Spirig & Funk take wins at CHALLENGE Peguera-Mallorca

Sunday 17 October 2021

The CHALLENGE FAMILY European season closed in style today with world-class racing at CHALLENGE PEGUERA-MALLORCA and stunning wins from Frederic Funk (DEU) and Nicola Spirig (SUI).

The day started with a calm swim in perfect conditions and Lucy Hall (GBR) showed her dominance in the women's race, catching the back markers of the pro men, despite starting three minutes later. She exited the swim in first place in 25:31, a minute ahead of a large group that included Jodie Stimpson (GBR), Luisa Baptista (BRA), Imo Simmonds (SUI) and Spirig.

Hall rode solo all day with all the action in the chase group behind her where Spirig quickly took control. Spirig was joined by Simmonds, Stimpson and India Lee (GBR) who jostled for position with Spirig dominating until the later third of the ride when Simmonds made her move to the front of the chase group.

Hall came off the bike with a clear two-minute lead and it seemed that victory could be in her sights but Spirig was always going to be a threat. By the start of the third lap, the pair were running side by side and before long Spirig had put over a minute into Hall whose dominating ride started to take its toll. Spirig went on to take the win in 4:14:43. On the final lap Simmonds also overtook Hall for second place in 4:15:58 with Hall eventually taking third in 4:16:42 – her third podium in as many weeks after a win in CHALLENGE BUDVA-MONTENEGRO and third in CHALLENGE SALOU.

Spirig said she really enjoyed racing in front of the Mallorca crowd on an island she loves. "I was really happy I could combine a holiday with family, a training camp and racing here. It’s a great place, I really enjoyed the race and it’s great to come away with a win. I had to give everything on the bike as Lucy and the others were riding really strong and then I was going out on the run really fast so I was dying a bit on the second half but it was a good challenge to run Lucy down!"

The men’s race was more of a power struggle with Sylvain Fridelance (SUI) and Noah Servais (BEL) exiting the swim neck and neck in 23:43, closely followed by Collin Chartier (USA). However, the first steep climb on the bike changed everything when strong bikers Funk, Magnus Ditlev (DEN), Chartier, Nils Frommhold (DEU) and Gregor Payet (LUX) caught up with the fast swimmers and the race was on. Ditlev was setting the pace before a mechanical took him out of the race for just a short while. With Ditlev temporarily out of the mix, it was a battle of the German bikers with Funk and Frommhold taking charge and showing their skill on the technical course with its steep downhills and testing climbs. Behind them Chartier and Payet dropped off the pace slightly, allowing Ditlev to catch them up. It was Chartier and Ditlev who came into T2 in third and fourth, about three minutes down on the leaders and it was all on in the run. Funk set off with a blistering pace which never faltered, which was fortunate as behind him Chartier once again proved he is a force to be reckoned with on the run. With Funk taking the win in 3:45:50, Chartier was just seconds behind him in 3:46:29 while Ditlev proved even a mechanical wasn’t going to stop him to take third in 3:47:07.

"Oh my god, I can’t tell you how relieved I am!" said Funk. "I felt today I could show my potential. I felt really good from the beginning, I was really flying. I think this was probably my best half distance performance I have ever done. The run was really hard and it took everything out of me but I couldn’t let Collin catch me! Thanks to everyone for cheering for me, it was really fun today!"

Over 1,300 athletes competed at the triathlon spectacle that is CHALLENGE PEGUERA-MALLORCA, set on the golden beaches and forested hills of the south west of the island with events including the Challenge Women run, Junior Challenge as well as the international middle distance race.

MALE PRO:
1 Frederik Funk 3:45:49
2 Collin Chatier +0:39
3 Magnus Ditlev +1:17
4 Nils Frommhold +3:39
5 Youri Keulen +4:37

FEMALE PRO:
1 Nicola Spirig 4:14:44
2 Imogen Simmonds +1:15
3 Lucy Hall +1:59
4 India Lee +5:15
5 Luisa Baptista +7:48

