Over 1,000 triathletes fill Salou in a historic edition with athletes from 53 countries
This Sunday, May 11, Salou hosted a very special edition of Challenge Salou to celebrate its 10th anniversary, confirming its position as one of the most important sporting events on the Mediterranean coast. The day brought together more than 1,000 triathletes from 53 countries, marked by an electric atmosphere, high excitement, and ideal racing conditions.
In the headline Middle Distance race, Britain’s Thomas Davis and Italy’s Elisabetta Curridori were crowned overall champions. Davis completed the 113 km in 3:34:28, followed by Quentin Barreau (3:35:34) and Jonothan Wayaffe (3:36:34). In the women’s race, Curridori crossed the finish line in 3:59:35, ahead of Marlene de Boer (4:05:02) and Spain’s Zaira Lorenzo (4:11:25), who celebrated her first professional podium finish.
“After two third places here, to win today is a dream come true. I knew I had to break away on the bike and the plan worked. Winning the 10th anniversary edition makes it even more special,” said Davis.
“I think this is the best victory of my career. Everything clicked and I felt great. Today I had good preparation… and a little bit of luck. I’m so happy!” said an emotional Curridori.
In the Short Distance race, the winners were Sergi Berga from Club Triatló Prosan with a time of 2:36:11, and Blanca Sanromà from Prat Triatló with 3:07:21. Rounding out the men’s podium were Joel Alcaraz (CET Distance) with 2:38:42 and Pol Senabre (Fasttriatlon – CNB) with 2:40:53, while Mònica Ramírez (3:11:25) and Milena Oppelt from Böhnlein Sports Bamberg (3:17:57) completed the women’s top three.
The morning started out cloudy, but the sun soon emerged, creating perfect conditions for the hundreds of supporters who lined the streets to cheer on all participants. The Plaça de les Comunitats Autònomes and main sections of the course were filled with an enthusiastic crowd offering constant encouragement to the athletes.
The races began just before 8:00 a.m., and from 11:30 a.m. onwards, the first finishers began to arrive, visibly emotional after conquering a demanding course. At 1:00 p.m., all finishers were treated to the traditional “Finisher Paella Party” by Arròs Montsià on the Passeig Jaume I.
The event was attended by Salou’s mayor Pere Granados, the Catalan Minister of Sports Berni Álvarez, and the regional director of Sports Estefania Serrano, who presented the awards and congratulated the winners. “In Salou, we believe in sport as a tool for health, wellbeing, and international promotion. Challenge Salou is a clear example of this and a key part of the city model we are building,” said the mayor.
Throughout the weekend, dozens took part in parallel activities, which this year hit record numbers. On Friday, the triathlon EXPO opened and Los 40 Principales performed a concert at the Plaça de les Comunitats Autònomes. On Saturday, highlights included the ABUS Bike Check (a test ride of the official bike circuit) and the SAILFISH Swim Check at Platja de Ponent, both with excellent attendance.
That same day, more than 200 people joined the 2K Family Run for Alzheimer’s, raising over €400 for the Rosa Maria Vivar Foundation. In addition, the technical briefing livestream at 4:00 p.m. had over 200 live viewers, a clear reflection of the growing professionalism and dedication of the triathletes.
Official results can be found at this link.
