Olympic and world champions to headline a 40-strong professional field in China on 7 November
Two of triathlon’s biggest names, Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden, will bring their celebrated Norwegian rivalry to Challenge Xiamen on 7 November 2026, joining a 40-strong professional field for an exciting end-of-season showdown on China’s spectacular southeast coast.
The announcement comes just days after both athletes delivered outstanding performances at the 70.3 World Championship in Nice. Blummenfelt produced the fastest run in history over the middle distance to claim the silver medal, finishing just 18 seconds behind champion Hayden Wilde, while Iden recorded the fastest bike split before crossing the line in fourth.
Their latest results continue strong seasons for both Norwegians. Blummenfelt has claimed multiple victories alongside an impressive second place at DATEV Challenge Roth. There, his 2:29:33 marathon helped him finish in 7:26:24, one of the fastest long distance performances in history.
Iden has also made a powerful return to the front of international racing. In addition to his fourth place in Nice, he finished second at the European Championship in Frankfurt. The 2022 Hawaii world champion and two-time 70.3 world champion will arrive in Xiamen as one of the leading contenders for the title.
Their appearance sets up a fascinating battle between two athletes whose friendship, shared training environment and fierce competitive rivalry have helped elevate long distance triathlon. They will be joined by a strong field of fellow international professionals, with the full field to be announced shortly.
Challenge Xiamen will take place on the Huandong Romantic Coast, offering a fast and scenic middle-distance course featuring a 1.9km ocean swim, 90km bike and 21.1km run.
The two-lap swim begins from the beach at Meifeng Sports Park in Tongan Bay, before athletes take on three laps of the flat coastal bike course. The race concludes with four laps along a purpose-built waterfront running path, offering extensive opportunities for spectators to follow the action.
Located just 15km from Xiamen Airport and 10km from Xiamen North Railway Station, the race venue is easily accessible for domestic and international athletes. Known as the “World Garden City”, Xiamen combines an impressive coastal landscape with a rich cultural heritage and attractions including Gulangyu Island, South Putuo Temple and Xiamen University.
Since its debut, Challenge Xiamen has quickly established itself as a leading international event, receiving the 2024 Challenge Family Award for Best New Race as well as a Forbes China Sports Innovation Award.
The professional race will feature a €25,000 prize purse and form part of a full weekend of racing on 7-8 November. Alongside the flagship middle-distance event, Challenge Xiamen will offer Olympic and sprint-distance triathlons, a duathlon and junior racing, creating an inclusive celebration of the sport for over 2,500 athletes of all ages and abilities.
Further professional field announcements and race information will follow in the coming weeks.
For more information and entries, visit www.challenge-xiamen.com.