With world-class races that were talked about for months after the finish line – such as Sam Laidlow’s golden comeback at DATEV Challenge Roth, the epic and unforgettable sprint finish at Challenge Almere-Amsterdam, nearly 10,000 participants at Challenge Taiwan, and racing past giraffe and other wildlife at Challenge Sir Bani Yas – Challenge Family looks back on a memorable year. It was a year that delivered not only world-class events, but also attracted more participants, introduced more young people and women to the sport of triathlon, and raised the level of its already high quality events even further.
Increased Entry Numbers
With no fewer than 32 events around the globe – including three new races in Abu Dhabi, Italy, and Brazil – Challenge Family offered plenty of choice for tens of thousands of athletes. And they responded in force: with an impressive 18% increase in starters compared to 2024, growth across Challenge Family was undeniable. Even more encouraging was that this growth was particularly strong among female athletes and young people. The latter resulted in a new initiative launched by Challenge Family for 2026, offering students aged 17 to 23 a special rate on their entry fees.
Increased Female Participation
Women, meanwhile, were well represented at Challenge Family races worldwide, at trend that is continuing into 2026. An example is the 2026 The Championship where the field is already 37% female. By comparison, this figure is not just slightly higher, but significantly above the global average of other race series.
Maintaining Accessibility Through Lower Entry Fees
While Challenge Family delivers races of world-class calibre – something athletes consistently confirm in annual surveys – the organisation also succeeds in keeping entry fees low on a global scale. These competitive prices sit well below the market average, something Challenge Family is proud of, as affordability never comes at the expense of the high-quality race experience.
Community is Key
Athlete experience remains a top priority. While welcome parties are disappearing almost everywhere else, the majority of Challenge Family events still host them. They provide the perfect start to race weekend and foster enjoyment, togetherness, and a sense of community – values that perfectly align with what Challenge Family stands for.
Focus on Internal Processes
Challenge Family not only led the way in racing and athlete experience; significant steps were also taken internally. The annual Race Director Meeting in Šamorín, attended by race directors from all races, was a major success. Plans, quality standards, and ideas were shared, all with one clear goal: to continuously improve every race and always strive to deliver even better events. Of course, there was also room for team building. Overall, more investment was made in internal communication and quality control with licensees, ensuring an optimal race experience worldwide.
Supporting Emerging Talent
At the same time, Challenge Family continues to be a platform where emerging talents – or athletes transitioning from Short Distance to Long Distance racing – find their path to the top. Think of Jonathan Guisolan, winner of Challenge Sir Bani Yas. Or Jamie Riddle, who claimed victory at Challenge Barcelona. Or Michele Sarzilla and Cathia Schär, who both won their very first professional race at Challenge Peguera-Mallorca, with Schär going on to win Challenge Barcelona just one week later. And of course, there were Will Draper and Daisy Davies, both crowned European Long Distance Champions at Challenge Almere-Amsterdam. These breakthrough performances guarantee we will be hearing much more from these athletes in the future.
The World’s Best
The biggest names in the sport also returned to Challenge Family events. Perhaps most memorable was Sam Laidlow’s victory at DATEV Challenge Roth, where, after months of physical setbacks and somewhat unexpectedly, he claimed a dominant win. Frederic Funk made his debut there and finished strongly, as did Vincent Luis. In the women’s race, a fired-up Laura Philipp proved unbeatable. Equally memorable was Challenge Taiwan; already a benchmark event and, with nearly 10 thousand participants this year, the largest triathlon in the world. Memorable and iconic.
Looking Forward to 2026
And what’s next? In 2026, Challenge Family will continue to push forward. A cruise ship at Challenge Sir Bani Yas, raising the bar once again, 20 years of Challenge Wanaka, the first Long Distance race at SAIL Challenge Québec, 45 years of Challenge Almere-Amsterdam – and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
