Harsh weather conditions, immense tension, even more drama, a brutal battle, and an unforgettable sprint finish: the European Championship Long Distance at Challenge Almere-Amsterdam turned into a true thriller. British debutant Will Draper surged past Tristan Olij in the final 200 meters and clinched victory with a sprint finish. Among the women, there was no stopping fellow debutant Daisy Davies, who led from start to finish on her way to a stunning European title.
The men’s race developed into an extraordinarily close battle. Serbian athlete Ognjen Stojanovic led out of the swim, but on the bike it didn’t take long before Robert Kallin took charge. This was hardly surprising, as the Swede is known as one of the strongest riders in the field and was widely expected to make a decisive move.
Kallin Sets the Pace on the Bike
And Kallin did stretch the field apart - while fierce winds swept across the athletes, especially in the exposed polder region - leaving a strong chase group behind him. This included Dutchmen Pim van Diemen, Tristan Olij, and Milan Brons, Brit Will Grace, Pole Wojciech Kopycinski, and Stojanovic. Van Diemen was the first to drop out, forced to abandon the race after a crash around the 70 km mark.
Meanwhile, Draper began a strong charge and bridged up to the chase group. Once there, he wasted no time taking control, causing Stojanovic, Kopycinski, Grace, and Brons to lose contact. Kallin, however, stormed ahead toward T2, arriving first to begin the marathon. Draper, on the other hand, lost significant time in the last 20 kilometers of the bike to a surging Olij, who entered T2 in second.
Olij Eyes Victory, Draper Delivers Upset
During the marathon, Kallin held the lead for a long stretch, but after about 28 kilometers Olij erased his three-minute deficit and seized control of the race. The Dutch favorite seemed destined to take the victory he so dearly wanted on home soil, but Draper refused to give in. Running even faster than Olij, he maintained a steady gap of around 50 seconds for much of the final 10 kilometers - keeping hope alive.
In the last few kilometers, the race turned completely. Draper clawed back the seconds, cutting the deficit to just eight with one kilometer to go. Olij appeared unaware, and as the athletes entered the stadium with 200 meters remaining, Draper unleashed a devastating sprint to pass him. With one quick glance over his shoulder, Draper confirmed the victory - Olij had no response.
Draper won Challenge Almere-Amsterdam - and the European Long Distance Championship - in 7:41:40. An emotional Olij crossed the line just eight seconds later in second place, also taking home the Dutch national title. Grace took bronze in 7:49:26.
Dazzling Daisy Davies Delivers Dream Debut
The women’s race was just as exciting, though dictated by one athlete: Daisy Davies. The British star, stepping up from shorter distances and racing her first-ever long distance, was simply untouchable. From the opening swim, she seized the lead alongside Dutchwoman Maaike Vooren. Other favorites, such as Els Visser and Marta Lagownik, exited the water with significant deficits and had work to do on the bike.
Lifted by the Crowd
Vooren soon had to concede to Davies’ pace on the bike, leaving the Brit to power away solo. Her lead quickly grew to over six minutes ahead of Els Visser, who had worked her way into second place. Despite the windy conditions, Davies’ advantage remained steady all the way into T2. Starting the marathon, she was visibly lifted by the crowd - though no one received louder support than home favorite Visser, cheered on by tens of thousands of fans.
But Davies never faltered. There was no sign of inexperience, no hint of fatigue, and no chance she would relinquish victory. In fact, her six-minute cushion over Visser more than doubled in the second half of the marathon. By the finish, she had extended her lead to nearly 15 minutes.
Davies won Challenge Almere-Amsterdam - and the European Long Distance Championship - in 8:30:15. Visser finished second in 8:44:39, along with securing the Dutch national title, with Lagownik taking third in 8:47:27.