Search
shop

WATCH AGAIN as Blummenfelt and Iden go one-two at Challenge Samarkand

It's a relatively new race but the stars are out in force on Sunday for an event which showcases the ancient Great Silk Road.
News Director
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

This is a preview of the race – click here to read about impressive wins for Kristian Blummenfelt and Laura Madsen.

Stellar Norwegian duo Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden top a small but select start list for Challenge Samarkand on Sunday.

Tokyo 2021 Olympic champion Blummenfelt has won pretty much every title that matters in the sport and stepped back up to full-distance racing in incredible style recently with victory at IRONMAN Frankfurt.

Iden meanwhile, also an IRONMAN and 70.3 World Champion, returned to winning ways at Challenge Turku in late July following a difficult time both personally and professionally.

Reigning 70.3 World Champ Rico Bogen and Britain’s Tom Bishop are among those taking them on while the women’s race is headed by Denmark’s Laura Madsen.

Samarkand is the second largest city in Uzbekistan and one of the most important fabled places on the Great Silk Road, the trade route between China and Europe for more than 2000 years.

Read on to find out more.

Advertisement

Start time and how to watch

The event starts at 07.00 local time on Sunday September 8 – which is 03:00 in the UK, 04:00 CET and 22:00 on Saturday for those on Eastern Time.

It will be streamed live by Challenge Family and we’ve embedded that below so you don’t need to leave this page.

Men’s Start List

It’s a star-studded men’s field headed, as we said at the start, by that ground-breaking Norwegian pair Blummenfelt and Iden.

Both are targeting the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, and this is another stepping stone towards that.

But Bogen is strong contender too at this distance. He’s currently 10th in the PTO’s world rankings after another consistent season which has included a podium place at T100 San Francisco.

Britain’s Bishop notched his best result so far when second at Challenge Roth in July behind the record-breaking Magnus Ditlev. He also picked up two Challenge Family victories last season – in Wales and at Puerto Varas – while German duo Tom Hug and Ruben Zepunkte are other potential podium hopes.

Iden Blummenfelt run kona 2022 photo credit Tom Pennington Getty Images for IRONMAN
Gustav Iden and Kristian Blummenfelt [Photo credit: Tom Pennington / Getty Images for IRONMAN]
Advertisement

Women’s Start List

Madsen surely starts as favourite for the women’s race after finishing second to India Lee at The Championship in May.

She also has two wins to her name this race season at 70.3 Les Sables D’Olonne and 70.3 Valencia, which have taken her up to world #17.

Laura Madsen wins IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables 2024 photo credit IRONMAN
Up-and-coming star Laura Madsen [Photo credit: IRONMAN]

Her chief rival could be Poland’s Marta Lagownik, the winner of Challenge Mogán-Gran Canaria and current European Triathlon champion.

And an unknown over this distance and one to watch is Nicole Van Der Kaay who makes her professional debut over 113km after representing New Zealand at the Paris Olympics just a few weeks ago.

Challenge Samarkand Course

It’s the second edition of Challenge Samarkand, with Frederic Funk and Ellie Salthouse the winners of the first running last year.

The single-lap swim starts from the pier of one of the largest purpose-built rowing centres in the world filled with the purest running mountain water.

The two-lap bike course passes ancient monuments and architecture dating back to the 14th century as well as the streets of modern Samarkand. 

And then the four-lap run course takes place entirely in the modern tourist complex of Silk Road Samarkand around the picturesque rowing canal enveloping the Eternal City. 

For a more detailed look at the course – and how to take part in the race as an age-grouper – click here for our guide.

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
triathletes exiting water into t1
Creatine for endurance athletes – expert sports nutritionist on the benefits of creatine in endurance sport
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
swim start IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2024 photo credit Tony Svensson IRONMAN
Level up your Ironman swim split – must-read tips from an expert swim coach
MAGIC5 goggles
THEMAGIC5 goggles review – do these custom swimming goggles actually work?
latest News
Former Royal Marine scales Mount Everest to complete the ‘world’s longest triathlon’
Kristian Blummenfelt IRONMAN Texas Fans 2025
IRONMAN 70.3 Aix-en-Provence start lists: Krisitian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden set to star in France
Sam Laidlow wins T100 London 2024 photo credit PTO
IRONMAN World Champion Sam Laidlow opens up on prize money in triathlon
Challenge Salou 2025 Elisabetta Curridori Finish Line
Challenge Salou results 2025: Anne Haug a DNF as Curridori and Davis claim brilliant wins
Lionel Sanders IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside Finish Line 2025
‘I knew that if I let him taste blood, I would be done’ – Sanders on how he repelled Long at St. George
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...