Damien Le Mesnager and Caroline Pohle win the Anfi Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria 2026
Damien Le Mesnager and Caroline Pohle won the Anfi Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria 2026, the event that opened the European season on April 18th. Challenge Family in mid-range with a very demanding duel in Mogán.
The event held in Anfi del Mar produced two very different professional races in their development, but equally intense: a comeback and final attack by Le Mesnager in the men's race, and clear dominance by Pohle in the women's race.
Le Mesnager secures his first professional victory after a hard-fought battle with Bortolamedi
The men's race started with Michele Bortolamedi recording the best swimming split in 21:55The Italian took command very early in the cycling segment and opened up a gap over Vicente Hernández Cabrera y Pierre Dupuy, in a very fast first part of the race with moments of maximum speed on the circuit.
While Bortolamedi seemed to be in control, Damien Le Mesnager His pace grew stronger as the kilometers ticked by. The Frenchman climbed from the back of the pack to become a serious contender for the lead, posting the fastest bike leg and arriving at T2 in the thick of the battle with the Italian.
The key move came at the start of the final cycling lap. Le Mesnager attacked, Bortolamedi responded, and they arrived at the second transition practically together. Everything was up for grabs in the half marathon.
In the race on foot, The Messenger He found his decisive moment after the first few kilometers together. The Frenchman opened up a gap and maintained his pace to the finish line, closing out the race in 3:48:09, thus achieving his first professional victory.
Bortolamedi He finished second with 3:50:05 after leading for much of the day, while Michele Sarzilla completed the podium with 3:55:31 after a great comeback on foot. The Italian also signed the best run of the day with 1:13:59.
“It was a tough day, there was a lot of wind both on the bike and on the run. I had a bad start in the swim and I pushed really hard on the bike to catch Michele. The last 5 kilometers of the run were very tough,” Le Mesnager explained after crossing the finish line.
Men's 3 Top
| Position | Athlete | Country | Time |
| 1 | Damien Le Mesnager | 🇫🇷 FRA | 3:48:09 |
| 2 | Michele Bortolamedi | 🇮🇹 ITA | 3:50:05 |
| 3 | Michele Sarzilla | 🇮🇹 ITA | 3:55:31 |
Caroline Pohle leads from start to finish in the women's race
In the women's race, the first to get out of the water was Sarah-Jane Goodwin, which marked 24:45Even so, the race changed very soon. Caroline Pohle He took the lead in the early stages of the cycling segment and never relinquished it.
The German rider built her victory on the bike. She steadily increased her lead while the chase unfolded behind her. Justine Guérard, Anne Sophie Pierre, Meg McDonald y Nikki Bartlett.
Upon arriving at Terminal 2, Pohle had a rent of 2:50 Regarding Pierre. In the running leg, there was no change in the script. The German maintained control, managed her lead, and crossed the finish line in 4:18:17 to add their first victory of the European season.
Behind, Anne Sophie Pierre secured second place with 4:21:44 y Nikki Bartlett closed the podium with 4:24:24.
“This victory is very special for me, as last year was very tough; it’s very emotional. It’s the best way to start the season. I’m back and I’m very happy,” Pohle declared at the finish line.
Top 3 female
| Position | Athlete | Country | Time |
| 1 | Caroline Pohle | 🇩🇪 GER | 4:18:17 |
| 2 | Anne Sophie Pierre | 🇫🇷 FRA | 4:21:44 |
| 3 | Nikki Bartlett | 🇬🇧 GBR | 4:24:24 |
Willy García Jiménez and Lucía Pérez Almeida win the short distance
The day also highlighted the fastest version of the event. In the men's category, Willy García Jiménez He won with a time of 2:28:15, in front of Fernando Marian de Diego, second in 2:28:54, Y de Luis Hernández Cano, third with 2:32:40.
In women, the victory went to Lucía Pérez Almeida, who completed the journey in 3:00:50The podium was completed by Laura Socas Hernándezsecond with 3:05:37, and the Swiss Stephanie Hess, third with 3:10:41.
Men's Short Distance Podium
| Position | Athlete | Time |
| 1 | Willy García Jiménez | 2:28:15 |
| 2 | Fernando Marian de Diego | 2:28:54 |
| 3 | Luis Hernández Cano | 2:32:40 |
Women's Short Distance Podium
| Position | Athlete | Time |
| 1 | Lucía Pérez Almeida | 3:00:50 |
| 2 | Laura Socas Hernández | 3:05:37 |
| 3 | Stephanie Hess | 3:10:41 |
Check the complete results
Mogán opens the European Challenge Family calendar
El Anfi Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria It reaffirmed its importance within the international calendar by opening the European season of Challenge Family in a scenario already consolidated within the middle distance triathlon.
The test, held in amphi of the seaIt brought together professionals, age groups and a wide international participation in a day marked by heat, wind and a high level of competition from the first meters.
With the victories of Damien Le Mesnager y Caroline PohleMogán leaves two names to kick off the European campaign and confirms, once again, its role as one of the leading events on the continental calendar.
