Racing Challenge Peguera-Mallorca? Here’s what you need to know

Challenge Peguera-Mallorca celebrates it’s 10th anniversary in 2024. The comeback race of choice for Alistair Brownlee in 2023, over the years Peguera has seen plenty of the biggest names in triathlon grace the start line – including Magnus Ditlev, Nicola Spirig, Fenella Langridge and Fred Funk. The Mediterranean middle distance race has established itself as a firm end of season favourite with age-groupers and PROs alike.

As we countdown to this year’s edition of Challenge Peguera-Mallorca, we take a look at the top tips and the things you need to know to get ready for the 2024 start line.

Challenge Peguera-Mallorca swim course tips

Let’s face it, for most of us amateur triathletes the swim is often the thing that features most prevalently in our pre-race nerves-induced stress dreams. So let’s start by taking a look at the swim course at Challenge Peguera-Mallorca. Spoiler alert: you’ve got nothing to worry about!

Practice your turns

The swim course at Peguera-Mallorca was updated in 2022 to a 2-lap format. That means you’ll never be that far from the shore – ideal if sea swimming jangles your nerves – and allows the organisers to have swim safety teams close by at all times.

The new course does however mean that you’ll have to make a few more turns. The course is essentially a double out and back format with two turn buoys at each end. Practice your line heading into the buoy and work on making the turn quickly to avoid losing too much time here. And remember, if you prefer to have as much space in the water as possible – stay on the far side of the group to avoid being caught up in any congestion.

Make the most of the Aussie exit

That 2-lap swim course also means you’ve got an Aussie exit at the halfway point. If you’ve not come across this before, what that means is you’ll exit the water, run a short stretch along the beach (typically over a timing mat) and then re-enter the water.

Challenge Peguera-Mallorca 2022 (Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hourcade)

If you’re stronger on dry land than in the water, you can make up a fair few places here by taking the Aussie exit run at pace. But make sure you keep it controlled – you don’t want to spike your heart rate too much before you get back into the water. It’s also worth practicing running in and out of the water from the beach during race week – running through water is a skill in its own right!

FINISH your RACE SEASON STRONG IN PEGUERA-MALLORCA

Rolling climbs and fast descents – what you need to know about the Challenge Peguera-Mallorca bike course

Given that Mallorca is one of the go-to destinations for cycling tourists, it’s no surprise that the bike course at Challenge Peguera-Mallorca is one of the key features that gets people hitting the ‘enter now’ button. And with a mix of challenging climbs and fast descents, it certainly won’t disappoint. But there are a few things to be aware of to make sure you have the best experience on race day.

The bike course has changed for 2024

If you’ve completed Challenge Peguera-Mallorca before, it’s worth knowing that the bike course has been changed for 2024 – so make sure you take a look at the updated course maps. A 12km segment on the previous version of the 45km lap has been removed after the organisers identified that the narrow roads and two-way cycle traffic posed a risk to competitors. With that in mind the course has now been amended to reduce the passage through Calvia village. It also introduces new sections through the areas of Magaluf, Nova Santa Ponça, and Santa Ponça. And you’ll get to experience some iconic locations including the Les Illes Malgrats viewpoint and the Via de la Cruz in Santa Ponça.

Get the nutrition on board soon after the swim

Take a look at the bike course map, and you’ll note that the longest and steepest climb happens almost right at the start of the lap. Therefore it’s important to make sure you get yourself organised and get your post-swim nutrition on board as soon as possible once you exit T1 so you’re fuelled up and ready for that first climb.

Be prepared for the out and back turnaround points

The route features three short out and back sections per loop – occurring at around 15km, 23km and 30km. You’ll find you can pick up a fair amount of speed on the downhill and flat sections of this course, so just make sure you stay alert and you’re prepared for any U-turns. It’s also worth practicing taking tight 180 degree turns in training so you don’t lose too much time making turns on race day.

Pace yourself well on the climbs

Finally, make sure you don’t burn too many matches making your way up the climbs. When the adrenaline is pumping and the views are spectacular, it can be easy to get carried away. But blast up the ascents too hard and you’ll be regretting it by the time you hit the half marathon course.

(Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hourcade)

Whether you’re riding to power or using heart rate data, make sure you set yourself some targets and don’t be tempted to go above these limits. You’ll be able to make up time on the descents and the flats, so don’t panic when your pace drops during the climbs. Just remember to stay alert on the downhills, too, so you don’t have any descending mishaps and end your race early.

You can read more about pacing the hills in our guide to pacing a hilly middle distance triathlon.

Run course tips

Once you drop your bike off in T2, it’s time to hit the run course. Those who’ve suffered on the hills during the bike leg will be happy to know the run course is flat, and fast. Taking competitors into the heart of Peguera town, an epic atmosphere is almost guaranteed. And the four lap course design means you’ll have plenty of opportunities to spot your support crew. However it’s worth knowing that the course has five out and back sections per loop, with a 180 degree turn at the end. Those dead turns can be pretty fatiguing on the legs as you near the latter stages of the race, but if you can take them efficiently and power out of each turn you’ll be able to make up some time.

It’s also good to know that the on course nutrition this year is set to be Powerbar – make sure you try it in training if you plan to make use of any of the gels or bars on course. The aid stations are positioned every 2-3km.

Other useful information – cut off times, travel and bike rental

Now that we’ve covered the essential things you need to know about the course at Challenge Peguera-Mallorca, let’s take a look at some of the other details to be aware of.

Cut off times

Hopefully you won’t need to worry about missing the cut off times – but it’s always good to know exactly how much time you’ve got to play with should anything go wrong on race day. The total time allowed to complete the race at Challenge Peguera-Mallorca is 9 hours. Most middle distance races have around an 8.5hr cut-off so that extra half an hour makes an allowance for the fairly tough bike course.

Travel and accommodation

Getting to Peguera is easy, with Palma airport just a short journey away. Transport links are good, so you’ll be able to get by without a rental car. Though if you’re planning to stay on for a post-race vacation and you don’t fancy exploring the island by bike – you might want a car to hand to go and explore everything Mallorca has to offer.

A perfect race and holiday location

As you’d expect from such a popular tourist destination, accommodation options are plentiful. However if you want the most convenient experience on race morning, the Valentin Reina Paguera Hotel and Universital Hotel Lido Park & Spa are both just a couple of hundred metres walk away from the race start and finish.

Bike rental in Peguera

If you prefer not to travel with your own bike, there are a few bike rental options in/near Peguera – though it’s best to book your rental as early as possible. Ride Mallorca, VAS rent-a-bike and Rad International all offer road bike hire.

FINISH your RACE SEASON STRONG IN PEGUERA-MALLORCA