It promises to be a lightning-fast edition of Challenge Salou-Costa Daurada this coming Sunday, 10 May. While some of the best athletes in the world gather to claim victory at the ever-popular race in the equally popular Spanish seaside resort and holiday destination, title defenders Thomas Davis (GBR) and Elisabetta Curridori (ITA) will do everything they can to defend their titles.
Despite it being only May, Davis has already gained significant experience this year, appearing at the start of three races, including Challenge Sir Bani-Yas. Top rankings have eluded him so far, but Challenge Salou is a race where he loves to compete and where he has stood on the podium multiple times. Although the race is in Spain, Challenge Salou-Costa Daurada could turn into a British “clash of the titans,” as besides Davis, Will Draper, Harry Palmer, and Jack Hutchens will also be at the start. These four British athletes are all ranked well within the top one hundred of the world rankings, with Draper (#27) and Palmer (#38) leading the way.
Speaking of athletes capable of great success, Draper is worth highlighting. Over the past two years, he has stood on the podium at Challenge Wales, Challenge Xiamen, and Challenge St Pölten, among others, while in 2025 he took wins at Challenge Mogán-Gran Canaria, Challenge Samarkand, and Challenge Almere-Amsterdam, where he made his long distance debut and took the European title after a thrilling sprint finish. Last year, Palmer took two Ironman podiums and finished sixth at The Championship.
In the women’s field, there are three ladies within the top one hundred of the world rankings, led by Spain’s Marta Sánchez. The home favourite is ranked 26th and is primarily known for her excellent swimming and very solid bike and run. In Texas this April, she finished third, and she naturally wants to continue that momentum with a new podium finish in Salou, preferably on the top step.
Curridori wants the same, of course: the Italian – 49th in the world rankings – had an emotional finish last year when she won Challenge Salou-Costa Daurada and seems to have had the same excellent preparation as then. A month prior to that win, she had won the Peniscola Infinitri, and she repeated that feat this year, just last week. The most dangerous outsider seems to be the Australian, Milan Agnew, who travels to Salou ranked 88th and, with two 11th place finishes earlier this year – IM 70.3 Valencia and IM 70.3 Geelong – has at least had the time to find the right form.
Behind these three ladies, another group of dangerous outsiders is forming, all closely ranked. For example, Maaike Vooren (NED) is ranked 135th, the Polish Agnieszka Gadomska (POL) 139th, Chilean Macarena Salazar 140th (CHI), South African Magda Nieuwoudt 149th (RSA), and Zaira Lorenzo Perez 154th (ESP). For further information, visit www.challenge-salou.com. Live race updates will be available at www.challenge-family.live with the start with the gun set to go off with the pro men at 7:15am CEST.