Michele Sarzilla and Cathia Schär win the 2025 Peguera-Mallorca Challenge
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Michele Sarzilla and Cathia Schär win the 2025 Challenge Peguera-Mallorca, achieving their first professional victory in the middle distance.
The Italian and the Swiss achieved their first professional victory on a sunny day on the Balearic island.
El Challenge Peguera-Mallorca 2025 He left behind an intense, strategic career with an exciting ending for both men and women.
On a day of ideal conditions - calm water, no wetsuit and a devoted audience - Michele Sarzilla y cathia schär They debuted as professional middle-distance champions.
An open battle from swimming
The swimming segment (1,9 km) started at a high pace. The German Justus Topper He was the first to leave the water with a time of 22:09, followed by a compact group that already included favorites such as James Teagle (GBR) and the Majorcan Carlos Oliver.
Behind, the Frenchman Damien Le Mesnager He lost two minutes, but soon made his mark on the toughest segment of the day.
Le Mesnager dynamites the bike, Oliver on the attack
On the technical cycling circuit of 90 km —full of slopes, curves and hardly any flat sections— a group of 14 triathletes formed and rode together for a good part of the route.
The local Carlos Oliver He livened up the race in the first 45 km, but had to retire after suffering cramps.
It was then that The Messenger, a former professional cyclist, launched a devastating attack on the toughest climb of the day (km 50). In just a few minutes he opened a gap of several hundred meters and completed a spectacular partial of 2:01:30, arriving at T2 with more than two minutes' lead over Sarzilla.
Sarzilla's comeback in the foot race
The outcome was written in the 21 km of foot race along the Peguera seafront.
Sarzilla, a short-distance specialist, set a relentless pace from the start. Lap after lap, he shaved seconds off the pace until, with five kilometers remaining, he caught up with the Frenchman.
The Italian crossed the finish line in 3:39:34, signing a last partial of 1:08:06 and achieving its first professional victory in middle distance.
Le Mesnager held on to finish second just behind 13 secondswhile the British James Teagle completed the podium in 3:41:36.
The top 5 was closed by the Germans Joran Driesen y Justus Topper.
Schär shines in his professional debut
In the women's race, the Swiss cathia schär —coming from the ITU triathlon— surprised in his first attempt at middle distance.
From the water a prominent trio was formed together with Lena Meissner (ALE) and Daisy Davis (GBR). The three completed the cycling segment together, getting off to run with identical times of 2:49:25, more than three minutes ahead of the Irishwoman Megan Armitage.
In the half marathon, Schär imposed his speed with a split of 1:18:21, gradually distancing itself from its rivals until winning with authority in 4:09:09. Meissner was second in 4:12:20, and Davies third in 4:13:08.
Results of the 2025 Peguera-Mallorca Challenge
Male classification
- Michele Sarzilla (ITA) - 3: 39: 34
- Damien Le Mesnager (FRA) - 3: 39: 47
- James Teagle (GBR) - 3: 41: 36
- Joran Driesen (GER) - 3: 42: 11
- Justus Topper (GER) - 3: 43: 09
Female classification
- Cathia Schär (SUI) - 4: 09: 09
- Lena Meissner (GER) - 4: 12: 20
- Daisy Davies (GBR) - 4: 13: 08
- Megan Armitage (IRL) - 4: 16: 30
- Sara Perez Room (ESP) - 4: 19: 44 (dear, better Spanish)
A race that consolidates Peguera on the international calendar
The Challenge Peguera-Mallorca once again demonstrated why it is one of the most popular events in the calendar international. With a spectacular circuit, impeccable organization, and an unbeatable atmosphere, the event once again brought together professionals and age groups from more than 40 countries.
With the victories of Sarzilla and Schär, the Challenge Peguera list adds two new names to a list that already includes world-class champions. Both demonstrated that the future of European middle distance lies in the new generations.
