TRI247
Search
shop
SUPERTRI E TICKETS DISCOUNT & VIP COMPETITION
SUPERTRI E TICKETS DISCOUNT & VIP COMPETITION

Challenge Salou 2023 results: Margirier and Thek take the titles

Mathis Margirier and Grace Thek took the tape at Challenge Salou.

Staff Reporter
Last updated -
SHOP
Watch Potter, Brownlee & Beaugrand LIVE

Frenchman Mathis Margirier and Australian Grace Thek took commanding wins at OSTO Challenge Salou, as the pair continued their podium laden season with a trip to the top step in Spain.

Behind, Britain’s David McNamee secured a first podium of the season with a strong showing, ahead of Aussie Charlie Quin, as New Zealander Rebecca Clarke came second in the women’s race in front of Chilean Barbara Riveros.

Pro Men

Out of the water, Margirier exited with a small gap over compatriot Baptiste Neveu, with Quin within five seconds and McNamee within ten seconds after a fantastic swim.

Mathis Margirier wins Challenge Salou
Photo Credit – Jose Luis Hourcade

The Championship winner last month, Margirier was the favourite coming into the race, and rightly so, having finished on a podium in each of his past five races.

Out on the bike, the PTO World #23 quickly established a lead over the rest of the field with McNamee, as the pair pushed the pace lap by lap to eventually come off the bike with a five minute buffer to Quin and Milan Brons of the Netherlands.

Leaving T2, Margirier and McNamee started the run shoulder to shoulder, but a small gap quickly opened up by the end of the first lap, holding steady at about 15 seconds until around halfway, before Margirier put his foot on the gas.

Closing in on the finish, Margirier continued to put time into McNamee, as Quin started closing the Brit down, but not quickly enough to put McNamee under any real pressure.

Margirier, who extended his podium streak to six races in close to nine months, took the tape in the end with close to two minutes over McNamee, with the Brit getting on his first top 3 finish in a year, as Quin rounded out the podium.

After the race, Margirier, who has been racing non-stop so far this season, shared his thoughts on his second consecutive win.

“I’m really happy but my body is so tired after all the racing in the past month but I’m really happy with the race. The heat was intense and inside of me it was really hard. It’s a lot of training and a lot of work. There were a lot of French and all the other spectators supporting, they really pushed more than if I was alone so thank you to everybody.”

Advertisement

Pro Women

Kiwi Clarke led out of the water with a big lead, as she entered transition with close to 90 seconds over a small chase pack which included Constanza Martella, Riveros, Megan McDonald and Thek.

Out on the bike course, the trio of Thek, McDonald and Clarke worked well together through the first lap, before McDonald was dropped and the duo from Down Under came off the bike with a two minute buffer to the rest of the field.

Running through transition, Clarke had a small lead over Thek, with the Aussie happy to take her time to settle before reeling in Clarke and taking the lead, as further back Riveros overhauled McDonald to move into third.

For the rest of the run, Thek showed her dominance, opening up minutes to Clarke, as the gap between the New Zealander and Riveros of Chile remained constant, as each athlete ran strong over the second half to secure the podium.

Thek took the tape, with Clarke coming home in second just under five minutes back. Riveros, running brilliantly, finished in third after holding off a late surge from German Svenja Thoes.

After the race, Thek shared her thoughts on her performance and discussed the pressure she faced coming into the race as a favourite.

Grace Thek Challenge Salou win
Photo Credit – Jose Luis Hourcade

“It was a very classy field today, very competitive and we all finished in a short period of time. You never know what’s going to happen on race day, I went in as favourite but anything can happen so I was thrilled to get across the line in first.”

Advertisement

Challenge Salou 2023 results

Sunday 4 June 2023 – 1.9km / 90km / 21.1km

Pro Men

  • 1. Mathis Margirier (FRA) – 3:24:23
  • 2. David McNamee (GBR) – 3:26:18
  • 3. Charlie Quin (AUS) – 3:29:35
  • 4. Alberto Moreno Molins (ESP) – 3:33:33
  • 5. Franck Guyon (FRA) – 3:35:58

Pro Women

  • 1. Grace Thek (AUS) – 3:53:53
  • 2. Rebecca Clarke (NZL) – 3:58:24
  • 3. Barbara Riveros (CHI) – 4:00:48
  • 4. Svenja Thoes (GER) – 4:01:33
  • 5. Elisabetta Curridori (ITA) – 4:02:12
13th April 2024 - London
Watch Potter, Brownlee & Beaugrand as these triathlon superstars take on the world in the build up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
LIMITED TICKETS - DON'T MISS OUT!
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
Kyle Smith
Watt it takes to win at supertri E – a data dive into how deep the PROs have to dig
Arena Games Triathlon Finals Singapore - Beth Potter bike
The evolution of Esports in triathlon – How supertri brought virtual racing to the mainstream
Beth Potter Arena Games Triathlon Finals Singapore
Lightning fast splits and record breaking performances – relive some of the top moments from women’s supertri E racing
Lionel Sanders Arena Games Montreal game face on bike photo credit SLT
Countdown to supertri E – a look back at some of the most epic moments in men’s triathlon E racing
Challenge Barcelona 2023 - Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hourcade
Brownlee brothers on the costly race day swim mistakes to avoid – plus their own mishaps
latest News
Mixed Team Relay France podium WTCS Sunderland 2023 photo credit: World Triathlon / Petko Beier
World Triathlon confirm initial nine teams to qualify for Paris Olympic Games Mixed Relay
Ruth Astle St George finish line 2022 photo credit Tom Pennington Getty Images for IRONMAN
British IRONMAN Champion on committing to professional triathlon and chasing a T100 Tour wildcard
Ben Kanute / Tom Bishop PTO European Open 2023 Ibiza
Former American Olympic triathlete shares the “s*** side of the sport” after Miami T100
Brownlee Fitness Marathon Training Plan
Brownlee overcomes road closure to record rapid run split at Northern Road Relays
Lucy Charles-Barclay comes home second at the Miami T100.
Lucy Charles-Barclay reveals injury struggle that almost kept her from competing in Miami T100
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
Invalid email address
The SBRX Group

Proudly elevating endurance sports through content, products & services

SBRX
RUN247
Share to...