Challenge Family closed the 2025 season with clear signs of growth across its global race portfolio, marked by increased participation, broader demographic reach, and continued investment in event quality. With 32 events staged worldwide – including new races in Abu Dhabi, Italy, and Brazil – the series reported an 18 percent increase in starters compared to 2024.
Several races stood out during the season. Challenge Roth once again attracted global attention, highlighted by Sam Laidlow’s return to winning form. Challenge Almere-Amsterdam delivered one of the closest finishes of the year, while Challenge Taiwan continued to set benchmarks in scale, welcoming close to 10,000 participants. At Challenge Sir Bani Yas, athletes competed on a course that passed through wildlife areas, underlining the diversity of race settings within the series.
Growth was particularly evident among women and younger athletes. Challenge Family reported a notable rise in female participation across events, with women making up 37 percent of the start list at The Championship – well above the industry average. Increased youth participation was partly attributed to a new initiative introduced, offering discounted entry fees for students aged 17 to 23.
Despite rising operational costs across the sport, Challenge Family maintained entry fees below the global market average, according to the organization. Athlete surveys continued to rate the race experience highly, with many events retaining traditional welcome parties – an increasingly rare feature in long-course triathlon – that aim to enhance community engagement during race weekends.
Behind the scenes, Challenge Family also focused on internal development. The annual Race Director Meeting in Šamorín brought together representatives from all events to align on quality standards, planning, and operational improvements. Increased investment in communication and quality control was intended to ensure greater consistency across the international calendar.
On the professional side, 2025 again served as a platform for both emerging athletes and established names. First-time professional victories were recorded by athletes such as Jonathan Guisolan (Challenge Sir Bani Yas), Jamie Riddle (Challenge Barcelona), and Michele Sarzilla and Cathia Schär at Challenge Peguera-Mallorca, with Schär backing up her debut win with another victory in Barcelona a week later. At Challenge Almere-Amsterdam, Will Draper and Daisy Davies claimed European Long Distance titles.
Established stars also featured prominently. Alongside Laidlow’s win in Roth, Frederic Funk and Vincent Luis made strong appearances, while Laura Philipp secured victory in the women’s race. Challenge Taiwan further reinforced its status as one of the sport’s flagship events, combining elite racing with mass participation on an unmatched scale. It’s still the biggest triathlon in the world.
Looking ahead, Challenge Family has outlined several milestones for 2026, including anniversary editions of Challenge Wanaka and Challenge Almere-Amsterdam, the introduction of a Long Distance race at Challenge Québec, and further expansion of the race experience at Challenge Sir Bani Yas.