This is a preview of the race – click on the names to read about significant wins for Kristian Høgenhaug and Hanne De Vet.
Middle distance racing returns to Šamorín in Slovakia this weekend, as Challenge Family host the eighth edition of The Championship on the banks of the Danube River.
Germany’s Frederic Funk will be on a mission to secure the title after previous second and third-place finishes. He will face stiff competition from, amongst others, Justus Nieschlag (GER), Kristian Høgenhaug (DEN), and Slovakia’s own Richard Varga, who is racing the final professional event of his remarkable career. Sadly, Jonny Brownlee who was set to headline this year’s edition has had to pull out due to illness. And rising Greek star Panagiotis Bitados is also out.
The women’s field promises equally thrilling action, with former champion Sara Pérez Sala (ESP) lining up alongside Alanis Siffert (SUI), hot off her recent Challenge Taiwan win. Other top contenders include Anna Bergsten (SWE), Hanna de Vet (BEL), and Katrine Græsbøll Christensen (DEN).
In our preview piece ahead of the race, you can find all the information you need, including start times and how to watch the race live.
Start time and how to watch live
The Championship broadcast will begin at 8:15am CEST, which is 7:15am BST, with the race starts at 8:30am CEST for the pro men and 8:40am CEST for the pro women.
Broadcast in full via www.challenge-family.live, The Championship will feature expert commentary from the voice of Challenge Family, Belinda Granger, alongside special guests, as the world’s top professionals go head-to-head at the iconic x-bionic® sphere in Šamorín, Slovakia.
And we’ve embedded the livestream below so you don’t have to leave this page.
Pro Men
British triathlon great Jonny Brownlee was set to head the all-star cast after describing The Championship as a “Last Dance” for him to go up against long-time training partner, Slovakian Richard Varga, who is making his final appearance as a professional athlete. Sadly, Brownlee has now had to take himself off the start list at the 11th hour due to illness.
But that still leaves a stacked field which includes a strong trio of German contenders in Frederic Funk, Justus Nieschlag and Willem Hirsch.
Nieschlag enjoyed a standout 2024 season with several podium finishes, including third place at Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee. Hirsch also brings strong podium credentials across both middle and long-distance events. Also on the start list is last year’s 3rd place finisher Kristian Hogenhaug, who will surely have a score to settle and want to get a strong race in the bag after disappointment at IRONMAN Texas.
Pro Women
Former champion Sara Pérez Sala (ESP) and recent Challenge Taiwan winner Alanis Siffert (SUI) are joined by Anna Bergsten (SWE), who will be looking to improve on her third-place finish in 2024. Denmark’s Katrine Græsbøll Christensen could also be in the mix.
History and course
The first edition of The Championship took place at the x-bionic sphere, Šamorín in 2017. Last year, Kyle Smith and India Lee took impressive wins and in the process, broke the previous course records set the year before by Mathis Margirier and Lee herself.
It’s worth noting however, that there have been some changes to the course used over the years, including the move of the swim which initially was in the River Danube, to the more sheltered and narrow canal.
At The Championship, the 1,900m swim takes place in the Danube Canal, with the athletes completing a point-to-point swim. On to the bike, the flat and fast course is just the one loop on a primarily out and back course. Finishing on the run, the course takes in 4.5 loops of the x-Bionic sphere venue.
Previous winners:
2024: India Lee (GBR) and Kyle Smith (NZL)
2023: India Lee (GBR) and Mathis Margirier (FRA)
2022: Sara Perez Sala (ESP) and Gustav Iden (NOR)
2021: Lucy Buckingham (GBR) and Florian Angert (GER)
2019: Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) and Sebastian Kienle (GER)
2018: Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) and Lionel Sanders (CAN)
2017: Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) and Lionel Sanders (CAN)
Prize money – what’s at stake
The crown jewel of the Challenge Family middle distance racing calendar, The Championship offers a significant total prize purse of €100,000 and is a PTO Gold Tier Event.
The total funds will be paid ten-deep, as follows:
€15,000
€9,000
€7,000
€5,000
€4,000
€3,000
€2,500
€2,000
€1,500
€1,000
