As the triathlon season heats up, all eyes turn to the Costa Daurada this coming Sunday, May 10th. Challenge Salou is set to deliver a high-octane spectacle featuring a clash between established champions and a formidable British contingent hungry for the top step.
While Spain provides the stunning backdrop, the men’s pro field has a distinct Union Jack flavor this year. Thomas Davis returns as the defending champion, but he faces a domestic onslaught that could turn the Mediterranean coast into a British “clash of the titans.” Davis, despite a busy start to his 2026 season with three races already under his belt, remains a specialist on this course. However, the world rankings suggest he’ll have his work cut out for him.
Will Draper (#27) and Harry Palmer (#38) lead the charge of the challengers. Draper’s recent resume is particularly intimidating; after a string of podiums at races like Challenge St Pölten and Xiamen, his 2025 season was a masterclass. He secured victories in Samarkand and Mogán-Gran Canaria before clinching the European title during a sensational Long Distance debut at Challenge Almere-Amsterdam. Alongside them, Jack Hutchens adds further depth to a British squad that occupies four spots in the world’s top 100.
Marta Sanchez: The Home Favorite
In the women’s race, the narrative centers on local hero Marta Sanchez. Ranked 26th globally, Sanchez is arguably in the form of her life. Following a dominant swim-bike-run performance that earned her a third-place finish at Ironman Texas just last month, she arrives in Salou with massive momentum. For the Spanish fans, she is the clear favorite to take the victory on home soil.
The Battle of the Defending Champion and the Outsiders
Italy’s Elisabetta Curridori (#49) isn’t ready to hand over her crown just yet. Defending a title is never easy, but Curridori knows exactly what it takes. Her preparation mirrors her successful campaign from last year perfectly; she arrived in Salou last year after a win at Peñíscola Infinitri – a feat she remarkably repeated just last week.
But the podium race is far from a two-horse race. Australia’s Milan Agnew (#88) is a dangerous dark horse, showing consistent form with two eleventh-place finishes at IM 70.3 Valencia and Geelong earlier this year. Deepening the field is a group of hungry outsiders lurking just outside the top 100, including the Netherlands’ Maaike Vooren (#135), Poland’s Agnieszka Gadomska (#139), and Chile’s Macarena Salazar (#140).
With such a dense field of talent and the lightning-fast nature of the Challenge Salou course, Sunday’s race promises to be an absolute thriller from the first dip in the Mediterranean to the final sprint on the boulevard.
