Search
shop

Challenge Mogán-Gran Canaria: Start time, preview and how to follow live

Our preview for Challenge Mogán-Gran Canaria, which takes place this weekend in Spain.
Staff Reporter
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

This is a preview for Challenge Mogán-Gran Canaria, which was won by Britain’s Iestyn Harrett and Poland’s Marta Lagownik. You can read about the race here.

Challenge Mogán-Gran Canaria, well-known for its tough and honest course, will kick off the European middle distance season this weekend in Spain.

With previous winners including IRONMAN World Champions Sam Laidlow and Anne Haug, the competition is always fierce and this weekend will be no different, with a number of top names making the trip to the Canary Islands.

In our preview piece below, you can find all the information you need on start times, how to follow and a full rundown of the men and women’s professional fields.

Advertisement

Start time and how to follow live

Challenge Mogan-Gran Canaria will take place on Saturday, April 20. The professional men will begin at 08:00 local time, which corresponds to 08:00 UK time, 09:00 CEST and 00:00 on the West Coast. 

Starting three minutes later, the women will kick off at 08:03 local time, which corresponds to 08:03 UK time, 09:03 CEST and 00:03 on the West Coast. 

Live updates will start from 7:45am local time (8:45am CEST) and can be found by clicking here. Alternatively, you can find updates throughout the race via @challengefamily and @challengegrancanaria on social media.

Pro Men

In the men’s race, Kristian Hogenhaug of Denmark leads the field, with the Team BMC athlete opening up his season in Gran Canaria after a mixed year in 2023.

Challenge Salou 2022: Kristian Hogenhaug leading the run
Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hourcade (www.joseluishourcade.com)

Finishing on the podium at IRONMAN Hamburg, Hogenhaug was 16th at the PTO Tour European Open, the only other race he finished after a DNF at IRONMAN Nice and the IRONMAN World Championship.

Without a victory since winning Challenge Salou back in 2022, the 32-year-old will look to kickstart this campaign with a strong performance against a useful field when he lines up on Saturday.

Joining the Dane on the start list are a strong contingent of Brits, including Jack Hutchens, Will Draper and Ben Goodfellow, plus Luke Pollard, who has raced as a guide for PTVI World Champion Dave Ellis.

Elsewhere on the start list, Belgian trio Dieter Comhair, Dries Matthys and Tom Valen are all experienced Challenge racers and will look to make their mark against some more established names on race day.

Pro Women

On the women’s side, Svenja Thoes of Germany is the favourite for this race, and will look to improve on her sixth place performance from last year.

IRONMAN Vitoria Gasteiz podium Frades Visser Thoes photo credit: IRONMAN
[Photo credit: IRONMAN]

With top results such as fifth at the World Triathlon Long Distance Championship to her name, Thoes is a seasoned pro and also picked up podiums at IRONMAN Cozumel and IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2023.

Up against Italian Margie Santimaria, the German will face tough opposition. Santimaria, who finished fourth here in 2023, picked up three Challenge Family event podiums last season including a win at Challenge Geraardsbergen.

Finally, Jeanne Collonge of France is one of the main contenders beside the leading pair for the podium. The winner of the Alps D’Huez triathlon last year, Collonge is an experienced racer at this level, having made her pro debut more than 15 years ago.

Prize Money: What’s on the line?

Athletes will be racing for a total prize purse of $19,000, payable six deep as follows:

  • 1st – €3,500
  • 2nd – €2,100
  • 3rd – €1,400
  • 4th – €1,150
  • 5th – €850
  • 6th – €500
Tomos Land
Written by
Tomos Land
Tomos Land is a triathlon & running journalist whose expertise lies in the professional world of short course & long distance triathlon, though he also boasts an extensive knowledge of ultra-running.
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumHow to pace a triathlon to leave it all out there WITHOUT blowing up
FORM Smart Swim 2 PRO lens close up
FORM Smart Swim Pro 2 Goggles review: can these high tech goggles actually help you to train smarter and swim faster?
Premium‘The difference from triathlon is so big – there’s no comparison’: Maya Kingma on life in the Women’s WorldTour peloton
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth 2025 finish line
PremiumLaura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
TRIFIT VORTEX tri suit
The small but mighty tri brand you NEED to know about: Why TRI-FIT are on a mission to disrupt the triathlon apparel scene
latest News
Julia Skala end of Norseman 2025
“A fight for self-worth, strength and healing,” Julia Skala on world’s toughest triathlon
Steve McKenna got the win at the 40th edition of IRONMAN New Zealand.
Star IRONMAN athlete clocks a sub-2:20 marathon – and says there’s more to come
Sam Long St George 2024 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘Yo Yo Yo – London is calling’ – Sam Long the latest big name added to stellar T100 start lists
Kristian Grue wins Norseman 2025
Norseman 2025: Grue and Skala conquer ‘Zombie Hill’ and the world’s TOUGHEST triathlon
Hayden Wilde happy T100 Singapore 2025
Hayden Wilde – is he BACK for T100 London after injury nightmare?
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...