Search
shop

Challenge Riccione 2022 Results: Pallant-Browne is back, Steger defends in Italy

Race favourites take top spot at the 2022 edition of Challenge Riccione, Italy
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Thomes Steger (AUT) defended his 2021 win, while Emma Pallant-Browne showed she was back to health and form, both using strong run legs to win Challenge Riccione.

Advertisement

PRO Women

British athletes would feature strongly all day, and it was India Lee who lead the way through the water, with odd-on race favourite, Emma Pallant-Browne, not too far behind.

Emma has won countless Challenge and IRONMAN middle distance races over the past six years, but will surely have had just a few nerves going into this race, following her distressing meltdown earlier this year on the run at CLASH Miami. No repeat of those furnace-like conditions today, but even so, some demons to extinguish under race conditions.

Onto the bike and for much of the day it appeared that an all British podium sweep was possible, as Pallant-Browne, Lee and Lucy Byram were all in close order.

That trend continued until T2. Few people in the sport can match Emma’s running prowess, but given that recent history, it did potentially open the door for Lee and Byram. Did they have a shot at top spot? Not today.

It didn’t take too long until normal service resumed. Emma took the lead immediately on the run and had 21km to extended that significantly. With more races coming up in Europe over the next few weeks, she was in control and in position to look forward to those, without pressure.

When the five laps were complete, Emma had built a significant winning margin of eight minutes. Behind, Byram was holding strong to secure a first Pro middle distance podium, but an all-British sweep was extinguished by Marta Bernardi (ITA), who would was India Lee for third place on the final lap.

Pro Men

Thomas Steger was first out of the water and first across the finish line in Riccione today – but was made to work pretty hard in between.

Steger lead in Florin Salvisberg (SUI), 2019 champion Mattia Ceccarelli (ITA) and Tom David (GBR) after the opening swim, with another Italian former champion, Giulio Molinari, not too far behind.

Everyone knows the run speed of Steger, and so Ceccarelli set about trying to get away on the bike. While he did gain an advantage of more than a minute, but the time T2 arrived, the Austrian fought was just metres behind him. The writing was on the wall.

Right from the start the Team Pewag athlete was away and clear. A little further back, the real battle appeared to be for the final podium slot.

Steger duly sealed the deal on the run to defend his title and Ceccarelli held strong for silver. Behind – despite having to serve a 30-second penalty (possibly a transition infringement?) – Florin Salvisburg completed the podium.

While he did just miss the podium, having referenced his prospects in the preview, it’s great to see Tom Davis back towards the pointy end of the racing, after some rough events over the past 12 months.

Challenge Riccione 2022 Results

Sunday 1 May 2022 – 1.9km / 90km / 21km

PRO Men

  • 1. Thomas Steger (AUT) – 3:37:40
  • 2. Mattia Ceccarelli (ITA) – 3:39:02
  • 3. Florin Salvisberg (SUI) – 3:40:14
  • 4. Thomas Davis (GBR) – 3:41:17
  • 5. Chris Mintern (IRL) – 3:41:33
  • 6. Marcel Boblat (GER) – 3:43:29
  • 7. Marcus Herbst (GER) – 3:45:05

PRO Women

  • 1. Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR) – 3:56:50
  • 2. Lucy Byram (GBR – 4:-04:59
  • 3. Marta Bernardi (ITA) – 4:05:31
  • 4. India Lee (GBR) – 4:06:49
  • 5. Maja Betz (GER) – 4:09:29
  • 6. Rachelle Botti (SUI) – 4:16:06
  • 7. Rosie Weston (GBR) – 4:19:55
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
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
latest News
Sam Long St George 2024 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘No No No’ – Sam Long says he felt ROBBED by swim cancellation at ‘69.1 Chattanooga’
IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Nice Age Group Swim Start
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after fears raised for Age Group women
Jonny Brownlee / Jonathan Brownlee - Super League Triathlon London 2023
Did the Brownlee brothers nearly join pro cycling’s Team Sky after 2012 Olympic heroics?
Kristian Hogenhaug interviewed after The Championship 2025
Danish triathlon star highlights blistering bike split as key to The Championship success.
Alistair Brownlee - T100 San Francisco 2024 bike
Olympic triathlon legend Alistair Brownlee completes iconic Gralloch race in latest gravel test
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

Share to...