With 100 days to go until Challenge Salou, it’s good to take a look at why this race is so popular. Of course, we prefer to leave that to others and so we look at a great article by TRI247!
“If you are looking for a European mid-summer race that can double up as a holiday, then this Challenge middle distance course is surely the perfect contender thanks to its vacation location.
“The lively seaside town of Salou lies in north eastern Spain, 100km south of Barcelona on the Costa Dorada or Golden Coast thanks to the colour of its Blue Flag beaches.
“Combined with a string of family-friendly attractions and activities, Salou is a hugely popular holiday destination in Catalonia, a region which has its own identity and language due to its distinct history and where many locals call for its independence from the rest of Spain.
“Politics aside, the different dialect, cuisine and culture certainly add a unique flavour to racing in this part of the Mediterranean.
“And the Challenge race directors have made the most of its sun, sea and sand location with the Mediterranean sea swim and palm tree-lined bike and run routes through Salou.”
Location – Europe’s beach
“Nestled by the Mediterranean coast, Salou was founded as far back as the 6th century BC but is now a compact holiday resort town with a relaxed atmosphere, plenty of accommodation options and delicious local Catalan cuisine.
“Its proximity to the city of Barcelona 100km along the coast with daily scheduled flights from most European cities makes it easy to reach.
“To get to Salou from Barcelona airport you can either take the hourly bus to Salou or by train, it’s a 20 minute journey to Barcelona Sants then 1 ½ hours to Salou-Port Aventura station and a short cab ride into Salou. Driving takes about an hour.
“As a Challenge event, you can expect a well organised race set up.
“The race village is on the pedestrianised, palm-tree lined promenade in front of Llevant Beach, the most central Salou beach, and has everything from the expo/registration and transition area to the start and finish lines all within a 200m radius.
“While the heat can be fierce in high summer, June temperatures are ideal for racing and also for some beach time.
“And Salou is also the perfect location for a post-race break with dozens of golden sandy beaches to relax on plus rollercoasters and theme parks to keep the adrenaline pumping.
“As a busy holiday resort, Salou is packed with restaurants and cafes to suit every taste, from Spanish tapas to the ubiquitous Irish pubs and you are spoilt for choice when it comes to reasonably-priced places to stay from large hotels to self-catering apartments or campsites – Camping and Resort Sangul Salou is very handy.”
Full article here.
