Margirier and Lee crowned Champions of The CHALLENGE Championship

Monday 22 May 2023

Spectacular racing and new course records marked the sixth edition of The Championship with faultless racing from Mathis Margirier (FRA) and India Lee (GBR) earning them ultimate Challenge Family titles in 3:31:29 and 3:58:29 respectively, both breaking the course records previously held by Florian Angert (2021) and Lucy Charles Barclay (2019).

With unseasonably cold weather in the lead up to the race, it was uncertain if a full swim was going to be able to take place due to the water temperature. However, the fears didn’t come to fruition and the athletes took to the new swim course in the Danube Canal for the full 1.9km.

In the men’s race, as expected, it was the strong swimmers, Aaron Royle (AUS) and Richard Varga (SLK) who took an early lead with Royle exiting the water first in 21:40 and Varga only six seconds behind. Only Sven Thalmann (SUI) was able to stick with them and it was another 30 seconds before the large second group exited the water.

Immediately Royle and Varga set a blistering pace, soon dropping Thalmann who was joined by Margierier, Anthony Costes (FRA) and Alessandro Fabian (ITA). Behind them was the third chase group that included at least three race favourites, Pieter Heemeryck (BEL), Clément Mignon (FRA), Thomas Bishop (GBR) and Frederic Funk (GER) with Funk quickly taking control. Conditions out on the fast, flat course were tougher than expected with a strong headwind that seemed to come from all directions. However, Funk wasn’t wrong when he said in the pre-race conference that to win the race you’d need to ride at 50kph. That was the pace that was set by the leaders, at times pushing to 60kph, despite the challenging conditions. With half an hour, Margirier had worked his way up to the front, seemingly unconcerned about the powerhouses of Funk, Bishop and Royle chasing him. While the lead changed between these top four, all observing the 20m drafting zone that Challenge Family races enforces, by the time they arrived at T2, Bishop had dropped slightly behind with Margierier, Royle and Funk all heading off onto the five-lap run around x-bionic sphere together. It didn’t take long for Margirier to take the lead and he never looked back. Throughout the run he slowly but surely extended his lead, separating himself from the rest of the field and taking his first big win of his career and the prestigious title of champion of The Championship 2023 in a new record time of 3:31:29. In the final stages, it looked as though Funk may challenge Royle’s second place, however, he ran out of real estate, finishing just four seconds behind Royle in 3:32:55.

After a run of second places, most recently at Anfi Challenge Gran Canaria, Margirier was thrilled with his win. "When you’re winning the race it’s easier than to finish second or third, that’s why I look so relaxed! The gap was getting bigger and bigger on the run – it was quite hard on second and third lap but then I saw that no-one was catching me. It was really hot and really hard. The bike was hard because I pushed a lot. I ate a lot on the bike and then T2 I was focused on me, I wanted to see how the legs were and I got onto the run and with Aaron and Frederic but I pushed and it gave me the win. This is so much better than second!" 

Fenella Langridge (GBR) led a group of four women out of the water in 24:02 with Rebecca Clarke (NZL) hot on her heels just one second behind and Sara Peréz Sala (ESP) four seconds down and Caroline Pohle (GER) six seconds behind. Out on the bike, Perez Sala and Langridge took turns in the lead while Pohle settled back in third and watched and waited while the battle went on ahead. An hour into the bike and India Lee (GBR) had ridden up to join the top three and she didn’t waste any time to take the lead in decisive fashion, seemingly impervious to the strong headwind and changing the dynamic of the race. In the last kilometres of the ride, Langridge dropped back 30 seconds while Lee and Perez Sala entered T2 together. Immediately, however, Lee took off, putting 20 seconds into Perez Sala within the first kilometre and continuing to extend her lead from that point on. Behind her though, a battle was ensuing. Pohle found second wind and overtook Langridge into third and then Perez Sala into second but Amelia Watkinson was also charging up the field into fourth and looked to threaten Perez Sala’s place on the podium. However, in the end she fell 20 seconds short. The final top three women saw Lee come away with the win, beating Lucy Charles Barclay’s course record in 3:58:29 with Pohle in second in 4:00:17 and Perez Sala in third in 4:00:24.

An emotional Lee said she felt really satisfied with her victory. "This one hit quite hard, I’m not usually emotional but when you work really hard for something so when it goes well it’s really satisfying. It got really hot, the bike was windy and the water was cold so it was quite a mixed bag. I felt pretty solid all day, I just knew that I could do pretty well and that’s what I did. I am definitely looking forward to a beer!" 

MALE PRO:
1 Mathis Margirier FRA 3:31:29
2 Aaron Royle AUS +1:22
3 Frederic Funk GER +1:26
4 Pieter Heemeryck BEL +1:59
5 Thomas Bishop USA +2:36

FEMALE PRO:
1 India Lee GBR 3:58:29
2 Caroline Pohle GER +1:48
3 Sara Pérez Sala ESP +1:55
4 Amelia Watkinson NZL +2:15
5 Grace Thek AUS +2:59

CHALLENGE Family (Photo: Activimages)


Coming Triathlon Events View all

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

Slovakman 226

Pieštany, Slovakia

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 WORLD CHAMPS MEN

Nice, France

Oravaman

Zuberec, Slovakia

Cotswold Classic

Ashton Keynes, United Kingdom

Door Country Half

Egg Harbor, WI, United States

Garmin Tri Tour Sycow

Sycow, Poland

Castle to Coast

Windsor to Brighton, United Kingdom

Sourdough Triathlon

Chatanika, Alaska, United States

TRI Boulder

Boulder, CO, United States

Timisoara Triathlon

Timisoara, Romania

Trumer Triathlon

Obertrum am See, Austria

Honeymoon Half Gravel Tri

Honeymoon Bay BC, Canada

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

70.3 Calgary

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

70.3 Maine

Augusta, United States

Triathlon News & Media Blogs View all

IRONMAN Vitoria Gasteiz WPRO Start List

IRONMAN Vitoria Gasteiz WPRO Start List

Friday 11 Jul 2025 [Triathlon News]

IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz invites you to the spectacular cultural capital of northern Spain's Basque Country! With over a decade of triathlon heritage, Vitoria-Gasteiz is a well-known triathlon playground offering astonishing natural landscapes, rich culture, unforgettable Basque gastronomy, and the most passionate and vibrant fans that will encourage you until the finish line. more

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

Facebook


YouTube


Sign up for FREE NEWSLETTER:

We will never share your email address or spam you.