LOTTO Challenge Gdansk 2026 delivered competitive racing across both professional fields, with Ognjen Stojanovic (SRB) and Marta Lagownik (POL) taking the wins in 3:43:41 and 4:07:43, respectively.
The men’s race began with a wetsuit swim in calm conditions. Stojanovic led out of the water in 23:32, followed closely by Janne Büttel (GER), Andrew Horsfall-Turner (GBR), Tom Davis (GBR), and four fellow athletes.
The lead group of seven started the 90km bike course together under the 20m drafting rule and quickly established a one-minute advantage over the chase group, which included Ivan Capelli (ITA) , Simon Davis (GBR), Tomasz Marcinek (POL), and Etienne Tillon (GBR).
Büttel moved to the front immediately after T1 and opened a 20-second gap over Horsfall-Turner, Davis, Stojanovic, and Robert Wilkowiecki (POL) within the opening 5km. Behind them, Davis held third, Alejandro Rodríguez Rilo (ESP) moved into fourth, with Stojanovic in fifth and Jakub Maliszewski (POL) in sixth. By the 45km mark, Büttel held an over two-minute lead over the chase group through the remainder of the bike and entered T2 with a split of 1:58:17. Rodríguez Rilo arrived next, with Stojanovic and Horsfall-Turner 2:50 behind the leader.
At 5km into the run, Büttel still held close to a three-minute advantage over Davis in second and Stojanovic in third. Simon Davis, running from sixth position, began closing the gap to the podium positions. By halfway through the run, Davis had moved into third and sat just 30 seconds behind Stojanovic in second and 1:30 behind Büttel. At kilometre 13, Stojanovic took the lead from Büttel. By the end of lap three, Simon Davis had also moved past Büttel and set his sights on the leader.
After consistent racing across all three disciplines, Ognjen Stojanovic claimed victory in 3:43:41. Simon Davis finished second in 3:44:42, while Florent Lefebvre (FRA) completed the podium in 3:46:31.
In the women’s race, Lagownik exited the swim first in 26:37, just three seconds ahead of Rosie Weston (GBR) and Hann Clair (GBR), with Marta Bernardi (ITA) another 10 seconds behind.
Lagownik established control early on the bike, building a 30-second lead over Bernardi within the opening 15km. Lara Rajteric (SLO), Carolin Meyer (GER), and Rebecca Anderbury (GBR) formed the next group of contenders.
By 45km, Lagownik had extended her advantage to 48 seconds over Bernardi and two minutes over Anderbury. At kilometre 75, her lead over Anderbury stood at 1:20, although the gap began to narrow.
Starting the run, Lagownik increased her advantage to 3:30 over Anderbury, with Bernardi another two minutes back. Further behind, Elisabetta Curridori (ITA) began moving steadily through the field.
At halfway on the run, Lagownik held nearly a five-minute lead over Anderbury. Bernardi remained in third, Agnieszka Gadomska (POL) in fourth, and Curridori had progressed into fifth. By kilometre 15, Curridori had closed the gap to both Gadomska and Bernardi as the race entered its final stages.
Marta Lagownik secured the women’s title in 4:07:43. Rebecca Anderbury finished second in 4:14:06, while Elisabetta Curridori ran herself onto the podium in 4:15:42 with the fastest run split of the day in 1:20:36.
With more than 1,000 athletes on the start line, LOTTO Challenge Gdansk 2026 marked the largest edition of the event to date. Athletes raced on a newly introduced bike course designed for faster racing before finishing on one of triathlon’s more distinctive finish lines, located on the Gdansk Pier and lined with spectators celebrating the finishers.
For further information, visit www.challenge-poland.com