Gallery (and Video): Challenge Riccione 2019

Chief Correspondent

Images (and video) from Italy’s Adriatic coast

As you may well have seen from this weeks (big) Weekend Roundup, the third Challenge Family race of the European season took place on Sunday, with the second edition of Challenge Riccione (www.challenge-riccione.it).

As well as a quick turnaround on the official race highlights video (watch that below), our regular photography contributor Jose Luis Hourcade (www.joseluishourcade.com) was once again on hand to capture the action, and bring you the visual experience of a race which also provides an ideal venue for a holiday or few days away in the popular Emilia Romagna region.

Having spent some time in the area myself on training camps in the past, it really is a great place to go cycling in a country with a rich heritage on two wheels and plenty of history in triathlon and duathlon too.

YouTube video

Challenge Riccione, Italy – Sunday 5th May 2019
1.9km / 90km / 21.1km

PRO MEN

1st – Mattia Ceccarelli (ITA) – 3:51:49
2nd – Thomas Steger (AUT) – 3:53:13
3rd – Frederic Funk (GER) – 3:53:44

6th – David Bishop (GBR) – 4:00:29
8th – Colin Norris (GBR) – 4:00:58

PRO WOMEN

1st – Elisabetta Curridori (ITA) – 4:25:04
2nd – Margie Santimaria (ITA) – 4:27:18
3rd – Bianca Steurer (AUT) – 4:27:33

Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Relaxing before the start
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
While others are a little more serious…
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Ready to go?
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
The Pro Men hit the water…
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
…closely followed by the Pro Women
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Plenty of excited Age-Group athletes too
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
The masses enter the Adriatic Sea
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Swim exit approaching
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Pro women approach dry land
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Plenty of crowd support
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Thomas Steger (AUT)
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Frederic Funk (GER)
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Eventual winner Mattia Ceccarelli (ITA)
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Great Britain’s David Bishop
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Around the bend…
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Riccione is known as ‘The Green Pearl’
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Nina Derron (SUI)
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Margie Santimaria (ITA)

Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade

Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Elisabetta Curridori (ITA)
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Bianca Steurer (AUT)
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Great Britain’s Colin Norris would finish eighth

Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade

Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Frederic Funk on the run course
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
And then the rain arrived…

Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade

Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Margie Santimaria runs through the rain towards second place
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
No need to take those gloves off for the run today
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Mattia Ceccarelli (ITA) ran towards victory
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Thomas Steger held off Frederic Funk for second place
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
The Men’s Pro podium
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
Elisabetta Curridori (ITA) caught fellow Italian Margie Santimaria on the run to take the win
Challenge Riccione 2019 - Photo credit José Luis Hourcade
The women’s Pro podium
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