Search
shop

Challenge Puerto Varas 2022 results: Long and Chura are hot in Chile

There was a Stars and Stripes feel to the podium on Sunday at the first edition of Challenge Puerto Varas in Chile
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

The first edition of Challenge Puerto Varas in Chile saw another powerful display from ‘The Big Unit’ Sam Long, who took total control on the bike and then never looked troubled.

All seems to be right on track towards his IRONMAN World Championship target on May 7.

There was a different shape to the Pro women’s race, which saw Haley Chura and Laura Siddall started the run just seconds apart.

PRO Men

Home athlete Vicente Trewhela led the way through the water with another strong swim performance, just as he did earlier in the season at 70.3 Pucon. He had Balazs Csoke (HUN), Reinaldo Colucci (BRA) and Brent McMahon (CAN) for company, those the only four men who were able to swim quicker than women’s leader, Haley Chura.

Barely two minutes back however was last week’s impressive winner of CLASH Miami, Long, who had the other standout name, Matt Hanson, just metres behind him as they entered the bike course. Based on last week at least, Long was a very strong favourite to make light of that gap over the next hour.

Once the riders were out on the bike route, it soon became a one man show – with a Yo Yo Yo theme – as Long was in a different league on two wheels. With a full 90km this week, rolling hills and less depth of competition relative to Miami, it just further magnified the different level he is currently on to everyone else in the field.

He breezed to the front of the field and would start the run with a lead of well over five minutes. Behind was large chase group of eight, comprising Fernando Toldi (BRA), Brent McMahon (CAN), Luciano Taccone (ARG), Reinaldo Colluci (BRA), Nicolas Saez (CHI), Jason Pohl (CAN) and Vicente Trewhela (CHI).

Hanson is a brilliant runner, but it would surely take something remarkable from him combined with a meltdown from Long to be a challenger for top spot today.

It was no surprise to see that Hanson was indeed the athlete from the chase group trying to chase down Long. He did make up some time with a 1:10:42 split, but Long was hardly fading and in total control with a 1:12:24 himself. That gave him a four minute winning margin at the finish.

Argentina’s Taccone completed the podium, finishing his day with a solid 1:12:23 half marathon.

Next stop for Long is IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside in two weeks time, which could well have the strongest field of the season in terms of pre IRONMAN World Championship St George events.

Sam said if he could win in Miami, Chile, Oceanside and St George he would “basically have a full season under his belt by May.” The first two have been nicely ticked off.

PRO Women

Exactly as expected, it was Haley Chura (USA) leading the way solo in through the opening 1.9km swim. One of the most consistent athletes in the water, Chura built a lead of almost three minutes over Macarena Salazar (CHI) and Romina Palacio (ARG), who finished third earlier in the season at IRONMAN 70.3 Pucon.

The 30:16 swim time for Chura certainly indicates that the swim was a touch on the long side.

Further back than hoped for – circa six and a half minutes – was Laura Siddall. The Brit excels on dry land, and the rolling terrain should on paper play to her strengths. She would now need to prove it.

Siddall did indeed go to work on the bike, and despite starting with a bigger deficit than I’m sure she would have hoped for pre-race, constantly chipped away at the Chura advantage throughout the 90km. Just a minute back at the dismount line, most of that was reduced with a swift transition, and so they would start the half marathon less than 20 seconds apart and in sight of one another.

A Chura dominating the swim / Siddall dominating the bike was to be expected, and with that head-to-head coming out all but even, the run – where they are statistically far more evenly matched – would be the key.

On that front, it was advantage Haley today who gained a few seconds more over the opening mile, and then continued that trend over the next twelve.

Securing her first Pro win for three years (which was also in South America, at IRONMAN 70.3 Bariloche, Argentina in 2019), Chura closed out her race with a 1:23:35 run split. Her winning margin on Siddall at the finish was almost exactly two minutes, Laura clocking 1:25:23 for her run.

Challenge Puerto Varas Results 2022

Sunday 20th March 2022 – 1.9km / 90km / 21.1km

PRO Men

  • 1. Sam Long (USA) – 3:48:48
  • 2. Matt Hanson (USA) – 3:52:44
  • 3. Luciano Taccone (ARG) – 3:54:42
  • 4. Reinaldo Colluci (BRA) – 3:57:15
  • 5. Brent McMahon (CAN) – 3:57:29

PRO Women

  • 1. Haley Chura (USA) -4:30:29
  • 2. Laura Siddall (GBR) – 4:32:28
  • 3. Romina Palacio (ARG) – 4:43:44
  • 4. Macarena Salazar (CHI) – 5:01:24
Challenge Puerto Varas 2022 Podium Women
Photo Credit: Stef Hanson Productions
John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Hayden Wilde bike supertri Boston 2024 photo credit supertri
Premium10 ways to make your road bike faster and more aero for triathlons
Kristian Blummenfelt photo credit: PTO Canadian Open
PremiumIs your gut health impacting your performance? The untapped potential of good gut health for triathletes
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
PremiumHas triathlon reached peak performance? Tri experts and legends on how much faster triathletes could get
latest News
Sam Laidlow celebrates Challenge Roth win 2025
IRONMAN Leeds 2025: Date, start time and how to follow live
Anne Haug wins Challenge Roth 2024 [Photo credit: Simon Fischer | Challenge Roth]
Triathlon legend and current world record holder Anne Haug announces her retirement
Lovseth Perterer Sanchez IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
Rising Norwegian star underlines Kona claims and says that’s now the big goal
Vincent Luis San Francisco 49ers tri suit 2025
Short-course triathlon great Vincent Luis is OUT of T100 London
Marquardt Hogenhaug Foley IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
‘World Championship level’ – Marquardt says bike bar was raised at Lake Placid
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...