Over 2,200 athletes will line up at the sold-out Challenge Vieux Boucau on 11 October, including an impressive field of 85 professional athletes. With many top names returning to form and several new contenders joining, both the men’s and women’s races promise world-class competition on France’s Atlantic coast, where surf culture meets triathlon.
In the men’s field, Guillem Montiel Moreno (ESP) will be one to watch. The Challenge Salou 2024 winner has already collected three victories this season and comes into Vieux Boucau in top form. He’ll face strong competition from Thomas Davis (GBR), who claimed victory at Challenge Salou 2025 and placed fourth at Challenge Gdańsk, bringing valuable racing experience to the start line. Adding more international strength is Mattia Ceccarelli (ITA), who is returning to Challenge Family racing after past successes, including his win at Challenge Riccione 2019 and second place in 2022. Young German powerhouse Hannes Butters (GER) will also be one to watch; after finishing fifth at Challenge St. Pölten last year, he continues to build experience among some of the world’s best. Tom Vaelen (BEL), who took fourth at Challenge Mogán-Gran Canaria, is also aiming for the podium in France this weekend.
The women’s race is equally interesting, featuring a strong French presence. French athlete Solenne Billouin (FRA), the XTERRA World Champion in 2024 and 2025 runner-up, is making waves as she transitions to road racing, bringing her off-road strength to the middle-distance format. Zaira Lorenzo (ESP), third at Challenge Salou earlier this year, will start her fifth Challenge Family race of the season and first in Vieux Boucau. Meanwhile, Alexia Bailly (FRA) also returns to racing after two years of injuries; her last Challenge Family race was in Challenge Salou 2021, where she placed sixth.
Joining the professional field are over 2,100 age group athletes from 26 nations, enjoying a full weekend’s celebration of sport that also includes junior, sprint and Olympic distance racing. This includes 165 athletes racing together with friends and family as part of Challenge Family’s Tri Together relay team programme. Available at every Challenge long and middle distance event around the globe, Tri Together offers a welcoming gateway into endurance sport while also strengthening the connection between sport, friendship and shared achievement.
Live updates and live timing will be available at www.challenge-family.live. For more information, visit www.challenge-vieuxboucau.com.
