Race preview: inaugural Challenge Sandefjord set to debut with top international athletes

Jesper Svensson (Archive Picture: Challenge Almere-Amsterdam / José Luis Hourcade)

The inaugural Challenge Sandefjord is set to take place this weekend. It will bring together a field of professional athletes, including local favourites and renowned international athletes.

In the men’s professional field, all eyes will be on Casper Stornes (NOR), a local favourite with an impressive short-course career and several middle-distance victories under his belt. He is expected to be a formidable contender on Saturday. He will be joined by Will Draper (GBR), who has shown strong performances this year, finishing third at Challenge St. Pölten and second at Challenge Wales. Another strong competitor is Sebastian Wernersen (NOR), the current Norwegian champion, racing in his second-ever middle-distance event. Jesper Svensson (SWE), who secured second place at Challenge Gunsan-Saemangeum and third at Challenge Gdansk this year, could also be a potential winner as well as Miki Taagholt (DEN), who finished fourth at The Championship 2022.

The professional women’s field is also competitive, with Rosie Weston (GBR) leading the charge after her third place at Challenge Wales and second at Challenge Gdansk this year. Justine Guerard (FRA) is determined to make a strong comeback after a DNF at Challenge Cagnes-sur-Mer. Heini Hartikainen (FIN), who placed second at the same event, is also a strong contender as well as Chloe Sparrow (GBR), with a second-place finish at Challenge St. Pölten earlier this year, is another athlete to watch closely as she looks to rebound from recent challenges.

The race day will kick off with a 1.9km single-lap swim in the calm, sheltered waters of the fjord, setting the stage for a competitive day. Athletes will then embark on a two-lap 90km bike course that winds through Norway’s picturesque landscape and rich cultural history, including the site of one of the country’s oldest Viking ships and the lively Døla Hill, where spectators and music will create an electrifying atmosphere. The race’s final leg is a four-lap run through the streets of Sandefjord’s city centre before concluding in the city park at the iconic Whalers’ Monument.

Women

BibAthleteNationality
1Rosie WestonGBR
7Justine GuerardFRA
9Gelmini LilliITA
10Rhianne HughesGBR
12Natalie LawrenceGBR
13Heini HartikainenFIN
16Anastacia NielsenDEN
20Chloe SparrowGBR

Men

BibAthleteNationality
2Kit WalkerGBR
3Luca RonchiITA
4Anders Toft NielsenDEN
5Sebastian WernersenNOR
6Sebastian FuchsAUT
8Andrew Horsfall-TurnerGBR
11Jesper SvenssonSWE
14Miki TaagholtNED
15Alessandro DegasperiITA
17Marcus HerbstGER
18Cyrill KnechtleSUI
19Gaetan FetaudAND
21Marius BjerkesetNOR
22Toby NilsbetGBR
23Will DraperGBR
24Ivor FeunekesNED
25Michal GrabowskiSUI
26Lennart SieversGER
27Casper StornesNOR
28Joshua BerlesGER
29Simon HuckesteinGER

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