After a busy few months of training and racing, you want to finish the triathlon season with a bang. Located in Mallorca, in the seaside town of Peguera, where the sun shines 300 days a year, Challenge Peguera-Mallorca may just be the race you’ve been looking for: sun, sea, and a brilliantly organised race against a beautiful backdrop.
Start with laps in the glistening, still ocean, then jump on your bike and weave among the foothills of the UNESCO Serra de Tramuntana mountains, finish with a half marathon along the promenade, with the constant hum of cheers from the crowd providing all the motivation you need to reach the finish line.
And when the excitement is over, well, Mallorca is a rather lovely place to reset and relax, with some of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean.
Location – A bit of everything…
Offering a great mix of rugged mountains, golden sandy beaches, family-friendly activities and a variety of restaurants, Peguera is a popular tourist location in Mallorca. By October, a lot of the holiday makers will have gone home, making way for the many triathletes who descend on the town during the month – although word has it Germans love it here, too!
Just a 20 minute drive from Palma (Mallorca) Airport or a short bus ride from the centre of Palma city, it’s incredibly easy to get to for most people travelling from European countries, with flights taking no more than three hours.
The town isn’t huge and the bus links are reliable, so it isn’t imperative that you have a car – unless you want to go exploring. There are plenty of hotels and apartments in the town, from the adult-only Secret’s Mallorca 5-star hotel to boutique, family-friendly ones.
And if you prefer to be a little further away from the excitement, there are lots of quiet spots with lovely apartments at the edge of the town. Shops, cafes and delicious restaurants are all within walking distance from most of the accommodation.
THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE
“The greatest race. A fantastic venue, a fantastic enthusiastic crowd – and so nice to have activities for all of the family! The atmosphere in Peguera is amazing. The bike ride is through a truly beautiful scenery. This is the race I always return to – and the race I would forever recommend!“
Whether you want to tuck into a seafood Paella or eat your weight in Patatas Bravas, you certainly won’t be short of opportunities to carb-load. There’s also a Pasta Party from the 13th-16th October if you’re still in need of carbs. All athletes will be given a $12 voucher at registration, which they can use at any of the participating restaurants.
Course – Technical and demanding with brisk downhills
The most challenging part about this race is the bike ride, with the steep climbs and fast descents, so we’d recommend athletes be confident in both of these disciplines when considering this race. The swim is flat and not too far out to sea, so athletes who don’t like deep water swimming should be ok.
With some more rolling hills on the run, it’s important to have plenty of brick sessions and hill training built into your pre-race training. With this in mind, this could be a tough challenge for first-timer middle distance racers but those who have trained well and are experienced will enjoy the variety of this race.
SWIM – 1.9km
The swim was recently changed to two 950m laps, rather than the one large 1.9km loop, as in previous years. This was to reduce the distance participants had to go from the shore and to increase the overall atmosphere of the swim – from the safety to the cheering crowd.
The new laps go around the beautiful bay of Playa de Torà, in a triangular (ish) shape, around two buoys. Participants then exit the water and re-enter again for the second loop, giving supporters plenty of opportunities to see their favourite athletes – and with the water at a balmy 23°C / 73°F, wetsuits won’t be necessary.
BIKE – 90km
The bike is also two loops, each 45km long with around 500m of elevation. Starting along the beach in Peguera and then winding up to the foothills of the famous UNESCO Serra de la Tramuntana mountains, the views are spectacular but the climbs challenging, with very steep uphills but also impressive downhills – some athletes are known to reach 70kph!
RUN – 21km
The 21km run is an undulating four lap course, a beautiful but tough route, against the backdrop of the Serra de la Tramuntana mountains. Following the boardwalk, the run offers impressive coastal views before looping into the centre of Peguera, and then finishing back on the boulevard, by the plaza.
Spectators – Sunshine and family-friendly
Downtown Peguera offers plenty of opportunities to see the athletes, whether they’re cycling or running – it’s also where the transition and finish line is! Ideal for those travelling in large groups or with young children, as you don’t need to move too far – and with all of the legs being in loops, you can see your athlete plenty of times!
Another plus side to spectators basing themselves in the town is the close proximity to the cafes and restaurants – cheering can be hard work, so you must make sure you’re properly fuelled and hydrated!
Why Race… Challenge Peguera-Mallorca
THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE
“The race is one of the most athlete friendly events I have raced at. My first experience was in 2014, and have been coming back nearly every year since that. The area is stunning, the bike course is a mix of hills, and fast flat sections and incredibly well signposted and marshalled. It is a great way to finish the season, being from the UK for us it means a bit of warmth before hitting our winter!“
RACE-cation – Sun, sea, mountains and more…
It’s the end of the season, so it would be rude not to treat yourself to a few days post race to recuperate and Mallorca is the perfect place to do it. The municipality of Calvià is 56 sq. miles, and there are many places to explore, from secret beaches to quaint, traditional towns. Calvià is also one of the entrance doors to the Serra de Tramuntana UNESCO World Heritage Site, a rugged mountain range awash with flora, fauna and nature.
Pack a lunch and go for an easy amble or grab a bike and discover the Calvià 14 towns. If you want to take it down a notch, plenty of hotels offer yoga and Pilates classes, and with soft, golden sand, the beach is also a nice spot to park yourself – maybe with a cold beer.
Got the family in-tow? Calvià has plenty for everyone. Visit the Jungle Parc and swing from the tree-tops on ropes and ziplines, visit Marineland and watch a spectacular dolphin show or head to the Western Water Park and splash around on the slides.
Before you leave, it could be worth checking out some of the facilities, as Calvià is a great location to train. With 30 first class sports facilities, including an athletics track, 7 indoor swimming pools, 2 outdoor swimming pools, 35 beaches and 6 gyms, you could bring some friends and set up a training camp!
