When the starter horn blows this Saturday at Challenge Peguera-Mallorca, all eyes will be on two central storylines: a rising star defending the site of her breakthrough, and a dominant favorite looking to stamp his authority on the Balearic coast.
For Switzerland’s Cathia Schär, returning to Mallorca is more than just another race week – it’s a homecoming to where her professional career truly took flight. It was here on Mallorca’s rugged, scenic roads last year that the 24-year-old stormed to her maiden professional victory. That single performance unlocked a rapid surge in momentum, which she capitalized on just seven days later by completing an iconic back-to-back double at Challenge Barcelona.
Now returning as the defending champion, Schär faces a course that rewards both tactical bravery and raw climbing power – and she’ll need every bit of both to hold off a stacked women’s field.
The Pohle Factor
Standing squarely in Schär’s path is Germany’s Caroline Pohle. Sitting four spots above Schär at World No. 17, Pohle arrives in Mallorca in the form of her life. Her 2026 campaign reads like a masterclass in middle-distance dominance, boasting victories at Challenge Mogan-Gran Canaria, The Championship, Challenge St Pölten, Trumer Triathlon, and IM 70.3 Leipzig – complemented by an impressive 5th-place long-distance debut at DATEV Challenge Roth.
Pohle isn’t just a threat on paper; she enters as the woman to beat, hungrier than ever to make Peguera her sixth victory of the season.
The women’s start list doesn’t end with a two-horse race, however. Heavy hitters lurking inside the PTO Top-100 – including Germany’s Merle Brunnée (#60) and Sarah Schönfelder (#73), along with Italy’s Marta Bernardi (#84) – bring serious horsepower to the bike leg. Meanwhile, proven podium threats Barbora Besperát, Anne Reischmann, and Laura Jansen mean a single tactical misstep from the favorites could blow the race wide open.
Men’s Race: Can Anyone Stop Will Draper?
In the men’s race, Britain’s Will Draper carries the target on his back. Ranked World No. 27, the Brit has established himself as a powerhouse on the Challenge Family circuit over the last 18 months. After a standout 2025 campaign that yielded titles in Gran Canaria, Samarkand, and the European Long Distance crown in Almere-Amsterdam, Draper has kept his foot firmly on the gas this year with a win at Challenge Salou and podium finishes at both Samarkand and The Championship.
On paper, Draper is the undisputed race favorite, but the men’s field is far from a victory lap.
His primary challenger comes in the form of Belgium’s Joran Driesen (#58). After a quiet start to his year in Gran Canaria, Driesen went on a tear across Europe, snatching victories at IM 70.3 Alghero and OpenLakes Belgium, alongside podiums at IM 70.3 Kraichgau and Swansea. Driesen’s relentless run pace makes him a lethal threat if he stays within striking distance off the bike.
Rounding out the top contenders, British duo Jack Hutchens (#70) and Louis Buttrick (#83) add depth to a men’s race that promises relentless pacing from the swim exit straight through to the finish line on the Peguera boulevard.
With a sold-out venue, technical coastal roads, and a deep roster of contenders, Saturday’s showdown in Mallorca has all the ingredients for a mid-autumn classic.
