Challenge Sir Bani Yas returns on 31 January, welcoming a strong international field to one of the most distinctive race venues in global triathlon. The event will feature racing across the long, middle, and Olympic distances plus community events for over 4,500 age group athletes, while a large pro field of 90 plus athletes lines up for the middle-distance race, making it a key early-season contest on the world’s triathlon calendar.
With many professionals opening their season in the UAE, the race is expected to deliver surprises. Defending champion Jonathan Guisolan (SUI) returns to lead the men’s field, facing competition from Jonas Schomburg (GER), runner-up at DATEV Challenge Roth last year, and Pieter Heemeryck (BEL), who claimed a middle-distance podium in 2024 after focusing on 100km racing in recent seasons. Henri Schoeman (RSA), fifth at Challenge Samarkand, is returning to the island for a second time, while Pierre Le Corre (FRA), fourth at the most recent Olympic Games and World Triathlon Long Distance Champion in 2022, makes his Challenge Family debut. Max Stapley (GBR) also lines up following a second-place finish at Challenge Samarkand last season.
The women’s professional race features a competitive line-up led by Ellie Salthouse (AUS), winner of Challenge Samarkand in 2023, who returns after focusing on 100km distance racing last year. Fenella Langridge (GBR) lines up following her return from a difficult injury. Australia’s Natalie Van Coeverden enjoyed a consistent 2024 season with six middle-distance podium finishes, moving up to 29th place in the world ranking. She will be joined by Justine Mathieux (FRA), fifth at Challenge Roth, and Magda Nieuwoudt (RSA), a four-time Challenge Family winner. Another female to watch is Olympian Jolien Vermeylen (BEL) who will be taking on her first middle distance race following her SuperTri win in 2025. She is also the current European Olympic and Sprint distance champion.
Challenge Sir Bani Yas takes place this Saturday, with live stream and commentary by Belinda Granger, as well as live timing and race updates at www.challenge-family.live.
- FEMALE PRO:
- Ellie Salthouse AUS
- Natalie Van Coevorden AUS
- Katrine Graesball Christensen DEN
- Justine Mathieux FRA
- Merle Brunnee GER
- Gabriella Zelinka HUN
- Rhianne Hughes GBR
- Fenella Langridge GBR
- Lilli Gelmini ITA
- Bridget Theunissen RSA
- Minttu Hukka FIN
- Nikita Paskiewiez FRA
- Eloise Du Luart FRA
- Magda Nieuwoudt RSA
- Sarah Thomas AUS
- Abigail Bedwell GBR
- Simona Krivankova CZE
- Olivia Dietzel USA
- Rachael Tatko USA
- Salome Hegi-altermatt CHI
- Alexia Bailly FRA
- Lara Rajteric SLO
- Aoibh Clarke IRL
- Amy Van Tassel USA
- Sabrina Exenberger AUT
- Margrit Elfers GER
- Barbora Besperat CZE
- Elizabeth Nyitray USA
- Nikola Corbova SVK
- Jolien Vermeylen BEL
- Sara Durazzi ITA
- Mimi Carlton GBR
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- MALE PRO:
- Jonathan Guisolan CHI
- Jonas Schomburg GER
- Pieter Heemeryck BEL
- Kieran Lindars GBR
- Caleb Noble AUS
- Josh Ferris AUS
- Kieran Storch AUS
- Ondrej Kubo SVK
- Thomas Davis GBR
- Emil Holm DEN
- Joran Driesen BEL
- Domink Sowieja GER
- William Mennesson FRA
- Leon Pauger AUT
- Tomasz Szala POL
- Wojciech Kopycinski POL
- Nick Thijs BEL
- Henri Schoeman RSA
- Lilian Pierre FRA
- Andreas Dreitz GER
- Max Stapley GBR
- Carlos Oliver Vives ESP
- pierre le corre FRA
- Matt Ralphs RSA
- Matthew Kaminer RSA
- Malachi Cashmore GBR
- Joost Friderichs NED
- Jonathan Homberg GER
- Julien Diez ESP
- Thomas Bishop GBR
- Ben Akin GBR
- Henry James GBR
- Jan Kepinski POL
- Bogdan Kovalenko KAZ
- Gabor Faldum HUN
- Vicenc Castella Serra ESP
- Sebastian Fuchs AUT
- Cameron MacNair RSA
- Sven Altermatt CHI
- Will Crudgington GBR
- Domenico Passuello ITA
- Jamie price OMA
- Mateo Reddy SUI
- Mikel Txopitea ESP
- Marek Janisz POL
- Brodie Talbot AUS
- David Plese SLO
- Trent Thorpe NZL
- Keegan Cooke RSA
- Jamie Bedwell GBR
- Ilia Prasolov NEU
- Julian Phillip Becker GER
- Simon Wendlandt GER
- Tobias Vinther DEN
- Thomas Davies GBR
- Tomasz Marcinek POL
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