Challenge Family’s season opener: Battlefield expected on Gran Canaria

This weekend, on 20 April, the picturesque island of Gran Canaria will once again host Anfi Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria. Athletes from 27 countries will gather to test their endurance, strength, and determination against the stunning backdrop of this Canary Island European season opener.

The tough and honest Anfi Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria course has traditionally attracted some of the biggest names in the sport and this year, over 40 professional athletes will line up to take on the testing course over 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21.1km run.

The pro women’s field is headed by Svenja Thoes (GER), taking her place on the start line for the first time in 2024 after a successful 2023 season that saw her ranked #29 in the PTO World Rankings. Her main competition will come from top Italian athlete, Margie Santimaria who had no less than eight top 10 finishes in 2023, including podiums at Challenge Salinas and Challenge Samarkand and a win at Challenge Geraardsbergen. The two were rivals in Gran Canaria in 2023 with Santimaria taking fourth over Thoes’ sixth. Both will be looking to improve in this 2024 edition.

Joining them is Rebecca Robisch (GER), fresh from her win at Challenge Israman and Lydia Dant (GBR) who has already tasted victory in the Canary Islands with her win at Lanzarote in 2023. Other contenders in the 20 deep field include Jeanne Collonge (FRA) and Leonie Konczalla (GER).

With a world champion title to his name, all eyes are on Kristian Høgenhaug (DEN), in the men’s race, and he’ll lining up against Dieter Comhair (BEL), Marcel Bolbat (GER), Dries Matthys (BEL) and Jack Hutchens (GBR). With all athletes racing for the first time in 2024 the claim on the title is wide open with exciting racing guaranteed.

Anfi Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria is also the first qualifying race for the 2024 Challenge Family Pro Athlete World Bonus, won in 2023 by Mathis Margirier and Magda Nieuwoudt. Challenge Family’s World Bonus provides professional athletes with the opportunity to race for a share of a US$125,000 end-of-season bonus in addition to race prize purses.