The fourth edition of the Challenge Sanremo is approaching, bringing together professional athletes, amateurs, youth, and multisport enthusiasts from around the world on Saturday, September 20th and Sunday, September 21st.
The headquarters of the event, which is part of the international Challenge Family circuit and included in the calendar of events of the Municipality of Sanremo, will be Portosole, one of the most prestigious tourist ports in the Mediterranean.
The race program will open on Saturday with Youth Races and this year’s new event, the Swim & Run, while on Sunday, the main event of the weekend, the Challenge Sanremo Middle Distance, and the Sprint Triathlon will take place.
This year’s participation is truly diverse, with athletes from five continents representing 35 nations, including the United States, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Qatar, Israel, Chile, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan and Pakistan.
Numbers are up more than 10% compared to last year: 670 athletes will be competing in the Challenge Sanremo. The main race, the middle distance triathlon, has 330 registered participants, while the sprint distance triathlon will feature 200 athletes. 80 young triathletes will be present on Saturday morning for the opening race, and 60 participants will be taking part in the Swim & Run event, which will take place entirely in the Portosole area. For Friday’s lunch break, athletes will be offered a ride “On the roads of the Milan-Sanremo: discovering Cipressa and Poggio” with Niccolò Bonifazio, a former professional cyclist.
This year, the Challenge Sanremo will be even more sustainable: the gadgets for participating athletes and merchandise are made from recycled materials by ACBC, while the finisher’s medal is 3D-printed from recyclable material.
THE TOP ATHLETES
The women’s event promises to be a top-level competition. Among the top competitors, there will be a welcome return to Sanremo: after her victory in 2023, South African Magda Nieuwoudt returns to the starting line, having arrived in Sanremo 10 days ago to complete her preparations for the race on the Riviera dei Fiori. All eyes will be on Frenchwoman Aurelia Boulanger, a multiple winner on the Challenge Family circuit: this year, she won the Challenge Sir Bani-Yas in the United Arab Emirates, and last year she dominated in Cagnes-Sur-Mer, Salou, and Cesenatico. Hungarian Gabriela Zelinka, an experienced triathlete now specializing in long distances, also won this year in Romagna, and will be competing in the Sanremo race for the first time. Already on the podium two years ago, Austrian Lisa-Maria Dornauer returns to Sanremo, where she will once again face German Sarah Schoenfelder, chasing her first medal and a regular at the start since 2022. Also making a welcome return is Frenchwoman Justine Guerard, now a race veteran after her podium finish in the first edition. Making their Challenge Sanremo debut are Luisa Iogna Prat, who this year achieved an international podium in the half-ironman, and Irish former professional cyclist Megan Armitage. Also to watch are Johanna Ahrens (GER), Carolin Meyer (GER), Alice Fritzsche (SWI), Zaira Lorenzo (ESP), and Italians Sara Sandrini and Francesca Crestani.
In the men’s race, Michele Sarzilla will be back, having increased his distances after his Olympic career. The Italian is competing in very challenging events and, after getting to grips with the course last year, will be one of the athletes to watch on Sunday. Keep an eye out for last year’s surprise winner, German Jannik Stoll, who managed to reach the podium in 2024 and is back competing in Liguria with the goal of climbing even higher in the rankings. It will be a huge celebration for German David Breinlinger, who finished sixth in 2024 and will compete in his final professional race at the Challenge Sanremo. Other names to note include Joost Friederichs (NED), Lorenzo Delco (SWI), Thomas Navarro (FRA), and Italians Davide Rossetti, Pietro Santini, and Filippo Turco.
GAVINO MEMORIAL AND RAMBALDI TROPHY
Two special prizes will be awarded during the sprint and middle distance triathlons: the Marco Gavino Memorial and the Daniele Rambaldi Trophy.
The best male and female runners in the middle distance race (Pro athletes are excluded) will receive the award named after Marco Gavino, a young police officer who died during a humanitarian mission in Kosovo, a great friend and a man of great human qualities. The decision to award the trophy to the best runner stems from Marco’s athletic past, a talented and passionate runner himself.
The Daniele Rambaldi Trophy will be awarded to the best male and female runner under 23 who cross the finish line in the Sprint Triathlon. Rambaldi has left an immeasurable void in the lives of those who knew him even for a few minutes. Openness, joie de vivre, naturalness, simplicity, friendliness, passion for sport, sincerity, and loyalty are just some of the distinctive characteristics of “Rambo” Danielone, who since 1992 has been the driving force behind Riviera Triathlon 1992. In his memory, the Trophy dedicated to emerging athletes was established to highlight his natural aptitude for working with young people.
