CHALLENGE Vieux Boucau, France Elite Line-Up

The second edition of Challenge Vieux Boucau will take place this Saturday, featuring a 65-strong field of professional athletes. With competitive lines-ups in both the men’s and women’s races, the middle-distance event is expected to be a key highlight of the season.

In the men’s race, Nicolas Mann (GER) is one of the top contenders to watch. Having already secured two middle-distance victories this year, Mann is hoping to secure another victory in the 2024 season, despite a setback at Challenge St. Pölten, where he did not finish. William Draper (GBR) is another athlete entering the race with momentum. Draper has shown consistency this year with podium finishes at Challenge St. Pölten and Challenge Wales and will aim for a top spot this weekend. Another top athlete, Simon Viain (FRA), who secured third place at Challenge Cagnes-sur-Mer, is looking for redemption after a DNF at Challenge Sanremo. As a local favourite with a strong swimming background, Viain is expected to put up a solid fight on home soil, making him one to watch throughout the race.

In the women’s race, Aurelia Boulanger (FRA) enters with three wins this year and currently holds second place in the World Bonus Ranking. Another strong contender is Maya Kingma (NED), who finished seventh at this year’s Paris Olympics. Known for her success in short-course racing, with multiple wins to her name, Kingma is now shifting her focus to the middle-distance format. Joining them is Anna Bergsten (SWE), who achieved a solid third-place finish at The Championship and participated in the T100. Bergsten’s experience in high-stakes races makes her a strong contender for the win this weekend.

Live updates from the course and live timing can be found at www.challenge-family.live. The start gun goes off at 10:00 am CEST on Saturday, 5 October. For further information, visit www.challenge-vieuxboucau.com.

Women