CHALLENGE Family


Coming Triathlon Events View all

Challenge Roth

Roth, Germany

Altriman

les Angles, Pyrenees, France

eagleXman

Assergi, Italy

TriBourne 226

Eastbourne, United Kingdom

Kaike triathlon

Yonago, Tottori, Japan

Outlaw Triathlon

Nottingham, United Kingdom

Wild Siberia Xtreme

Lake Cheybek-Kohl, Siberia, Russian Federation

Starvation Extreme

Starvation Reservoir, Utah, United States

Norseman Xtreme

Geilo, Norway

Ostseeman

Glucksburg, Germany

Ironman Vitoria Gasteiz

Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain

Ironman Lake Placid

Lake Placid, United States

Ironman Leeds

Leeds, United Kingdom

Ironman Canada Ottawa

Ottowa, Canada

Ironman Kalmar Sweden

Kalmar, Sweden

Ironman Copenhagen

Copenhagen, Denmark

Ironman Tallinn

Tallinn, Estonia

Ironman Switzerland

Thun, Switzerland

Ironman Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Ironman Japan South Hokkaido

Hokkaido, Japan

Garmin Tri Tour Elblag

Elblag, Poland

Great White North

Hubbles Lake, Alberta, Canada

Outlaw Half Holkham

Holkham Hall, Norfolk, United Kingdom

La Tour Geneve

Geneve, Switzerland

Oravaman

Zuberec, Slovakia

Cotswold Classic

Ashton Keynes, United Kingdom

Door Country Half

Egg Harbor, WI, United States

Garmin Tri Tour Sycow

Sycow, Poland

Sourdough Triathlon

Chatanika, Alaska, United States

TRI Boulder

Boulder, CO, United States

70.3 Muskoka

Huntsville, Ontario, Canada

70.3 Jonkoping

Jönköping, Sweden

70.3 Muncie

Muncie, Indiana, United States

70.3 Luxembourg

Remich, Luxembourg

70.3 Swansea

Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom

70.3 Musselman

Geneva NY, United States

70.3 Ohio

Sandusky, United States

70.3 Oregon

Salem OR, United States

70.3 Ecuador

Manta, Ecuador

70.3 Boise

Boise Idaho, United States

Triathlon News & Media Blogs View all

Fabian Kraft, Lena Meissner Win 70.3 Jonkoping

Fabian Kraft, Lena Meissner Win 70.3 Jonkoping

Monday 07 Jul 2025 [Triathlon News]

The event, held on Sunday, July 6, featured a swim in Lake Munksjön, a bike course through the scenic Swedish countryside, and a run through the center of Jönköping around the lake. more

Sam Laidlow, Laura Philipp Win CHALLENGE Roth

Sam Laidlow, Laura Philipp Win CHALLENGE Roth

Sunday 06 Jul 2025 [Triathlon News]

Reigning world champion Laura Philipp and world champion Sam Laidlow have won DATEV Challenge Roth and, in front of several hundred thousand spectators, entered the list of winners of the world's largest long-distance triathlon for the first time. Jonas Schomburg, who had to drop out in Frankfurt a week ago and so entered Roth last minute, came second and for a long time even had his sights set on the top step of the podium. more

70.3 Jonkoping SWE Pro Start List

70.3 Jonkoping SWE Pro Start List

Friday 04 Jul 2025 [Triathlon News]

A warm and heartfelt welcome to 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 Jönköping European Championship! On Sunday, July 6, you’ll be part of something truly special – a celebration of athleticism, determination and community, set in the heart of Sweden. more

World Champions, Olympians, Roth Legends At CHALLENGE Roth 2025

World Champions, Olympians, Roth Legends At CHALLENGE Roth 2025

Thursday 03 Jul 2025 [Triathlon News]

World champions, Roth winners, Olympians, European champions, local heroes, Paralympic champions – they're all in Roth! The 2025 professional field is more diverse than ever before. Whether it's a debut or a comeback, seasoned veterans, final races or new faces: 6 July promises to be a triathlon festival full of surprises. The professional field is led by the two Ironman world champions Laura Philipp and Sam Laidlow. more

IRONMAN Announces New Performance-Based Age-Group Qualification System for World Championships

IRONMAN Announces New Performance-Based Age-Group Qualification System for World Championships

Wednesday 02 Jul 2025 [Triathlon News]

IRONMAN, the global leader in triathlon, today announced a new performance-based age group qualification system for its IRONMAN World Championship® and IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championship events, beginning with the 2026 qualifying cycle. Based on extensive research, testing, and feedback from athletes, the new qualifying system is designed to reward athletes based entirely on how competitive they are relative to their age group and gender. more

Facebook


YouTube


Sign up for FREE NEWSLETTER:

We will never share your email address or spam you.