Italian triathlete Elisabetta Curridori won the women's half-distance category for the second consecutive year at the Challenge Salou – Costa Daurada in Salou on Sunday, 10 May 2026. Britain's Will Draper claimed a decisive victory in the men's race, emerging as a key figure in the competition.
The event, held in Salou, brought together elite international triathletes for one of the calendar's most prominent races. Starting at Llevant beach and finishing on Passeig Jaume I, athletes completed a 1,900-metre swim, a 90-kilometre cycle along the Salou–Tarragona motorway, and a 21-kilometre half-marathon run along the Salou coastline.
This year's Challenge Salou also served as the Absolute Catalan National Triathlon Championship. It attracted nearly 1,200 participants from 50 nationalities, with 60% international athletes and around 60 professional triathletes, solidifying Salou's reputation as a global triathlon hub.
Close Finishes and Local Honour
The podiums this year offered excitement and surprises. In the men's race, Jack Hutchens finished second and Arthur Berland took third. Just over two minutes separated the top three athletes, showing the demanding nature of the Challenge.
The women's category saw intense competition. Agnew secured second place with a clear lead, but the battle for third continued until the final kilometre. Juliette Lucet appeared set for bronze, but a strong effort from local competitor Marta Sánchez allowed her to snatch the medal from the French athlete at the very end.
Sánchez, the only Spanish representative on the podiums this year, expressed her joy at the finish line. "I think it was thanks to the public and all the encouragement I received," she told reporters. "Hearing people shout my name really cheered me on; racing at home benefited me."
Salou's International Appeal
Beyond her personal achievement, Sánchez praised the competition's high standard. "The atmosphere in Salou is spectacular. It's a very fast race, but competing here is very pleasant." She also reflected on the limited local presence among the top finishers. "It's a shame that in a home event there is so little local presence on the podium. Even so, I am happy because that shows it is an international and highly demanding event. It is a source of pride to share the podium with rivals of this calibre."
The Challenge Salou – Costa Daurada once again delivered a top-tier sporting spectacle, featuring a challenging course and a large crowd along Passeig Jaume I. Organisers will now look to build on this success, further cementing Salou's place in the international triathlon circuit and attracting even more global talent in future editions.
