CHALLENGE BUDVA-MONTENEGRO stacked with world-class triathletes

Luke Howard October 9, 2021October 9, 2021 Challenge Family, CHALLENGEBUDVA-MONTENEGRO, Triathlon

CHALLENGE BUDVA-MONTENEGRO will be stacked with world-class triathletes and age-groupers this Sunday 10^th October for what promises to be an exciting Middle-Distance race.

CHALLENGEFAMILY is introducing the brand new CHALLENGE BUDVA-MONTENEGRO which was cancelled last year due to the pandemic.

Athletes will swim 1.9k in the crystal blue Adriatic Sea, bike ride 90km along the picturesque Montenegrin coast and run 21.1km along the spectacular promenade

The swim start is located at the sandy Pizana Beach in the eastern part of Old Town. During the swim, athletes will have the walls of the old town on one side, while on the other side views will extend towards the sea. Most of the swim will take place very close to the coast, which makes the swim course really accessible for spectators.

After the swim, the way to the transition area is unique: athletes will go through the narrow and paved streets of Old Town where T1 is located under the city walls.

The Montenegrin coast is considered one of the most beautiful coastlines on the Adriatic, so the bike course is highly picturesque. The three-lap bike course starts with a flat part through Budva and Becici. After passing these two cities, the course will become hilly. Here athletes pass the famous Sveti Stefan and Petrovac, a stunning fisherman’s village.

The run-course is two laps, starting in the harbour and leading athletes along coastline. Athletes will run amongst fishing boats, palm trees and along a Mediterranean promenade.

Men’s Elite Race

From Nils Frommhold (DEU) and Magnus Ditlev (DEN) to Patrick Lange (DEU), recently the winner of DATEV CHALLENGEROTH, each has his eye on the inaugural win at CHALLENGEBUDVA-MONTENEGRO. But they have some competition from the likes of Ruedi Wild (SUI), Mattia Ceccarelli (ITA) and Ognjen Stojanovic (SER) plus a number of others who could deliver a surprise on the day.

British interest comes in the shape of Grant Sheldon who has regained his form on the short course circuit coming second Karlovy Vary World Cup last month who is now trying his hand over the longer course.

Womens Elite Race

We can expect another great battle between Els Visser (NED) and Lucy Hall (GBR). Last weekend these two athletes finished second and third respectively at CHALLENGESALOU, won by Lisa Norden, so at CHALLENGEBUDVA-MONTENEGRO they will be pulling out all the stops to claim victory.

In the process, it will be exciting to see which of the two athletes has recovered best from the tough race in Spain. Yet they will also have to take into account more strong women at CHALLENGEBUDVA-MONTENEGRO such as Swiss athletes Emma Bilham and Melanie Baumann.