Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee has become a staple on the middle distance racing calendar. Now in its 15th year, the race is not only spectacularly beautiful. It has also attracted some pretty spectacular PRO fields over the years. From legends like Nicola Spirig and Sebastien Kienle. To fan favourite, Sam Long.
As we count down to this year’s race, we take a look back at some of the top racing that’s brought the hills of Walchsee alive in recent years.
2016: Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee hosts the European Middle Distance Championships
Flash back to 2016 and Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee set the stage for that year’s European Middle Distance Championships, the first time the Europe Triathlon competition had been held in Austria.
In the PRO racing, David McNamee missed out on the podium as Italian athlete Giulio Molinari beat Florian Angert and Thomas Steger to take the win. And German athlete Julia Gajer pipped Maja Stage Nielsen to the post to take the top spot in the women’s race.
And the age-group athletes were also out in force, including a 250-strong contingent for British Triathlon who brought home 11 medals. 10 of those secured by the age-group women who put in strong performances all round.
2018: Sebastien Kienle takes the stage
2018 saw triathlon legend Sebastien Kienle step up to the start line and dominate on the hills of Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee. Part of Kienle’s strategy in 2018 to get ready for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona was to avoid adding too many long haul flights into his schedule earlier on in the season. He went into Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee with a win at Challenge Turku (Finland) already under his belt. And ultimately beat out young gun Fred Funk to take the win.
On the women’s side, Brit favourite Laura Siddall clocked a second place finish – a couple of minutes behind Eva Wutti who became the first Austrian PRO to take the win at Challenge Walchsee.
2021: Olympic legend vs IRONMAN World Champion blockbuster
After disruption swept almost all racing aside in 2020. In 2021, Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee was back with a bag. And the most anticipated battle out on the course, was between Olympic legend Nicola Spirig – who was on the road to the Tokyo Olympics. And the then reigning IRONMAN World Champion, Anne Haug.
The 2021 race was again host to the European Middle Distance Triathlon Championships. And despite her main focus being on her fifth Olympics later in the year at Tokyo. And choosing to race on a road bike instead of a time trial bike. Spirig had a dominant day from start to finish, even setting the fastest bike split. A masterclass from the legend of the sport.
In the men’s field, Fred Funk was able to improve on his two previous 2nd place finishes to take the win – though he had Thomas Steger in hot pursuit. In fact, Steger ran a full 5 minutes faster than Funk during the half marathon, unable to catch thanks to Funk’s firepower on the bike. There was drama for 3rd place after Bart Aernouts managed to close in on Ruben Zepunkte. Aernouts finally passed Zepunkte in the finish chute to get the 3rd step.
2022: The Big Unit gets Roth ready
In 2022, Sam Long took to the start line in Walchsee as part of his ‘European tour’. Using the tough course and alpine views as a way to get ready for Challenge Roth the next weekend.
Ultimately it was Yo Yo No when it came to securing the win, as Long got beaten out by hometown hero Fred Funk. Talking after the race, Long described the course as honest, hard and “one of the most beautiful.”
2023: Funk’s Three-peat
And finally, bringing us back up to speed as we countdown to the 2024 edition. 2023 saw Fred Funk take his third consecutive win at was, for all intents and purposes, his hometown race. We caught up with Fred recently to get his tips for racing Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee. And given his track record of success here – it’s well worth taking notice if you plan to toe the start line!
The women’s racing in 2023 also saw top names in the sport put on a show, with Imogen Simmonds, Lucy Buckingham, Lucy Byram and Els Visser making up the top 4.
2024: Julie Derron’s Olympics warm-up race
Last year, soon-to-be Olympic silver medallist Julie Derron (SUI) stopped off for a warm up race at Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee – with her stunning run performance in particular showing she was in fine form ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Home hope Therese Feurersinger had carved out a solid lead on the bike, but a heart-breaking mechanical took her out of the race in the closing kilometres. That left Derron to come into T2 in first place, a position she held all the way to the finish line. But any doubts as to whether Derron would have been able to take the win if Feurersinger had stayed in contention were pretty firmly quashed by Derron’s run split – posting a 1hr 12 mins half marathon that was over 7 minutes quicker than any other woman in the field. And it was that run strength that a month or so later would see Derron take the silver medal ahead of Beth Potter at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games!
In the men’s race, Justus Nieschlag came in as the one to watch. And it looked like the race was his to lose, as he held the lead until half way through the run. But Panagiotis Bitados soon caught him and made the pass, taking the win with a new run course record of 1hr 9 mins. The win at Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee proved to be the first of several last year for rising star Bitados. Yet again showing that Challenge Family races are a great place to not only see the current big names in action – but to find out who the next gen stars will be.
2025: A look forward at this year’s race
The 2025 edition of Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee will take place on 29 June 2025, under new race director Bastian Mensing. Stay tuned for the PRO start lists, and check out our top three reasons to race if you’re considering adding your name to the age-group start list!
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