The event brought together nearly 3,000 participants and confirmed Barcelona as an international triathlon benchmark.
Rain turned the day into one of the toughest and most thrilling editions in recent years.
The Sprint Distance, Junior Challenge, Aquathlon and Open Water races completed a weekend of outstanding participation.
The Challenge Barcelona Triatló 2025 delivered an epic edition this weekend, marked by rain and cold throughout most of Sunday morning, which only strengthened the determination of the nearly 3,000 triathletes from around the world. Bad weather accompanied the swim start and much of the cycling segment, but the sun returned just as the first Middle Distance finishers crossed the line on Passeig Marítim del Bogatell.
David Escudé, Barcelona City Council’s Sports Councillor, stated: “This edition of Challenge Barcelona Triatló 2025 has undoubtedly been one of the most epic we can remember. The rain and adverse weather conditions have only highlighted the perseverance and passion that define this sport and its athletes. This year we also experienced a very special milestone with the debut of the Middle Distance, which consolidates Barcelona as a global reference city in the world of triathlon and sport in general. I want to congratulate all the triathletes, organizers, volunteers and security teams who made this intense and emotional event possible. Barcelona continues to prove that it lives, breathes and loves sport.”
Jamie Riddle and Cathia Schär, Middle Distance champions
South African Jamie Riddle (03:36:39) and Swiss Cathia Schär (04:07:29) were crowned Middle Distance champions — the major new addition to this edition and the race’s premier distance.
Riddle dominated from the cycling segment, opening a large gap over his pursuers, while Schär, fresh off her victory at Challenge Peguera-Mallorca, confirmed her great form with a spectacular comeback during the run.
The race featured a demanding and fast 88 km bike course between Barcelona and Mataró, with a city-center finish offering spectacular views of the Sagrada Família and Barcelona’s coastline.
Strong participation across all distances
Sunday also crowned the Sprint Distance champions, with victories for Tian Denša (01:04:12) and Daria Mayer (01:14:33), while in the Junior Challenge, Jorge Ezquerro (00:26:28) and Ariadna Ivars (00:28:38) took the top spots — showcasing the next generation and bright future of Catalan triathlon.
On Saturday, October 25, the Aquathlon and Open Water races kicked off the sports weekend with strong participation and a festive atmosphere at La Mar Bella beach.
Winners:
Aquathlon: Rubén Aguilar (00:32:52) and Ilbilge Ulukoy (00:36:33)
Open Water 1,900 m: Enrique García (00:30:18) and Kendelle Murphy (00:30:27)
Open Water 3,800 m: Flip Ospaly (00:55:18) and Verkindt Chloé (01:03:19)
A weekend of sport, passion and city spirit
The 2025 edition was also the most international so far, with 35% foreign participation and more than 70 professional triathletes on the starting line.
Nearly 30% of all participants were women, reinforcing the growing female presence across all distances and categories.
The TRIEXPO, held at CEM La Mar Bella, featured more than 20 leading brands and thousands of visitors, while the Triatló Sense Fronteres project once again moved the crowd with the participation of athletes with functional diversity, reaffirming Challenge Barcelona’s commitment to inclusion and sport for everyone.
Awards and recognition
The Middle Distance awarded €25,000 in prize money to the top six male and female finishers in the professional category. In addition, the top six athletes in each age group earned a free entry to Challenge Gdańsk 2026, further strengthening the international connection within the Challenge Family global circuit.
With this edition, the Challenge Barcelona Triatló is firmly established as a landmark event on the European sports calendar — a true celebration of sport, perseverance and the city.
