Challenge Almere-Amsterdam is one of Challenge Family’s flagship events, each year bringing a festival of triathlon to the city of Almere as thousands of athletes from around the world arrive to compete in the long distance and middle distance triathlon and aquabike events.
Celebrating it’s 43rd anniversary in 2024, this is a race which is steeped in history – often seen as the very heart of Dutch triathlon. With this year’s event right around the corner, we take a look back at the history of this ever-popular race – including course records and the veteran age-groupers who have decades of experience when it comes to toeing the Challenge Almere-Amsterdam start line.
How it started: History of the oldest long distance triathlon in Europe
Long distance triathlon has a home in Almere, with what was then known as the Holland Triathlon first taking place in 1981. That makes the race the second oldest long distance triathlon in the world, behind Kona, and the oldest full distance race in Europe. And that age is backed up by prestige: even in the early days the triathlon hosted multiple European championships (1985, 1991, 1999, 2006) and two World Championships (2003, 2008) – the latter of which was won by triathlon legend, Chrissie Wellington.
The takeover: From Holland Triathlon to Challenge Almere-Amsterdam
The only long distance race to take place below sea level, on reclaimed land which was once the bottom of the Zuidersee, Challenge Family took over the Holland Triathlon in 2013. And while that meant a new look and a new lease of life for the race. The Race Management team at the helm were already very familiar with the event, growing up being inspired by the swim-bike-run action.
Challenge Family CEO Jort Vlam moved to Almere when he was five years old, arriving in the city just a couple of weeks before that year’s edition of the Holland Triathlon. Not really knowing what the race was, he and his family decided to take a look. Speaking to TRI247 in 2022, Jort revealed how that would prove pivotal in his journey to his career in triathlon:
“We went to have a look and I was immediately hooked by triathlon… I found it inspiring from the beginning and as soon as I was able to take part in the youth triathlon club I joined.”
“I did kids triathlon, and then I always had the dream to do a long distance race, that was the inspiration, together with my neighbour friends we started volunteering for the Almere race when we were 11, 12 years old.”
After achieving his dream of completing the long distance triathlon, Jort noted that the race was at a crucial moment. Something needed to change, to keep the race alive. And so he teamed up with Jefry Visser and Richard Belderok, who’d also grown up being inspired by the race: “It was part of us, part of the city – our city would be a lesser place without the triathlon, so we tried to figure out what was wrong, how can we improve it.”
The trio got in contact with Challenge Family, who knew the history of Almere, and so Challenge Almere-Amsterdam was born.
How it’s going: Challenge Almere-Amsterdam today
Since that takeover, the race has gone from strength to strength. Hosting multiple European and World long distance championships and attracting some of the world’s best PROs as well as a strong contingent of age groupers.
These days it’s not just a race – it’s a festival of multisport. Alongside the flagship long distance triathlon, there’s also a middle distance race; relays; Junior Challenge and a Kids run; aquabike events and the No Limits Challenge. Giving age-groupers of all ages and abilities plenty of opportunities to experience this unique below sea-level course.
2024 sees Challenge Almere-Amsterdam once again host the European Long Distance Triathlon Championships. And over the course of the week, some 3000 athletes – supported by over 800 volunteers – will take part in the multisport action.
Challenge Almere-Amsterdam course records
The course at Challenge Almere-Amsterdam is one of the fastest triathlon race courses going. The swim takes place in a calm lake, the straight forward course making it easy to sight and get into a rhythm. The bike course has virtually no elevation, and once you negotiate a few narrower bike paths at the start of the loop you’ve got long stretches of buttery smooth target to push the power and ramp up the speed. Add in a flat, four lap run course with an energy boost each time you pass the finish line party. And you’ve got the recipe for some seriously quick times – as long as you can take on the head winds.
It’s perhaps no surprise then that Challenge Almere-Amsterdam has set the stage for some pretty quick times over the years.
Women’s overall course record and fastest split times
At the time of writing, the women’s overall course record for Challenge Almere-Amsterdam is held by Sarissa de Vries – the Dutch athlete set a time of 08:32:04 in 2021. It was clearly a year for fast times, with 7 of the fastest top 10 times ever recorded at the race all being set in 2021.
The fastest swim split to date at Challenge Almere-Amsterdam was set in the historic pre-Challenge Family days. British athlete Tracy Ellingham swam 50 minutes 50s in 1993.
Renee Kiley (AUS) current holds the bike course record, with her blisteringly quick time of 4:23:07 which she set in 2023. And for the fastest run split, it’s Italian athlete Elisabetta Curridori who currently wears the crown with her 2:52:32 marathon split from the 2021 race.
Men’s overall course record and fastest split times
As it stands, Menno Koolhaas (NED) holds the Challenge Almere-Amsterdam overall course record with a time of 07:36:36 set at the 2023 edition of the race.
The fastest swim split once again comes from the 1993 edition of the race, with Arthur de Rouw (NED) posting a 44:31. Andrew Starykowics (USA) made the most of the fast bike course to set the record in 2023 with a time of 4:02:12 for the 180km distance. Interestingly, the run course record from 2004 still stands for the men! Belgian athlete Gerrit Schellens set a time of 2:37:01.
Veteran age groupers
Challenge Almere-Amsterdam has some seriously loyal fans, with a list of 150 age group athletes who have completed the race 10 times or more since it started back in the 1980s.
Top of the list is an age group triathlete named Chris Buijtenhuijs who has started the 33 times – and finished it every single time. He’s closely followed by Josef Derks who’s finished the race 29 times, and Richard Westerbeek who’s finished 26 times. A seriously impressive feat – these guys must know the course like the back of their hand!
You can see all the age groupers who’ve completed the race 10 or more times on the Challenge Almere-Amsterdam website.
The 2024 edition of Challenge Almere-Amsterdam is set to take place on Saturday 14 September, and will once again host the European Long Distance Championship as well as the popular open middle distance race, alongside family/kids events, relays and aquabike racing. In the PRO men’s field, Florian Angert is the hot favourite to take the win. Meanwhile in the women’s field, last year’s runner up Marlene de Boer will look to finish one step higher on the podium. And fan favourite Michelle Vesterby will be looking to finish her PRO triathlon career in style, as she’s set to retire after her race in Almere.
