great tourist attraction. In this sense, it should be noted that Calvià has more than 300 days of sunshine a year, sea and mountain landscapes to practice all kinds of sports throughout the year and a location very close to Mallorca international airport.
A community project
Challenge Peguera Mallorca is an example of institutional collaboration and private initiative. Organised by Fundación Calvià 2004 and Calvià Town Hall in collaboration with the Spanish Triathlon Federation, the event also has the support of the Balearic Islands Tourism Strategy Agency (AETIB)
Other entities such as the Hotel Association of Paguera and Cala Fornells, Challenge Family and brands such as Powerbar, Red Bull, Trasmed or Abus amongst others that collaborate in the management of the event, also participate.
