CHALLENGE Cancun offers a race in paradise & a strong pro field

Wednesday 28 April 2021

After wonderful races in Taiwan and Gran Canaria, CHALLENGE FAMILY is now gearing up for CHALLENGE CANCUN. Racing under the Mexican sun, in crystal clear water and among a particularly strong field of participants: this Sunday, May 2, the action bursts loose.

In the men's field, the biggest favourite is undoubtedly the Spanish Javier Gómez, who also competed at the end of last year's CHALLENGE DAYTONA but was unable to get involved in the battle for a place on the podium there. Nevertheless, Gómez is considered one of the best athletes in the world - which is not surprising when you look at his record - and so he seems to be the high favourite for victory. There is no doubt that he will race for what he is worth and search for limits in his search to take the win.  

Gómez still has to live up to that role of favourite, something that is not easy among the men he will be up against. For example, the Danish Patrick Nilsson will be at the start, who is known as an athlete that can surprise and who always competes for the win and nothing less. Also at the start are routines Andy Potts (USA), who also counts as title defender after his win in 2019, and Michael Weiss (AUS). The Swiss Ruedi Wild seems to be someone to take into account as an outsider.

Among the women, New Zealand's Anneke Jenkins is considered the big favourite to take the win at CHALLENGE CANCUN. Due to travel restrictions, the women's field in Cancun is a little less thickly packed than in the men's, but that doesn't mean Jenkins can get ready for an easy day at the office. Local favourites Palmira Alvarez and Adriana Carreno will be at the start for example, but the French Anne Basso could also provide a surprise. There are also a number of American women at the start, including Annie Kelly, Kimberly Goodell, Sierra Snyder, Katherin Vermann, Nicole Valentine and Natasha van der Merve.

CHALLENGE CANCUN starts next Sunday - May 2 - at 6:30am local time (1:30pm CET)

Follow live updates of the race at www.challenge-family.live

About CHALLENGE FAMILY
CHALLENGE FAMILY is one of the fastest-growing global triathlon series. With 35 full and middle distances in 28 different countries, CHALLENGE FAMILY is changing the face of triathlon around the world. Due to spectacular courses in iconic destinations, no CHALLENGE FAMILY race is like another. Focusing on delivering the race of a lifetime to athletes of all ages and abilities, CHALLENGE FAMILY races provide memorable experiences that capture all the excitement and emotions of this inspirational sport.

CHALLENGE Family


Coming Triathlon Events View all

Celtman

Torridon, Scotland, United Kingdom

Pirene Xtreme

Cellers, Lleida, Spain

Schloss Triathlon Moritzburg

Moritzburg, Germany

Goto Nagasaki Int.

Nagasaki, Japan

Slateman

Llanberis Wales, United Kingdom

OpenLakes Champagne

Champagne, France

Moraviaman

Otrokovice, Czech Republic

Swissman Xtreme

Ascona, Switzerland

Austria eXtreme

Graz-Dachstein, Austria

Diablak Extreme

Silesian and Zywiec Beskids, Poland

Ironman Austria

Klagenfurt, Austria

Ironman Cairns

Cairns, Australia

Ironman Tours Metropole

Tours Métropole – Loire Valley, France

Ironman Frankfurt

Frankfurt, Germany

Ironman France

Nice, France

Ironman Switzerland

Thun, Switzerland

Ironman Vitoria Gasteiz

Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain

Ironman Lake Placid

Lake Placid, United States

Ironman Canada Ottawa

Ottowa, Canada

Ironman Kalmar Sweden

Kalmar, Sweden

Zarauzko Triatloia

Zarautz, Spain

Keszthely Triathlon

Keszthely, Hungary

Ingolstadt Triathlon

Ingolstadt, Germany

Garmin Tri Tour Slesin

Slesin, Poland

International de Deauville

Deauville, France

Challenge Gdansk

Gdansk, Poland

indeland

Aldenhoven, Germany

Viking Triathlon

Schleswig, Germany

Garmin Tri Tour Skierniewice

Skierniewice, Poland

ICAN Nordhausen

Nordhausen, Germany

70.3 Boulder

Boulder, Colorado, United States

70.3 Eagleman

Cambridge, Maryland, United States

70.3 Cairns

Cairns, Australia

70.3 Goseong

Goseong, Korea, Republic of

70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley

Penn State University, United States

70.3 Westfriesland

Hoorn, Netherlands

70.3 Mont Tremblant

Mont-Tremblant, Québec, Canada

70.3 Elsinore

Elsinore, Denmark

70.3 Coeur d'Alene

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States

70.3 Rockford Illinois

Rockford Illinois, United States

Triathlon News & Media Blogs View all

IRONMAN Pro Series 70.3 Pennsylvania Start List

IRONMAN Pro Series 70.3 Pennsylvania Start List

Friday 12 Jun 2026 [Triathlon News]

For the first time, the Experience Oman IRONMAN® Pro Series will make its way to the Keystone State for its seventh stop of 2026, when State College hosts the IRONMAN® 70.3® Pennsylvania Happy Valley North American Championship on Sunday, June 14. With 2,500 Experience Oman IRONMAN Pro Series points on offer and a total professional prize purse of $75,000 USD up for grabs, more

IRONMAN Austria Pro Start List

IRONMAN Austria Pro Start List

Friday 12 Jun 2026 [Triathlon News]

IRONMAN Kärnten-Klagenfurt, Austria is an unforgettable race experience set in one of the world's most stunning locations. Whether you're a seasoned triathlete or a first-time competitor, this event offers the perfect blend of challenge and beauty. With Carinthia's lakes and mountains as the backdrop, the course takes participants on a journey through pristine landscapes, while the incredible support of enthusiastic spectators fuels their determination. Athletes swim in turquoise waters, more

IRONMAN Cairns Australia Pro Start List

IRONMAN Cairns Australia Pro Start List

Friday 12 Jun 2026 [Triathlon News]

This Sunday, the region’s top professional triathletes will line up for the 15th anniversary edition of the Cairns Airport IRONMAN Cairns, battling it out for the 2026 titles, a piece of the $100,000 USD prize purse, and two slots per gender to the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawai`i. more

Solveig Lovseth NOR Wins IRONMAN Hamburg DEU Pro Series

Solveig Lovseth NOR Wins IRONMAN Hamburg DEU Pro Series

Sunday 07 Jun 2026 [Triathlon News]

Calm, scattered cloud cover greeted athletes at the IRONMAN Pro Series™ IRONMAN Hamburg European Women’s Championship swim start on Sunday morning. A stacked start line featuring reigning and former IRONMAN® World Champions alongside the 2025 European Champion set the stage for a fiercely competitive day of racing and it did not disappoint. Norwegian Powerhouse, Solveig Løvseth has had a phenomenal season, and it continued here. IRONMAN World Champion, North American Champion and now Europe. more

Joran Driesen BEL Wins IRONMAN 70.3 Alghero Sardegna ITA

Joran Driesen BEL Wins IRONMAN 70.3 Alghero Sardegna ITA

Sunday 07 Jun 2026 [Triathlon News]

In the Mens pro only race at IRONMAN 70.3 Alghero Sardegna Italy, the first edition at this location the Athletes set of into the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean where Ollie Turner led Simon Westermann out of the swim followed one minute behind by the chase pack. Out of the crystal clear waters of Alghero and onto the Bike Joran Driesen and Pierre Dupuy joined and passed the swim leaders to enter T2. more

Facebook


YouTube


Sign up for FREE NEWSLETTER:

We will never share your email address or spam you.