An intense weekend of sport for the third edition of the Challenge Sanremo. The international triathlon event that brings together professional athletes, but also new talent, multi-discipline enthusiasts and Swimrun practitioners, is preparing to animate Piazzale Carlo Dapporto, the event’s heart.
With the official events already scheduled for Friday (in addition to the press conference, the pro athletes briefing is planned at the Sanremo Casino, which will also host the awards ceremony), the event organized by Riviera Triathlon 1992 and which is part of the international Challenge Family circuit is finally getting into full swing.
Important numbers again this year: 600 athletes at the start in the various scheduled trials. It starts on Saturday 21 September, at 12:00, with the race dedicated to the Youth Races (40 athletes registered) who will dive into the sea and then pedal and run on the cycle/pedestrian path. On Saturday afternoon, starting at 2:30 p.m., the Swimrun – Memorial Alessio Bianchi is scheduled, a test that includes alternating swimming and running for a total of 20.5 km for the medium route and 11.5 km for the short route (60 athletes at the start).
Sunday, September 22 will be the key day. At 8 a.m. sharp, the Challenge Sanremo middle distance will start (1.9 km swimming, 82 km cycling, 21 km running) with 300 athletes representing 30 nations and 3 continents (America, Europe, Asia) that will assign the slots for The Championship, the world final of the Challenge Family circuit. Following this, at 9 a.m., the Sprint triathlon will start (0.75 km swimming, 20 km cycling, 5 km running) with 200 athletes competing. “With great pleasure, we have confirmed and in some races increased the attendance compared to last year – says Daniele Moraglia, Race Director and president of Riviera 1992 – the medium, sprint and swimrun races are on the rise thanks to a more massive foreign presence compared to last year while the registrations for the youth races were lower than expected as the Federation has included a race in the calendar at the same time aimed at the same categories”.
A great deployment of forces to guarantee the smooth running of the race: 300 workers including the precious volunteers among which there are 35 students from the University of Foro Italico in Rome and the students of the Cassini High School in Sanremo. Also this year, Challenge Sanremo will carry out a Charity project by contributing to the purchase of a pneumatic tent for the Misericordie of the territory.
“Now the excitement is rising, not only for the athletes who will show up at the start, but also for us in the organizing committee who can’t wait to experience the most electrifying days of the season with great passion – adds Moraglia – It will be a great celebration of sport made possible thanks to the usual great work by the core team that believes in this that brings the name of Sanremo, the province of Imperia and Liguria to the world, and is attractive because it is a symbol of the Italian lifestyle. Thanks also to the support of institutions such as the Liguria Region, the Province of Imperia and the Municipality of Sanremo, and of the many collaborators, all this will be possible again: I am sure that the athletes will have fun testing themselves on our challenging and spectacular courses, while their companions, in addition to cheering, will be able to enjoy the splendid late summer days of the Riviera dei Fiori”.
TOP ATHLETES
As for the competitive aspect, once again the middle distance race will be of a truly high level. In the men’s field, Maximilian Sperl, the German winner of the 2023 edition, will return to Sanremo and will have to respond to the attacks of his compatriot Jonas Schomburg, protagonist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, of the Greek Panagiotis Bitados, of the Frenchman Simon Viain (already on the podium in Sanremo) and of the Austrian Thomas Steger. Eyes focused on the Italian Michele Sarzilla, fresh from the Olympic four-year period who has decided to lengthen the distances for the end of the season.
Among the women, we will see again the Austrian Lisa-Maria Dornauer and the French Justine Guerard, both already on the podium at the Challenge Sanremo, but keep an eye on the French Aurelia Boulanger, the young French Nikita Paskiewiez, the expert Chilean Barbara Riveros (who participated in four editions of the Olympic Games) and the German Sarah Schoenfelder who knows the race and the difficulties of the course very well, and the Italian Marta Bernardi, four-time Italian champion of this specialty.
In the sprint triathlon, eyes are on Ilaria Zane, standard-bearer of the Italian national team in various World Series and World Cup events around the world.
MEMORIAL ALESSIO BIANCHI
The Swimrun race coincides with the third Memorial Alessio Bianchi. A member of the Riviera Triathlon 1992, well known and appreciated in the Swimrun environment of Italy and Europe, Alessio left us prematurely at the end of July last year, struck by an illness just while he was practicing the sport that he was so passionate about. As we have already had the opportunity to underline, Alessio will always swim and run alongside us: he will always be one of us.
MEMORIAL GAVINO AND TROPHY RAMBALDI
On the occasion of the sprint triathlon and the medium triathlon on September 24, two special prizes will be awarded: the Memorial Marco Gavino and the Daniele Rambaldi Trophy.
