World class racing marked today’s 10th anniversary of Challenge Salou on Spain’s Costa Darauda with Thomas Davis (GBR) and Elisabetta Curridori (ITA) both taking emotional wins in 3:34:28 and 3:59:35.
Challenge Salou race day dawned with perfect conditions with a large group of 11 men exiting the swim, led by Jonothan Wayaffe (BEL) and Quentin Barreau (FRA). It didn’t take long for three riders to assert their dominance and break away from the group with Davis leading the charge, followed by Barreau and Wayaffe in third, reaching speeds of upto 60kph on this course renowned for its speed. Throughout the ride, Davis stuck to his race plan, barely acknowledging the company behind him. Coming off the bike together, it emerged that both Wayaffe and Barreau had drafting penalties for infringement of the 20m drafting rule implemented at Challenge Family races, giving Davis a clear start on the run. Barreau took to the run course in second after a two-minute delay, while Wayaffe, had to wait four minutes before he could take up the chase. This delay meant Hugo Figuieredo (ESP) had a chance to catch him and indeed overtake Wayaffe early on in the run. However, Wayaffe, managed to hold him off and the race results reflected the positions held pretty much throughout the full 113km. Davis took the win in 3:34:38, Barreau in second in 3:35:34 with Wayaffe in third in 3:36:34.
“It’s a race I really enjoy. After two third places to get first today, I’m over the moon, I couldn’t have asked for more,” said Davis. “I felt good and I knew I was moving well – my tactic was to try and get away from the group and that worked. It’s always special when you win a race and to win the 10th anniversary is the icing on the cake!”
There were no surprises in the women’s race to see Rosie Weston (GBR) exit the water with a clear lead but behind her she had a strong group that included Anne Haug (GER), Curridori and Marlene de Boer (NED). Haug quickly showed her dominance, taking an early lead which she continued to extend throughout the ride. Curridori remained in touch for the first half of the bike but by the time they reached T2, she was nearly two minutes down while de Boer had dropped to over three minutes from Haug. But then it was all change, Haug withdrew from the race, never making out on the run and Curridori took the lead, a position that was never in danger throughout the 21km, taking the win in 3:59:35. Behind her, de Boer maintained her second place, finishing in 4:05:02 while Spain’s Zaira Lorenzo took her first podium as a professional in third in 4:11:25.
It was a very emotional Curridori as she crossed the finish line, celebrating her first international victory since 2019. “I think this is the best victory of my career,” she said of her Challenge Salou win. “To win you need good preparation and a little bit of luck and today I had both, with Anne Haug unfortunately having to quit. It’s one of the those days when everything clicks in, I felt so good on the bike, I just ran tried to concentrate, just one step in front of the other. It was an amazing day, I am so happy!”
For full results, go to https://live.copernico.cloud/680ac53e-3790-4a6e-8904-45e2ac1f1368/challenge-salou-2025/PRO%20Middle%20Distance.
