An open race can be expected this coming Sunday – July 12 – during Challenge Gunsan-Saemangeum, although two Australian men seem to have the best credentials for a victory at the race on the west coast of South Korea: Caleb Noble and Kieran Storch.

Noble and Storch enter with by far the best World Rankings: Noble is currently ranked 56th and Storch 76th. While Noble, on paper the best athlete, opened his season early this year with a 23rd-place finish at Challenge Sir Bani-Yas, he followed that up with two 70.3 races in Dallas and Oceanside, before finally competing in a Long Distance event in June. Four races under his belt, but real breakthroughs have eluded him so far; something Noble will certainly want to change at Challenge Gunsan-Saemangeum.

Storch, for his part, will likely think very differently about that, and although he might have a lower ranking, his start to the season was considerably better. Storch also opened at Challenge Sir Bani-Yas, finishing seventh there, after which he first won Hell of the West and then also triumphed at Challenge Taiwan. At the end of May, he added a twelfth-place finish at The Championship; perhaps a great buildup towards another top performance in Korea.

There are, of course, dangerous outsiders as well, including Australian Nicholas Free and New Zealander Brett Clifford. Perhaps slightly less known, but certainly not someone to write off, is Kazakh athlete Bogdan Kovalenko. In recent years, we have seen him record surprising results more than once, and last year – especially on the bike – he clearly made his presence felt during The Championship and Challenge Samarkand.

The women’s field is more compact, and without any clear top favorites, the race might be even more open. This precise dynamic, which is hard to predict, could easily make for a wonderful and exciting battle; Canadian Rachel Faulds, Americans Nicole Valentine and Amy Vantassel, and Australian Demi Birch are seen as the biggest contenders for the win and podium spots.

Challenge Gunsan–Saemangeum delivers a truly unique race experience on South Korea’s west coast. The event showcases a fast, scenic course through the Saemangeum Seawall, the world’s longest, offering athletes wide-open roads and uninterrupted views of the Yellow Sea. With calm swim conditions, a flat and aerodynamic bike, and a well-supported run, it’s ideal for both first-time long-distance athletes and seasoned competitors. Exceptional organisation, warm Korean hospitality, and a growing international atmosphere make this race a standout on the Challenge Family calendar.