In pictures: The debut edition of Challenge Cesenatico

The newest edition to the Challenge Family portfolio of events took place this past Sunday in Italy – Challenge Cesenatico.

Situated on the Adriatic Coast, the port town of Cesenatico sits in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. The area itself is not completely fresh to the Challenge organisation, with past events based in Rimini and Riccione taking advantage of the stunning local roads, providing great cycling, as well as easy transport access from almost anywhere in Europe.

Cesenatico is no stranger to holding large scale sporting events either, including the Nove Colli sportive, which will take place this coming Sunday with more than 6,000 riders. It’s also a town I have visited regularly in years past, a fine location for triathlon or cycling training camps with plenty of quiet, scenic roads to enjoy.

With sprint, relay and swim/bike options as well as the headline middle distance race, the event proved to be popular, with 1,400 athletes represented by 22 nations first time out, which represents impressive figures for a debut edition.

A regular on these pages, photographer José Luis Hourcade (www.joseluishourcade.com) was on hand to capture the race in pictures, as well as some of the amazing scenery that this region has to offer.

Challenge Cesenatico Gallery 2024

Two-time Olympian, Alessandro Fabian gets ready to race on home turf

The Men’s Pro race gets started

The Pro Women followed just three minutes later

One of several age-group starts head into the Adriatic

The route into T1

Six men were in close order exiting the 1.9km opening discipline

Great Britain’s Abigail Bedwell was well clear before her chasers – pictured above – reached the beach almost 90 seconds later

Home favourite Fabian riding strongly in the early miles

Plenty of small towns and villages here to keep things interesting

Early stages on the bike for the men’s Pro race

Sven Thalman (SUI) was one of those pushing the pace for mush of the ride

No shortage of history here

Swim leader, Abi Bedwell (GBR), lead the race through the first 30km of the bike

Charlotte Faivre (FRA) was the first to catch the British swim pace-setter

Superb racing conditions

Ognjen Stojanovic (SRB) in the small chase group on two wheels

Aurelia Boulanger (FRA) would catch her compatriot around 60km in – and build a T2 advantage of three minutes

The perfect cycling roads of this region provide a great backdrop for racing

If you’d rather watch than race, the port of Cesenatico provides plenty of bars and restaurants to cheer from

First off the bike, Arne Reiss (GER) would not be able to hold of the run pace of Alessandro Fabian

Ognjen Stojanovic would eventually run through to second place

Boulanger added the fastest run split to extend her lead and secure a clear victory margin

Charlotte Faivre made it a French one-two

Austria’s Gabriele Obmann running to complete the podium, less than a minute clear of Bedwell

Home victory for Alessandro Fabian

Aurelia Boulanger takes the tape for her first Pro victory

Challenge Cesenatico Results 2024

Sunday 12 May 2024 – 1.9 km / 92 km / 21.1 km

ELITE WOMEN

1. Aurelia Boulanger (FRA) – 4:35:12

2. Charlotte Faivre (FRA) – 4:43:28

3. Gabriele Obman (AUT) – 4:45:15

ELITE MEN

1. Alessandro Fabian (ITA) – 4:00:39

2. Ognjen Stojanovic (SRB) – 4:01:43

3. Arne Leiss (GER) – 4:03:01

Written by

John Levison

TRI247’s Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.

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