This weekend, 1,300 athletes from 22 countries will line up at the inaugural Challenge Cesenatico on Italy’s Adriatic Coast for 113km of swim, bike, run on a course steeped in cycling history.
Leading the charge will be a 40-strong pro field that includes local favourite, Alessandro Fabian and Dieter Comhair (BEL), fresh from a top 10 finish at Anfi Challenge Mogán-Gran Canaria, as well as Marcel Bolbat (GER) who earlier this year took out the Challenge Israman title. Also lining up Ogenjen Stojanović (SRB) who is also no stranger to the podium and Austrian, Thomas Steger who has no less than 13 Challenge Family podium finishes to his name, including five wins and a third at The Championship 2022.
In the women’s race, Austrians Gabriele Obmann and Lisa Dornauer are well matched with Dornauer finishing on the podium at both Challenge Davos and Challenge Sanremo in 2023. They will also be up against Aurelia Boulanger (ITA) who took second at last year’s Challenge Fréjus and local, Marta Bernardi, who placed third at Challenge Geraardsbergen 2023.
Cesenatico is renowned as the home of Italian cycling and will host the start of Stage Two of this year’s Tour de France. Following the 1.9 km swim off Cesenatico Beach, the 90km bike course is entirely designed in the hills of Romagna, a region of breathtaking beauty located on the border between Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany with its picturesque landscapes, and technical climbs and descents.
The final 21km run course will be a totally flat multi-lap along the Cesenatico seafront packed with spectators allowing the athletes to soak up the atmosphere as it drives them to the finish line in the beautiful Levante Park in Cesenatico.
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