Race images from Challenge Family The Championship – Samorin, Slovakia – 2019
As you’ll likely have seen if you’ve seen the Elite report (HERE) or the Age-Group roundup (HERE), there was once again significant British interest (and success) at the third edition of The Championship in Samorin, Slovakia on Sunday.
The highlight of the Challenge Family Middle Distance series, the race offers Pro athletes a prize purse of EUR 150,000, a 20 metre drafting zone and a quite remarkable host venue at the x-bionic Sphere in Samorin. The race also provided full live-streaming coverage, which I was over in Slovakia to host once again, this year joined by Laura Siddall. If you missed it, you can still catch up on the entire broadcast on YouTube (HERE), or through the endurancesports.tvapp. You can find out more about endurance sports TV HERE.
Jose Luis Hourcade (www.joseluishourcade.com) was once again on hand to capture the action, and bring you the visual experience of a race. To find out more about The Championship, visit the race website via: www.thechampionship.de.
Check out some great images from the race below
All smiles from Lucy Charles-Barlcay before the startEllie Salthouse (AUS) was back for a third yearSebastian Kienle ready for another epic in SamorinBen Kanute and Sebastian Kienle check out the swim courseThe men enter the Danube for the swim startLucy lead from the first strokes of the swim… as normal.Ben Kanute (USA) and Max Neumann (AUS) headed the swimMaurice ClavelThomas Davis and David McNameePieter Heemeryck (BEL) and Ruedi Wild (SUI)Sebastian Kienle gets ready to chase on the bikeAs always, Lucy lead the swimRadka KahlefeldtSebastian Kienle in full aero modeFastest man on the bike course – Andreas DreitzDavid McNamee on the new Cervelo P5Frederik FunkGreat Britain’s Adam BowdenPieter Heemeryck spent most of the day at the front of the raceDylan McNiece from New ZealandLucy Charles at the front of the race2018 third place finisher, Florian AngertAndreas Dreitz was in beast mode on the bikeHeemeryck leads the way on the banks on the DanubeUp close with David McNameeMauricio Mendez, former XTERRA World ChampionFlat and fast – but the 20m rules keeps it fairThomas Davis had a strong raceRodolphe Von Berg is putting together an impressive C.V.Sebastian in the final miles of the ridePieter Heemeryck ran strongly from the startFlorian Angert – with the iconic statue at the x-bionic Sphere in the backgroundAndi Dreitz still ran well after a storming 1:54:06 bike splitBen Kanute didnt have quite the day he hoped for, despite a great swim to start the dayKienle would prove he is a great runner as well as an uber-bikerFrederic Funk ended the day 11thThomas Davis was mixing it with the big guns in SamorinLittle separated the top men through the runPieter Heemeryck was trying to keep coolKienle caught Von Berg… but the American fought backLucy Charles looked great throughout the runAnja IppachRadka Kahlefeldt used the fastest run split to move through to second placeThis one meant a lot to Sebastian KienleThree years, three wins for Lucy CharlesAt least the champagne opened this year…!The womens podium: Lucy Charles, Radka Kahlefeldt, Daniela Bleymehl
