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This weekend, about 2,000 athletes from 50 nations will gather in Austria’s triathlon capital for Challenge St. Pölten, including a 50-strong professional field. Known for its fast course, iconic double-lake swim, and Austria’s toughest middle-distance climb, the race promises both exciting competition and spectacular racing.
In the men’s pro field, all eyes will be on Will Draper (GBR) following his breakthrough win at Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria and a strong fourth-place finish at The Championship last weekend. He’ll face tough competition from Jesper Svensson (SWE), winner of Challenge Almere-Amsterdam and a consistent podium contender on the international circuit. A strong German contingent will also line up, including Florian Angert, 2021 The Championship winner, Hannes Butters, and Jannik Schaufler. Local favourites Michi Weiss (AUT) and Ondrej Kubo (SVK) round out a men’s field packed with depth and experience.
In the women’s race, Austria’s Gabriele Obmann leads the charge after a third-place finish at Challenge Cesenatico in 2024. Fellow Austrians Tanja Stroschneider, who is transitioning from short-course racing and incorporates HYROX into her training, and Anna Pabinger will also be on the start line. Chloe Sparrow (GBR) and Tiina Pohjalainen (FIN) are also names to watch, following their 8th and 9th-place finishes respectively at The Championship last weekend.
Challenge St. Pölten continues its commitment to fair racing by enforcing the Challenge Family 20m drafting rule and the use of RaceRanger anti-drafting technology, which helps ensure a level playing field for all athletes.
The race takes place on Sunday, 25 May, with the pro women starting at 7:00 am CEST and the pro men at 7:20 am. The event will be broadcast live on ORF Sport Plus and streamed via www.challenge-family.live.
For more information, visit www.challenge-stpoelten.com.
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