Challenge Salou 2026: preview, favorites and schedule
El Challenge Salou – Costa Daurada 2026 takes place this Sunday, May 10th, with Marta Sánchez, Elisabetta Curridori, Thomas Davis, Will Draper and Joe Skipper among the big names in the PRO start.
The Catalan race reaches its eleventh edition with one of the most comprehensive international entries of the weekend in the middle-distance category. Salou will once again bring together professionals, age-group athletes, and amateur triathletes on a fast course along the Mediterranean coast, with more than 1.200 participants representing some 50 nationalities.
El Challenge Salou – Costa Daurada It is a middle-distance test integrated into the circuit Challenge FamilyThe race consists of a 1,9 km swim, a 90 km bike ride, and a 21,1 km run. Its fast profile and the Costa Daurada setting tend to favor open races, with close gaps and a significant emphasis on the cycling segment.
The 2026 edition will also have several sporting highlights: the return of the 2025 champions, the women's duel between Marta Sanchez y Elisabetta Curridoriand a male career with a clear British accent.
Marta Sánchez arrives as a Spanish reference
Marta Sanchez She faces Challenge Salou 2026 as one of the top favorites in the women's category. The Spanish triathlete arrives in strong form after her third-place finish in the HOMBRE DE HIERRO Texas, a result that strengthened her candidacy among international long and middle distance specialists.
Salou will be an important opportunity to compete at home, in front of a Catalan crowd, and in a race that suits his strengths well. Sánchez usually makes a difference from the swim and typically maintains a high level of competition on the bike and run.
The key will be how much of a gap she can open up in the early stages. If the Spaniard manages to get ahead in the water and build a lead on the bike, the race could be very much in her hands from the halfway point onwards.
Curridori returns to defend his victory
The main threat to Marta Sánchez will be Elisabetta CurridoriThe Italian won in Salou in 2025 and returns with the intention of defending the title on a stage she already knows well.
Curridori also arrives with a very similar preparation pattern to last year. In 2025 he won the Infinitri 113 Peñíscola before triumphing in Salou, and this season he has repeated his victory in Peñíscola just days before the Catalan event.
The duel between Sánchez and Curridori presents two distinct profiles. The Spaniard may have an advantage at the start, while the Italian will need to manage the gap and remain competitive until the final half marathon. In such a fast race, any significant break in the early stages could be difficult to close.
More candidates for the women's podium
The fight for the podium is not limited to the two big favorites. milan agnew She appears as one of the strongest contenders after nearly reaching the top 10 in events such as IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong and IRONMAN 70.3 Valencia.
There will also be names capable of entering the fight such as Maaike Vooren, tenth in The Championship 2025, Agnieszka Gadomska, Macarena Salazar, Magda Nieuwoudt, Zaira Lorenzo, steffie lebenezic, Eider Bereziartua y carolina laurentiu.
The British team leads the men's race
The men's race is shaping up to be a race with a strong British presence. Thomas Davis He will defend the title he won in 2025, when he triumphed in Salou ahead of Quentin Barreau and Jonathan Wayaffe.
The reigning champion returns to a competition where he has already proven his ability to compete, although this time he will face a particularly large group of rivals. Among them is Will draper, European middle-distance champion and one of the strongest names on the list based on recent results.
Draper will also be Joe Skipper, Harry palmer y Jack HutchinsSkipper arrives with the weight of his track record and with his confidence restored after his second position in the IRONMAN South Africa, a result that gave him a place for the Kona World Championship.
Palmer and Hutchens complete a British contingent with international experience and a regular presence in top-level races. The combination of middle-distance specialists and long-distance athletes could lead to the race breaking up early on the bike.
The Spaniards at the PRO start
The Spanish male team will consist of Mikel Txopitea, Gorka Arechabaleta, Mikel Gómez e Ignacio CabreraFor them, competing in Salou has added value because it is an international event held on national territory and because of its importance within the Spanish middle and long distance calendar.
In the women's category, in addition to Marta Sánchez, there will be Zaira Lorenzo y carolina laurentiu, two names that increase the Spanish presence in a race with a high international level.
Favorites for the Challenge Salou 2026
| Category | Top favorites | Sports key |
|---|---|---|
| female | Marta Sánchez, Elisabetta Curridori, Milan Agnew | Sánchez can make a difference from the swimming portion; Curridori will have to limit losses and make it to the running portion alive. |
| Men | Thomas Davis, Will Draper, Joe Skipper, Harry Palmer, Jack Hutchens | The British team can make the test tougher from the bike stage and force a very tactical race. |
| Spanish | Marta Sánchez, Zaira Lorenzo, Carolina Laurentiu, Mikel Txopitea, Gorka Arechabaleta, Mikel Gómez, Ignacio Cabrera | The race offers an important opportunity to measure oneself against an international start list on national territory. |
Schedule and tracking
The men's PRO start is scheduled for 7:15 CESTThe race can be followed via live updates from Challenge Family, on a day where the pace can be high from the first few kilometers.
With the 2025 champions on the starting line, a Marta Sánchez in great form and a very deep men's team, Challenge Salou 2026 It is presented as one of the most interesting events in international middle distance running this May.
More related information
You can also consult the PRO list for Challenge Salou 2026, Results of the Challenge Salou 2025 and the special section of Challenge Salou in Triathlon News.
