The European triathlon kicks off strongly this April with a date that is a classic on the international calendar. The Anfi Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria celebrates its tenth edition as the gateway to the ‘The Championship‘ world championship, serving to measure strength at the start of the season.
The event, which takes place in Anfi del Mar on April 19, maintains one of its great attractions: a prize pool of 25,000 euros divided fifty percent between the male and female categories. A figure that maintains the level of the event among the most outstanding of the Challenge Family circuit in Europe.
A direct gateway to the World Cup from Gran Canaria
But the economic incentive is not the only claim. The competition awards direct places to ‘The Championship’, the middle-distance world championship held in Samorin, Slovakia. The top six finishers in each category, including the age groups, will get the pass to one of the most demanding tests on the international scene.
With nearly 500 registered triathletes from 27 nationalities and three continents, the starting line presents an exceptional level. More than 60 professionals will compete on a circuit that has sold out registrations in record time, confirming the success of the event in its tenth anniversary.
The race will start on Saturday 18 April from the beach of Anfi del Mar, in an environment that is already the favourite place for many international athletes. During the previous days, the area becomes the perfect training place where the elite get ready in a scenario that combines sea, road and good weather.
Being the season-opening race in Europe, this competition is key to see how the main names in triathlon arrive in shape. Not only do you compete for the podium, but also to secure a place on a calendar that has the World Cup as one of its priority goals.
A weekend of competition that goes beyond the elite
The program of the event starts on Thursday, April 16 with an online technical talk for the age groups, where the key points of the race will be explained. Friday's day will be focused on professionals and the delivery of bib numbers, with the atmosphere livening up at times.
That same night, the T1 transition will leave one of the most famous images of the event, with hundreds of bikes ready for the start. It is an image that shows the desire to compete and how Gran Canaria has turned to international triathlon.
On Saturday, from the first hour, the movement will be constant on the beach of Anfi. From 8:00 the competitions will begin in their three modalities: short distance, medium distance and relays. The day will last until the afternoon, when the spotlight will shift to the youngest.
The Aquathlon Challenge will bring together more than 150 children and young people within the Canary Islands Championship, giving space to future promises in a world-class event. The day will end with the presentation of trophies, closing a weekend that mixes competition, grassroots sport and the prominence of the island on the sports map.