ALESSIO BIANCHI MEMORIAL
The Swim & Run race coincides with the fourth Alessio Bianchi Memorial. A member of Riviera Triathlon 1992, Alessio left us prematurely, struck down by illness while practicing the sport he loved so much. As we’ve already emphasized, Alessio will always swim and run alongside us: he will always be one of us.
ULRIKE WACHTLER MEMORIAL
The Ulrike Wachtler Memorial, born in Bolzano but living in Milan, has been involved in organizing sporting events for over 20 years, focusing on running races. Among the various events in which she played a leading role are the Monza Half Marathon, held in Monza Park and the Autodromo; the Corsa della Speranza, a solidarity race that took place through the streets of Milan; and the Gazzetta Run circuit, including the stage held in Sanremo, a city to which she was also linked by her support for the first edition of the Sanremo Marathon. She was part of the organizing team for the European Cross-Country Championships, held in San Giorgio su Legnano in 2006. She has also collaborated actively with triathlon organizations, including the Sanremo Triathlon. Having passed away in March 2023 due to a serious illness, this award is dedicated to the best runner of the running leg to remember all she achieved over the years, always committing herself with great passion and professionalism.
OFFICIAL MERCHANDISING
ACBC (Anything Can Be Changed), a leading consultancy firm for sustainable innovation in the fashion and lifestyle sector, is producing the official merchandise for the Challenge Sanremo. The collection, designed to combine functionality, design, and respect for the environment, includes two backpacks, a water bottle, a pair of sports sunglasses, and a visor cap. These accessories, available in a customized version dedicated to the triathlon event, will be delivered to all registered athletes in their race packs. All products are developed with recycled and certified materials, in line with ACBC’s commitment to a more responsible future.
THE MEDALS
The medals, distributed to all athletes crossing the finish line of the Challenge Sanremo, right at the Portosole finish line, also feature significant innovation. This object, one of the most treasured memories for triathletes, is made using a 3D printer and completely recyclable materials. One of the sustainability goals of the Challenge Sanremo is to produce medals from recycled materials.
CHARITY PROJECT
Thanks to the fundraising efforts carried out during the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Challenge Sanremo in collaboration with the Rotary Club Sanremo Hanbury and the additional donation made by the Organizing Committee and Riviera Triathlon 1992, new medical devices were purchased for the Misericordia di Sanremo to equip a new ambulance and make it suitable for pediatric use: a pulse oximeter and a semi-automatic defibrillator.
DISCOVERING THE ROAD OF MILANO-SANREMO WITH NICCOLÒ BONIFAZIO
On Friday, September 19th, those registered for the Challenge Sanremo races, their friends and companions, and multisport enthusiasts will have a fun opportunity to enjoy. At 12:30 p.m., the ride “On the Roads of Milan-Sanremo: Discovering Cipressa and Poggio” will begin from Portosole (Sanremo). This controlled-pace cycling tour of approximately 40 km will be led by former professional cyclist Niccolò Bonifazio. Niccolò, who has already made his triathlon debut and will be competing in the Challenge Sanremo on Sunday, is a great expert on the most iconic roads of the Riviera dei Fiori. In addition to training daily on these routes, he has competed in the Classicissima several times, attempting a spectacular breakaway in 2019 on his home roads, along the Cipressa descent. Participants will be able to tackle the two famous sections of the “Mondiale di Primavera – Spring World Championship” (Cipressa and Poggio) and discover the secrets of the key parts of the Challenge Sanremo alongside Bonifazio, who knows these routes better than anyone. Participation is free: register by email at iscrizioni@triathlonsanremo.com
THE LOCATIONS CROSSING
Such a challenging sporting event from an organizational standpoint can only be achieved through networking and mutual collaboration and support. We would like to thank the regions crossed by our races, including Sanremo, the municipalities of Taggia, Riva Ligure, Santo Stefano al Mare, Terzorio, Pompeiana, Castellaro, Badalucco, Bajardo and Ceriana, as well as the police and the Prefect for their coordination.
WELCOME FROM RACE DIRECTOR DANIELE MORAGLIA
I’m glad to welcome all of you – athletes, coaches, family, and friends, enthusiasts, and the curious – to the fourth edition of the Challenge Sanremo. This year, our event has grown up: it will be hosted in a new location, Portosole, a prestigious and elegant marina, and has set record-breaking participation numbers, attracting athletes from a wide range of nations and five continents. This year, in addition to the well-known middle distance and sprint distance races, both featuring challenging cycling courses, the new addition to the youth race day is the Swim & Run, a fun discipline that welcomes many multisport athletes and beginners. I thank the local administrations, governments and institutions for their ever-increasing support for the event, and I look forward to welcoming you, the Core Team, and the volunteers to experience some wonderful end-of-summer sports on the Riviera dei Fiori.
