More than 1,200 triathletes from 50 nationalities turn Salou into the international epicentre of triathlon during an intense sporting weekend
Salou once again experienced a weekend of major international sporting action with the celebration of Challenge Salou – Costa Daurada 2026, which from 8 to 10 May brought together more than 1,200 triathletes from 50 nationalities in one of the leading events on the European triathlon calendar.
The main race day took place this Sunday with the Middle Distance and Short Distance events, following a weekend marked by intense sporting activity, strong international participation and thousands of spectators enjoying the triathlon atmosphere along Passeig Jaume I and the Platja de Llevant area.
In the headline Middle Distance race — featuring 1.9 km of swimming, 90 km of cycling and 21 km of running — Britain’s Will Draper claimed victory in 3:36:11 after a dominant bike performance and a strong final half marathon.
The men’s podium was completed by Jack Hutchens (3:37:47) and Arthur Berland (3:38:23), in a race characterised by a relentless pace from the opening kilometres.
In the women’s race, Italy’s Elisabetta Curridori successfully defended the title she won in Salou in 2025, taking victory in 4:04:02 after an intense battle throughout much of the race with Marta Sánchez, Milan Agnew and Juliette Lucet.
Australia’s Milan Agnew finished second in 4:04:42, while Spain’s Marta Sánchez, strongly supported by the local crowd throughout the day, secured third place in 4:08:23.
Alongside the Middle Distance race, the Short Distance event also took place, featuring 1.9 km of swimming, 45 km of cycling and 11 km of running. The winners were León Benninger in 2:14:49 and Helena Florenti in the women’s category.
Saturday’s programme began as planned, with all morning activities successfully completed, including the Swim Check, the official press conference and the race briefings. In the afternoon, the Aquathlon Distance — a new addition to this year’s event programme and also the Catalan National Championship — was held over a course of 1 km swimming and 5 km running.
The winners were Albert Parreño in 00:29:45 and Erika Soriano in 00:39:44.
However, weather conditions deteriorated significantly from midday on Saturday, with persistent rain affecting the course. Although the Aquathlon was completed successfully, organisers were forced to cancel the Kids Run and the charity Family Run for safety reasons due to the condition of the circuit and the impossibility of guaranteeing safe conditions for participants.
Beyond the sporting results, Challenge Salou – Costa Daurada once again consolidated its position as one of the municipality’s leading international events, generating a significant economic, tourism and promotional impact for Salou and the Costa Daurada.
The event featured more than 60 professional triathletes and a €30,000 prize purse, further strengthening Salou’s position within the Challenge Family circuit and the international triathlon scene.
