This Sunday, October 8, the Mar Bella beach in Barcelona will host a total of 3,200 participants, 88% more than the last year’s edition
More than 70 professional triathletes from all over the world will be present at the starting line to compete in the new Elite Short distance
Betevé will broadcast live this race with a special programming lasting more than 6 hours that can also be followed online at www.bcn.cat/esports
The Challenge Barcelona Triathlon, which this year joined the global triathlon brand Challenge Family, has achieved its objective of further promoting and internationalizing one of the most emblematic events on the sports calendar. This is demonstrated by the data that was made public during the presentation ceremony of the new edition that took place this Monday. This year’s edition has exhausted the 3,200 available places and has achieved a great representation of international athletes from up to 57 different countries. Another positive data is the high female participation, which is close to 30% for the second time in the history of this event.
The latest details of the Challenge Barcelona Triathlon, which will be held this Sunday, October 8, starting at 8 a.m. from the Mar Bella beach, were presented today in an event attended by the Sports Councilor of the City Council of Barcelona, David Escudé, the Quality Manager of Challenge Family, Juanan Fernández, the sports director of the Challenge Barcelona Triathlon, Eloi Moragues, and the professional triathletes, Marta Sánchez and Albert Moreno.
The Councilor for Sports, David Escudé, remarked: “The Challenge Barcelona Triathlon 2023 has significantly increased the number of participants. This year we have sold out the 3,200 available numbers, that is, we have grown by 88% compared to last year’s edition. This, added to the fantastic line-up of international stars who will be at the starting line this Sunday, confirms that we are on the right track to strengthen our event.”
For his part, the Quality Manager of Challenge Family, Juanan Fernández, stated: “The union between Challenge Family and the Barcelona Triathlon has been very fruitful in a short time. We have managed to make a brand and together we are stronger, both brands have won and we must value this without a doubt. The acceptance of professional triathletes has been brutal; the fact that people with an Olympic medal like Alistar Brownlee want to come to Barcelona says a lot about the charm and prestige of this event. We have a world championship PTO Ranking start list and Barcelona will be the triathlon capital on October 8. So, let’s get ready, because the whole world will be watching us.”
Line-up of luxury sporting stars
This year’s edition promises to be an unprecedented event, with a star-studded line-up that includes the illustrious Alistair Brownlee, Olympic and World Champion, or the outstanding presence of Sara Pérez, the Spanish triathlete who is at the top of the Ranking. PTO.
Alistair Brownlee, a native of the United Kingdom, has an impressive record that includes two Olympic gold medals in triathlon at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, as well as two Triathlon World Champion titles and five European Triathlon Championships on his record. He has also been runner-up in the Middle Distance World Championship on two occasions, specifically in 2019 and 2018.
The Catalan triathlete Sara Pérez, known for her outstanding performance in the last editions of the Challenge “The Championship” Šamorín as champion in 2022, runner-up in 2021 and third in 2023, is emerging as one of the favourites to win this year’s Challenge Barcelona Triathlon.
The Challenge Barcelona Triathlon 2023 will also feature other renowned professional triathletes, such as Frederic Funk, runner-up in the World Middle Distance Triathlon in 2022; Cameron Wurf, Ineos professional cyclist and second in Ironman Austria 2023; Antonio Benito, runner-up in the World Long Distance Triathlon Championship in 2023; Imogen Simmonds, third in the World Middle Distance Triathlon Championship in 2023; and Lucy Buckingham, third in the Challenge “The Championship” Šamorín 2022.
New professional modality: Elite Short
This year the race has incorporated as a great novelty the Elite Short modality with 25,000 euros in prizes. It will be held in segments of 1,500 meters of swimming, 60 kilometers of cycling and 16 kilometers of running. It is exclusive for professional triathletes and counts towards the World Challenge Bonus, an initiative where the franchise offers elite athletes the opportunity to compete for a ranking with a prize purse of 125,000 euros.
On the other hand, the race will also score for the PTO Ranking, the Professional Triathletes Organization, and this Short modality will also qualify for The Championship of Challenge Family, an annual championship that brings together the best triathletes in the world in Šamorín (Slovakia).
As for the other modalities, the Challenge Barcelona Triathlon will once again have the following modalities:
- Olympic: 1,500 meters of swimming course, 40 kilometers of cycling circuit and 10 kilometers of the running section of the race.
- Sprint: 750 meters of swimming course with 1 lap, 20 kilometers of cycling circuit with 2 laps and 5 kilometers of the running section of the race with 1 lap.
