On May 15, 2022, the inaugural Challenge Malta will take place. That means there’s an international field of pros getting ready to toe the line of this spectacular race.
In the men’s race it’s Australia’s Caleb Noble who’s considered to be one of the race favorites. He’ll probably deal with a tough battle – especially on the run – with Slovenia’s Jaroslav Kovacic, winner of Challenge Almere-Amsterdam (former course record holder) and Challenge Venice. Kovacic usually focuses on the Long Distance, but given his strong run performance, his opponents should make sure to keep an eye on him on the Middle Distance too.
Some outsiders that could end up on the podium are Norway’s Kristian Rød, Poland’s Milosz Sowinski and the Dutch Niek Heldoorn, who made his Long-Distance debut last year.
The women’s race attracts a smaller field, with Britain’s Chantal Cummings, Germany’s Svenja Thoes and Italy’s Valentina D’Angeli as the strongest contestants. While Cummings and Thoes are around the same level, D’Angeli is ranked slightly lower and therefor perceived as a dark horse.
The race kicks off at 6:15 AM local time. The swim takes place in the Mediterranean Sea, athletes will bike along the beautiful coastline and, finally, they will run on a point-to-point course along the coast too. The heart of the capital Valetta will welcome athletes at the finish line. A liveticker will be available through live.challengefamily.com.
