Norwegian duo Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden are set to end their 2026 campaigns in China after it was confirmed that they will line up at Challenge Xiamen on November 7.
The somewhat surprising news was revealed by Challenge Family, which announced that the former world champions would be joining a 40-strong professional field for the end-of-season showdown.
Coming four weeks after Kona, it will be the first time since 2021 that either athlete has raced beyond the traditional season-ending IRONMAN 70.3 or IRONMAN World Championship.
Nice defeat has added fuel to the Kona fire
The announcement comes just days after both athletes competed at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice, with Blummenfelt producing the fastest run split in the history of IRONMAN 70.3 racing to claim the silver medal and Iden recording the fastest bike split before crossing the line in fourth.
Defeat to Hayden Wilde has made Blummenfelt even more determined to take the tape on the Big Island. Writing on Instagram this week, he described “another tough battle on the Promenade des Anglais” which was “only good enough for second place”, but added further “fuel to the fire for the prep towards Kona”.
A Challenge Family press statement read: “Their appearance sets up a fascinating battle between two athletes whose friendship, shared training environment and fierce competitive rivalry have helped elevate long-distance triathlon.
“They will be joined by a strong field of fellow international professionals, with the full field to be announced at a later date.”
World Garden City a popular destination
Challenge Xiamen will take place on the Huandong Romantic Coast, offering a fast and scenic middle-distance course featuring a 1.9km ocean swim, 90km bike and 21.1km run.
The two-lap swim begins from the beach at Meifeng Sports Park in Tongan Bay before athletes take on three laps of the flat coastal bike course. The race concludes with four laps along a purpose-built waterfront running path, offering extensive opportunities for spectators to follow the action.
Known as the “World Garden City”, Xiamen combines an impressive coastal landscape with a rich cultural heritage and attractions, including Gulangyu Island, South Putuo Temple and Xiamen University.
Prize pot of €25,000 on offer in Xiamen
Since making its debut, Challenge Xiamen has quickly established itself as a leading international event, receiving the 2024 Challenge Family Award for Best New Race as well as a Forbes China Sports Innovation Award.
The professional race will feature a €25,000 prize purse and form part of a full weekend of racing on 7-8 November. Alongside the flagship middle-distance event, Challenge Xiamen will offer Olympic and sprint-distance triathlons, a duathlon and junior racing, creating an inclusive celebration of the sport for over 2,500 athletes of all ages and abilities.
For more information and entries, visit www.challenge-xiamen.com.
