With defending champion India Lee not returning to Šamorín this year, the women’s race at The Championship is wide open—and that makes for a different kind of excitement. A new name will be etched onto the winner’s trophy, and there’s no shortage of hungry athletes ready to seize the opportunity.
India Lee dominated the last two editions of the race with trademark aggression across all three disciplines—most notably breaking clear on the bike and controlling the run. Last year, she even knocked two minutes off her previous winning time. But without her in the lineup, the dynamic changes entirely. This year, we’re likely to see a much closer contest, with several rising stars looking to announce themselves on one of Challenge Family’s biggest stages.
Key contenders
With less than 48hrs to go, let’s take a look at the top names on the female PRO start list who I think could challenge for the win this Sunday.
Alanis Siffert
Swiss athlete Alanis Siffert was nothing short of spectacular in 2024. Incredibly, she finished on the podium in all nine of her races winning several. And 2025 seems to be off in similar fashion with a win at Challenge Taiwan.
Siffert is powerful on the bike and could use this strength to break away on the flat and fast course in Šamorín. With a race-heavy season skewed toward Challenge Family events, this feels like a big target for her and she’ll be lining up wanting to break the tape first!
Sara Pérez Sala
Expect to see Sala leading the swim, as she so often does. Pérez Sala is a dynamic athlete who can string together strong performances across the board when on form.
She finished third here in 2023 and recently took second at Challenge Sir Bani Yas, so she knows this course well and is clearly in good shape. If she can hold on through the bike and stay in touch for the run, she’ll be one of the top contenders to take the title.
Hannah De Vet
Still relatively new to middle-distance racing, De Vet is showing steady improvement as she transitions from short-course racing. Her 13th-place finish at the high-profile T100 event in Las Vegas showed she’s capable of mixing it with the best, and a recent 1:19 half marathon hints that she could be dangerous on the final leg. If she’s within range off the bike, expect her to run through some big names.
Ones to watch
Those are my picks for the top names that I think could contend for the win. But as I’ve said, this race is wide open. So there are a few other women on the start list who could take the field by surprise.
Daisy Davies
An emerging British athlete making a name for herself on the middle-distance circuit, Davies is especially strong on the bike and isn’t afraid to attack early. She recently impressed with a podium finish at Challenge Gran Canaria, where she showcased exactly how she likes to race. Confidence will be high, and if she can stay composed, she has the ability to disrupt the more established names.
Lottie Lucas
Based in the UAE, British athlete Lottie Lucas is a familiar face across the Challenge Family Asia-Pacific scene. And she has been knocking on the door of big results.
She’s had several close battles with Siffert season, and her consistent form makes her one to watch. With a well-rounded skillset, she’ll need a strong bike leg to stay in contention—but if she does, a podium is well within reach.
The verdict
While this year’s women’s race might lack the headline stars of previous editions, it offers something different: unpredictability. A deep field of up-and-coming talent will be fighting for a career-defining win. Expect aggressive racing, possible breakaways on the bike, and a closely contested run to the finish line. It’s anyone’s race and that will make it a pretty exciting race – so definitely tune in!
My predicted podium:
- Alanis Siffert
- Sara Perez Sala
- Daisy Davies
Read our full Challenge The Championship 2025 race preview to find out how to follow the action.