- Super Sprint: 300 meters of swimming course with 1 lap, 7 kilometers of cycling circuit with 1 lap and 2.5 kilometers of the running section of the race with 1 lap.
As in the last edition, participation can be individual or even in pairs. The Sprint and Olympic distances can also be done in relay format, so that, if you do not want to practice the 3 disciplines, you can share the race with 1 or 2 colleagues.
The sports director of the event, Eloi Moragues, explained: “this year’s edition is characterized by once again placing the Barcelona Triathlon among the leading events on the European calendar, both for the participation of the popular triathlete, with more than 3,200 people, as well as with the very high level that will be in the ELITE SHORT modality, where we can enjoy the best triathletes both nationally and internationally that will allow us to experience a great spectacle through the streets of Barcelona. On the other hand, we want to highlight the beautiful project of “Triathlon Without Borders” in which athletes with intellectual disabilities have been able to enjoy preparation and monitoring for 4 months to be able to face their great challenge next Sunday, October 8, it will honestly be exciting to see the happy face of all the boys and girls of the ACELL Federation crossing the finish line. It will be a very nice day full of stories and personal anecdotes that we will be able to experience in the front row.”
Professional triathletes Marta Sánchez and Albert Moreno also took part in the presentation event of the Challenge Barcelona Triathlon. “Competing in my hometown is special. Furthermore, it is the triathlon in which I have participated the most times and being able to experience the evolution it has undergone also makes it unique. On a competitive level, I always like to be able to compete against women of such a high level. Concentration must be at 100% because any mistake is costly, and I always learn something from these races,” Sánchez assured. For his part, Albert Moreno added: “In Barcelona it is always special, being able to compete 40′ away from home in such an idyllic place makes you look forward to the race. The level of the list of participants is amazing, obviously it’s not my kind of race to be at the front, but I hope to enjoy it. Sharing the starting line with a double Olympic champion like Alistair is going to be brutal.”
Junior Challenge and Tri Expo
As in 2022, but with a change of name in the modality, the Challenge Barcelona Triathlon will once again offer an option for the youngest athletes with the aim of promoting and bringing this event to teenagers while they enjoy the best scenery and with maximum safety. The boys and girls between 12 and 17 years old registered for this distance will have the option of attending an informative session on Saturday 7 October at 5pm, at Mar Bella Beach, where ACCT (Catalan Association of Triathlon Clubs) coaches will explain the routes, the circulation of boxes and how to get ready and face the race on Sunday.
In addition to the competition, once again the Tri Expo returns, the triathlon fair that will take place on Friday, October 6 from 3 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, October 7 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the CEM La Mar Bella, where both Triathletes and curious people will be able to access the specialised sports equipment exhibitors’ fair and also the race merchandising.
On Saturday, October 7 at 11 a.m., at the Tri Expo itself, there will be a talk for all attendees with Sara Pérez, Champion of The Championship Šamorín, and Antonio Benito, Runner-up of the Long Distance Triathlon World. Starting at 12 noon, an informative briefing will be held for the Elite Short distance athletes.
Triathlon Without Borders: inclusive support for athletes with special needs
The Challenge Barcelona Triathlon has also presented the social project “Triathlon Without Borders”, an initiative that aims to ensure that athletes with special needs have the opportunity to participate on equal terms with other triathletes. Over the last few months, a team of athletes with special needs has been accompanied to live a unique experience with an adapted training plan and face-to-face sessions that have been adjusted to the specific needs of the selected group.
The “Triathlon Without Borders” project was the result of the collaboration between the ACELL Federation (Catalan Sports Federation for People with Intellectual Disabilities) and the La Caixa Foundation, which has financed this initiative.
With this action, the Challenge Barcelona Triathlon shows its commitment to inclusion and demonstrates that triathlon is a sport open to everyone, regardless of their abilities. This opportunity will not only allow athletes with special needs to overcome personal challenges, but will also promote awareness and respect for diversity in the world of sports. The Challenge Barcelona Triathlon, together with its collaborators, demonstrate that triathlon is an opportunity to bring people together and overcome limits, breaking boundaries for sport and equality.
Retransmission by betevé
For everyone wanting to follow the competition live but cannot go to the Blue Pavilion in Barcelona, this year betevé will once again broadcast the event with a special programme that will start early in the morning and will be extended with a programme lasting more than 6 hours to cover the entire. This content is broadcast on betevé DTT and will be seen all over Catalonia as it is made in collaboration with La Xarxa. It can also be followed online at the website bcn.cat/esports.
Complementary materials:
Photographs of the press conference of the Challenge Barcelona Triathlon 2023
