After new races in Instanbul and Barcelona, among others, Challenge Family has again announced a new race set in the heart of a city center: London. In fact, the already world-famous and very popular London Triathlon will become part of the CF label effective immediately. Challenge London will take place on 6 August 2023.
The partnership between organisers LimeLight Sports Club and Challenge Family will see the rebranded event become the first ever Challenge Family event to take place in London and will include a new distance. Challenge London will now host a Middle distance race, in place of the previous Olympic Plus distance.
The Middle distance will provide the required competition for many high-level and elite triathletes as part of their competitive season, with many striving for qualification for The Championship or ranking points for professional athletes as a PTO Silver Tier event. The Middle distance race will feature a 1.9km swim, 80km bike (with plans to increase to 90km in 2024) and finish with a half marathon on the same iconic course already enjoyed by thousands of triathletes over the years. The swim will take place in the sheltered Royal Victoria Dock while the three-lap bike will take athletes from Docklands to Westminster and back, taking in some of London’s most memorable sights, while the multi-lap run will take place within Docklands, perfect for spectator support.
One of Britain’s top long distance athletes, Emma Pallant-Browne, ranked seven in the world, said: “My first ever triathlon was London Triathlon back in 2012 so this race means a lot to me and it’s so cool to see it partnered up with the Challenge Family! I love racing Challenge events and London is such a vibey city that really gets behind its sporting events so looking forward to seeing this iconic event with the new partnership thrive.”
Challenge London is the world’s biggest city centre triathlon open to all abilities, seeing participants ride by Big Ben, the London Eye and Houses of Parliament, setting off from the ExCeL Centre in East London, the heart of the Docklands.
Joe Skipper, multiple long-distance champion and fastest UK athlete over 226km added: “I am extremely excited to hear that long course racing is coming to London with Challenge Family partnering with the iconic London Triathlon. I have raced the London Triathlon a number of times and the prospect of racing again, now as a Challenge Family race, makes me excited to line up again in the future.”
Challenge London consists of six distances and challenges, including: Super Sprint, Sprint, Sprint Relay, Olympic, Olympic Relay and Middle.
Challenge Family CEO, Jort Vlam, is looking forward to this key new partnership: “We are very excited to partner with the team at London Triathlon to bring middle distance racing to the heart of one of the world’s most historic cities and for London to join Challenge Wales on our UK race calendar. For athletes to be able to race past some of the most iconic buildings in the world is almost unheard of in long course racing – Challenge London will without doubt deliver an unforgettable triathlon experience in line with our commitment to ‘all about the athlete’. We very much look forward to working with the established Challenge London team to set a new standard in middle distance racing.”
Three-time The Championship winner and number two in the world, Lucy Charles-Barclay, said: “As a Londoner I am so excited to hear Challenge Family is coming to my home town. I have raced multiple swim races there before and it’s a great venue for triathlon.”
