Alarza, Dapena, Aguayo and Díaz, aces poker in the Challenge Peguera
Lucy Gossage will be the big attraction in the women's competition
This Saturday 20 of October comes a new edition of the Challenge Peguera-Mallorca la last appointment of the Challenge Family circuit in Spain it's from the season. In this fifth edition the test will have record of participants, with 1.200 enrolled and with the "sold out" sign as in the three previous editions.
The competition starts at the beach of Torá, where the triathletes will face the 1.900m of swimming in the calm waters of the Peguera Bay. Later they will make the 90km of cycling, giving 2 turns to a circuit of 45km that runs through some of the most beautiful landscapes of Calviá and Mallorca, at the foot of the Serra de Tramuntana (World Heritage by UNESCO).
The circuit is technical and demanding, alternating areas of rapid descent with continuous steep slopes, passing through traditional villages, coastal areas, some of the most important tourist centers in Europe and popular beaches on the island.
The triathletes will arrive at the T2 with almost 1.000m of accumulated positive height difference. Finally, they will face the 21km on foot, giving 4 laps to an 5,25km circuit that runs through the urban center of Peguera and the beach promenades, so it is expected that the influx of the public is guaranteed by encouraging the participants.
In the men's competition highlights the presence of four champions of Spain that have also had outstanding results at an international level, such as Fernando Alarza (runner-up of Europe, 6º of the ITU World Cup and recent winner in the 70.3 by Cascais ), Pablo Dapena (ITU world champion), Emilio Aguayo (top20 worldwide 70.3) and Carlos López (IM Mallorca 2016 champion).
In addition to the results cited among them, they also have victories and podiums in the Challenge Family, Ironman and Ironman 70.3 circuits. In Peguera will also run Francesc Artigues, who was fifth in the Challenge Venice.
On the other hand, we must highlight the presence of international triathletes such as Slovakian Jaroslav Kovacic or the Danish Mathias Petersen who fight together with Pablo Dapena for the Challenge Family Word Bonus ranking, where the German Sebatian Kienle is the leader with only 50 points of advantage over Pablo Dapena, which is for sure. Dapena has already competed in 6 Challenge races this season, so to score points in Peguera and catch up with Kienle in the lead, only victory is worth it.
As regards the female competition the British Lucy Gossage It is the undisputed favorite. He has an impressive season with victories in three Ironmans (Wales, United Kingdom and Lanzarote) as well as the 70.3 in Lanzarote. Italian will also be present Margie Santimaria (fourth of the Challenge Family Word Bonus), the Belgian Katrien Verstuyft (fifth) and the Austrian Bianca Steurer
The test will give eating on Saturday to the 9: 00 hours from the beach of Torah.
Foto Aguayo: Dani Fiori
Dapena Photo: Lise Christiane Myltoft
Foto Alarza: Dan Istitene (Getty Images)
Photo Carlos: Ironman