Challenge Family’s final Northern Hemisphere race for the year welcomed 2,000 age group and professional athletes to Challenge Xiamen with thrilling racing across the weekend. Ultimate victory went to Kieran Storch (AUS) and Sara Pérez Sala (ESP) on a course renowned for it speed.
In the men’s race, Nicholas Free (AUS) led out the water in 23:35 with Ollie Turner (GBR)and Ognjen Stojanovic in third and Sam Osborne (NZL) in fourth. These four dominated the bike for 85km with Jonathan Guisolan (SUI) and Storch chasing them down. In the last stages of the bike, the lead group finally shattered as Guisolan and Storch caught them and rode straight through, Guisolan taking the lead with Storch following and leaving everyone in their wake. Coming into T2 together, Guisolan quickly faded to sixth on the run with Storch taking the lead, with last year’s winner, Stojanovic in second and the remainder of the lead group chasing in third, fourth and fifth. Storch took the win in 3:37:33 with Stojanovic in second in 3:39:23. While first and second was never in question, Turner and Osborne ran 19km together before Turner made the break and took the final place on the podium in 3:41:19.
“I didn’t want to look at my power meter as it would slow me down,” said Storch on the finish line. “I just wanted to go as hard as I could and take as much water as possible so I didn’t over heat and it worked! The course suited me really well – Ognjen pushed me really hard, all credit to him, it made it a real battle out there!”
In the women’s race, a fast swim split from Mikayla Messer (AUS) put her in front of Pérez Sala out of the water in 23:54 while defending champion, Alanis Siffert (SUI), was two minutes further back, along with Chloe Hartnett (AUS). On the bike, Pérez Sala took no prisoners, dominating from start to finish and coming into T2 with a more than 10 minute lead and posting a blistering 2:04:14 bike split in the process. Behind her Amelia Watkinson (NZL) overtook Siffert and Hartnett in the closing kilometres to take second off the bike. Once out onto the run, Pérez Sala further extended her lead, owning the women’s race to take the win in 3:53:31. Watkinson crossed the line in second in 4:04:32 and Hartnett took third in 4:09:46.
“It is my first time in China, and the race is completely amazing, the volunteers, the organisation and the course is beautiful,” said Pérez Sala. “My performance was very good, so I am very happy, a win is always good! For me it was good to start the race on the front but two weeks ago I started to feel more confident on the run and I did a good run today. It’s never easy, I may have had 10 minutes, but it can go just like that. It wasn’t until the last 3km until I felt like the winner. I’m feeling really good at the moment and I don’t want to finish my season! But it’s also important to have a break and enjoy normal life!”
For further information, visit www.challenge-xiamen.com.