Race preview: inaugural Challenge Sandefjord set to debut with top international athletes
The inaugural Challenge Sandefjord is set to take place this weekend. It will bring together a field of professional athletes, including local favourites and renowned international athletes.
In the men’s professional field, all eyes will be on Casper Stornes (NOR), a local favourite with an impressive short-course career and several middle-distance victories under his belt. He is expected to be a formidable contender on Saturday. He will be joined by Will Draper (GBR), who has shown strong performances this year, finishing third at Challenge St. Pölten and second at Challenge Wales. Another strong competitor is Sebastian Wernersen (NOR), the current Norwegian champion, racing in his second-ever middle-distance event. Jesper Svensson (SWE), who secured second place at Challenge Gunsan-Saemangeum and third at Challenge Gdansk this year, could also be a potential winner as well as Miki Taagholt (DEN), who finished fourth at The Championship 2022.
The professional women’s field is also competitive, with Rosie Weston (GBR) leading the charge after her third place at Challenge Wales and second at Challenge Gdansk this year. Justine Guerard (FRA) is determined to make a strong comeback after a DNF at Challenge Cagnes-sur-Mer. Heini Hartikainen (FIN), who placed second at the same event, is also a strong contender as well as Chloe Sparrow (GBR), with a second-place finish at Challenge St. Pölten earlier this year, is another athlete to watch closely as she looks to rebound from recent challenges.
The race day will kick off with a 1.9km single-lap swim in the calm, sheltered waters of the fjord, setting the stage for a competitive day. Athletes will then embark on a two-lap 90km bike course that winds through Norway’s picturesque landscape and rich cultural history, including the site of one of the country’s oldest Viking ships and the lively Døla Hill, where spectators and music will create an electrifying atmosphere. The race’s final leg is a four-lap run through the streets of Sandefjord’s city centre before concluding in the city park at the iconic Whalers’ Monument.
Women
BibAthleteNationality1Rosie WestonGBR7Justine GuerardFRA9Gelmini LilliITA10Rhianne HughesGBR12Natalie LawrenceGBR13Heini HartikainenFIN16Anastacia NielsenDEN20Chloe SparrowGBR
Men
BibAthleteNationality2Kit WalkerGBR3Luca RonchiITA4Anders Toft NielsenDEN5Sebastian WernersenNOR6Sebastian FuchsAUT8Andrew Horsfall-TurnerGBR11Jesper SvenssonSWE14Miki TaagholtNED15Alessandro DegasperiITA17Marcus HerbstGER18Cyrill KnechtleSUI19Gaetan FetaudAND21Marius BjerkesetNOR22Toby NilsbetGBR23Will DraperGBR24Ivor FeunekesNED25Michal GrabowskiSUI26Lennart SieversGER27Casper StornesNOR28Joshua BerlesGER29Simon HuckesteinGER
