No clear favorites but an evenly matched field and, on paper, an exciting edition of Challenge Turku: that is the expectation for this coming Sunday, when the race takes place in Finland and athletes battle it out for the win.
Challenge Turku may not be the biggest race, but it is always an interesting one. The unique location offers a wonderful look into one of Europe’s northernmost spots, and over the past few years, several big names have lined up at the start. This year, Estonian Henry Räppo seems to be the main favorite, holding a world ranking of #27 and a fourth-place finish at The Championship under his belt. He narrowly missed the podium there in May, but proved to be in excellent shape. In addition, Räppo finished eighth at the T100 San Francisco and 15th at the T100 Singapore this year.
Most eyes will be on Räppo this Sunday, but there are other contenders in the mix. Expectations are high for men like Gabriel Sandor (Sweden) alongside local favorites Henrik Goesch and Marius Bjerkeset. Both local athletes are racing in their home country, giving them an unmistakable home-field advantage. In total, nearly twenty men will be at the start line, all aiming for achievements of the highest level.
The women’s field is significantly smaller than the men’s: only three pro athletes have Challenge Turku as the next stop on their calendar. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be an exciting battle for the medals. With Dutch athlete Maaike Vooren, South African Bridget Theunissen, and Finnish Jasmine Holmes, three women are taking the start who could prove to be remarkably evenly matched.
Challenge Turku is a premier international endurance event set in the heart of Finland’s oldest city. Combining world-class racing with Nordic scenery, the course takes athletes along the River Aura, historic streets, and fast, flat roads designed for peak performance. Open to professionals and age-group athletes alike, Challenge Turku offers an unforgettable race experience in a vibrant city atmosphere for competitors and spectators. For further information, visit www.challenge-turku.com.
- Female Pro:
- Maaike Vooren
- Bridget Theunissen
- Jasmine Holmes
-
- Male Pro:
- Jonathan Homberg
- Sebastian Fuchs
- David Rother
- Matthew Kaminer
- Andrea Jonathan Alagona
- Hugo Figueiredo
- Henry Rappo
- Joona Lehtonen
- Maxence Mey
- Marius Bjerkeset
- Henrik Goesch
- Gabriel Sandor
- Wojciech Kopycinski
- Jere Helminen
- Filippo Candeo
- Jakub Maliszewski
- Francois Martin
- Akseli Ylikoski