The upcoming Challenge Gdańsk is shaping up to be its largest iteration yet, drawing a close and competitive professional field to the iconic Polish pier this weekend. With a fast new course on the line, the event features several clear favorites.
Women’s Preview: A Battle of Rankings and Form
The women’s race features a compelling dynamic between high-ranking contenders, in-form champions, and local favorites.
The Top Contenders
- Rebecca Anderbury (GBR): Entering as the highest-ranked athlete in the field at world #39, Anderbury is the designated target for the rest of the field. She brings strong endurance into the race, having already completed a demanding long-distance block this year, highlighted by a 4th-place finish at Ironman Lanzarote.
- Elisabetta Curridori (ITA): Ranked #53, Curridori brings the most formidable recent momentum into Gdańsk. She has claimed two victories this season – at Peñíscola Infinitri and Challenge Salou – alongside a strong 4th-place finish at The Championship.
- Marta Lagownik (POL): Sitting just behind Curridori at world #56, Lagownik represents the host nation’s strongest podium hope. She has demonstrated highly consistent form this season with three consecutive top-10 finishes and will undoubtedly benefit from racing in front of a home crowd.
Athletes to Watch: Beyond the top three seeds, the women’s field remains deep with dangerous outsiders capable of upsetting the podium, including Italy’s Marta Bernardi and South Africa’s Magda Nieuwoudt.
Men’s Preview: Stojanović Leads the Charge on Fast New Bike Course
The men’s race – of course just like the women’s race does – introduces a tactical wildcard this year: a brand-new bike course. Featuring just two laps, the updated route significantly reduces the number of technical turns compared to previous editions, a change expected to heavily favor strong bikers and drive a blistering pace.
The Favorites
- Ognjen Stojanović (SRB): At world #78, Stojanović enters as the paper favorite. He has already built a robust racing base this season with two long-distance events and a solid 10th-place finish at The Championship. His experience and affinity for the Challenge Family circuit make him the man to beat.
- The Chasers: Stojanović faces a dense field of athletes capable of a breakthrough performance. Great Britain’s Tom Davis leads the list of prime challengers, alongside notable powerhouse athletes Andrew Horsfall-Turner, Florent Lefebre, and Trent Thorpe.