THE HEADQUARTERS – PORTOSOLE
This year’s event will be headquartered at Portosole, one of the largest and most prestigious marinas in the Mediterranean. Portosole boasts renowned businesses, bars, and specialized nautical shops, and has hosted several of the most important nautical and sailing events in the Mediterranean since its founding. Integrated into the city, it offers quick access to all types of services. The Sanremo marina, inaugurated in 1978, extends over 1,025 square meters of docks, 167,500 square meters of water, and 2,740 meters of piers. It has 776 moorings capable of accommodating yachts up to 90 meters in length, two restaurants, and convenient parking.
“With just a few days to go until the Sanremo Challenge kicks off, Portosole Sanremo’s enthusiasm is growing to be an active part of such a prestigious sporting event,” says Giorgio Casareto, CEO of Portosole Sanremo. “Hosting international athletes and teams in the heart of our port represents an extraordinary opportunity to enhance Sanremo and experience sport as a shared experience, open to the city and its guests. The energy that will be felt during these days will be contagious. Portosole is ready to welcome the Triathlon with the passion, care, and professionalism that have always distinguished us. This globally renowned event represents sporting and organizational excellence that perfectly aligns with the values of our port,” adds Casareto, “openness, quality, and vision. We are delighted to provide a prestigious and functional location, but above all to contribute, together with the city, to the success of an event that unites sport, local community, and an international spirit.”
INSTITUTIONAL STATEMENTS
Simona Ferro, Liguria Regional Councilor for Sport
“The fourth edition of the Challenge Sanremo promises, as always, to be a top-level sporting spectacle, featuring the best athletes from around the world competing in a thrilling course that includes a 1.9 km swim, an 80 km cycle, and a 21 km run. This competition has become a consolidated benchmark in the international triathlon scene and is experiencing truly impressive growth, as the data demonstrates. Indeed, the number of participants registered for the race is higher than last year, a figure that emerged several weeks before the event and has been confirmed now that the starting lists are final. We are preparing to experience a weekend dedicated to sporting passion and sharing, immersed in the splendid landscape that Western Liguria has to offer.”
Claudio Scajola, President of the Province of Imperia
“The sea and inland areas of our province are ready to welcome triathletes from around the world, protagonists of a fascinating competition that unfolds between the coast and the valleys. The beauty and diversity of our region confirms itself as an ideal setting for multidisciplinary sport, which once again features in the Challenge Sanremo as an international event. I thank the event organizers and wish all participants a pleasant experience”.
Alessandro Mager, Mayor of Sanremo
“Sanremo enthusiastically welcomes the new edition of the Challenge, which has now become an unmissable event. This event represents not only an opportunity for competition and sportsmanship, but also an important opportunity to promote our region, thanks to its distinctive international standing. In welcoming the athletes and their companions, I thank the organizers for their work with passion and commitment, allowing the event to continue to grow.”
Alessandro Sindoni, Councilor for Tourism and Sport of the Municipality of Sanremo
“The Challenge represents an important event in our calendar, capable of attracting top-level athletes and numerous enthusiasts, thus confirming Sanremo’s vocation for tourism and sport. The event ensures a positive impact in terms of visibility, hospitality, and promotion of the region, combining sport and tourism. Sanremo is therefore ready to welcome athletes and visitors, to offer an experience that goes beyond the sporting event, transforming it into an opportunity for discovery and encounters. Happy Challenge Sanremo everyone!”
Jort Vlam, CEO di Challenge Family
Welcome to another edition of Challenge Sanremo! It’s great to be back on the Italian Riviera and with an exciting new race hub at Portosole, so a new swim but still retaining the same iconic bike and run. There is no doubt this will be an incredible two days of swim, bike and run and we are very much looking forward to continuing to work with the local team and community to deliver an unforgettable race experience. Thank you for your passion and commitment to race Challenge Sanremo and for your trust in Challenge Family. I also express my thanks to Daniele Moraglia and his team who have worked so hard to bring the event to you. And special thanks must go to the countless volunteers, local stakeholders, sponsors, as well as the local community for their support. Thank you for welcoming Challenge Family to your beautiful part of the world. Challenge Family is all about the athlete and I know you will experience this for yourself with the friendly and inclusive atmosphere that prevails at all our races around the globe and especially so here in Sanremo. The community’s warm hospitality, the challenging course and perfect setting all combine to create a memorable weekend of sport and Italian lifestyle. I wish you all the very best for your race and see you at the finish line!