The best male and female runner of the medium distance race (Pro athletes are excluded) will receive the award named after Marco Gavino, a young policeman who died during a humanitarian mission in Kosovo, a great friend to everyone and a person with great human qualities. The choice to donate the Trophy to the best runner comes from Marco’s past as an athlete, himself a valid and passionate runner.
The Daniele Rambaldi Trophy will be awarded to the best male and female Under 23 athlete who crosses the finish line of the Sprint Triathlon. Rambaldi has left an unfillable void in the lives of those who knew him even for just a few minutes. Availability, joy of life, naturalness, simplicity, friendliness, passion for sport, sincerity, loyalty are just some of the distinctive characteristics of “Rambo” Danielone who since ’92 has been the soul and driving force of the Riviera Triathlon 1992. In his memory, the Trophy dedicated to emerging athletes was established precisely to underline his natural predisposition to work with young people.
MEMORIAL ULRICHE WACHTLER
The Memorial Ulrike Wachtler, born in Bolzano but Milanese by adoption, has been involved in the organization of sporting events for more than 20 years with particular reference to foot races. Among the various events in which she participated with primary roles, we should remember the Monza Half Marathon, held inside the Monza park and the Autodromo; the Corsa della Speranza, a solidarity race that took place in the streets of Milan; the Gazzetta Run circuit, including the stage held in Sanremo, a city to which she was also linked for having provided her support to the first edition of the Sanremo Marathon. She was part of the organizing group of the European Cross Country Championships that took place in San Giorgio su Legnano in 2006. She also collaborated incisively with Triathlon organizations including that of Sanremo. Having passed away in March 2023 due to a serious illness, this award is dedicated to the best runner of the running fraction to remember everything she was able to do over the years, always committing herself with great passion and professionalism.
THE TERRITORIES CROSSED
A sporting event so complicated from an organizational point of view can only materialize by networking and taking advantage of mutual collaboration and support: the Territories crossed by our races deserve thanks, therefore, in addition to Sanremo, the municipalities of Taggia, Riva Ligure, Santo Stefano al Mare, Terzorio, Pompeiana, Castellaro, Badalucco, Bajardo and Ceriana, in addition to those of the police and the Prefetto for coordination.
STATEMENTS FROM INSTITUTIONS
Alessandro Piana, Acting President of the Liguria Region
“The values of sport are fundamental for growth and social well-being because they promote respect and integrity, enhancing the fundamental elements that we want to pass on to our young people. In addition to competition and entertainment, events like the Challenge Sanremo promote the economy and culture of the territory: making the most of the potential of these events means investing in our territory, in future generations and in the health of each of us. Thank you for what you do, a warm good luck for the success of the third edition of Challenge Sanremo!”
Simona Ferro, Councilor for Sport of the Liguria Region
“We are kicking off the Challenge Sanremo on September 21-22, the prestigious triathlon event now in its third edition that this year will also bring around 750 athletes of over 20 nations to our Region. Incredible numbers that testify to the importance of the event that will see great champions compete such as Jonas Schomburg, protagonist of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games but also Maximilian Sperl, winner of the 2023 edition and many others. I am truly proud that our territory can host an international event of this magnitude and I am certain that, even in 2025, the year in which Liguria will be the European Region of Sport, this discipline that is so tiring, but at the same time fascinating, will have an important role in the sports and tourism promotion of the territory”.
Claudio Scajola, President of the Province of Imperia
“Our territory becomes once again the ideal stage for sport. The triathlon is perhaps the most evident demonstration of this with swimming, cycling and running, which involve the coast and the hinterland. I therefore greet with great pleasure the participants of the Challenge Sanremo, protagonists of an intense test in contact with the beauties of the province of Imperia”.
Alessandro Mager, Mayor of Sanremo
“The Challenge Sanremo has become one of the most interesting events offered by our city, for the spectacular nature of the triathlon and the international appeal it exerts on specialists in this fascinating and challenging multidisciplinary sport. A sport that involves the cycle-pedestrian path and our coastline, along with routes well known to cycling enthusiasts and which requires careful preparation to seamlessly tackle the swimming, cycling and running tests, thus representing a challenge with oneself between sea and land. And it is important that the very young are also involved in the two days of the competition. I extend a warm greeting to all the participants and organizers of this important event, which enriches the tradition and sports offerings of the city”.
Alessandro Sindoni, Councilor for Tourism and Sport of the Municipality of Sanremo
“Sport is always at home in Sanremo. And the Sanremo Triathlon Challenge is proof of this, animating the transition between the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, a season to which we dedicate a lot of attention with a full calendar of events of various kinds. Our city lives on tourism and sport has always been an important driving force to increase arrivals and attendance, as in the case of this event, which also attracts many foreign athletes. The multidisciplinary nature of the triathlon allows us to highlight, once again, the extraordinary cycle/pedestrian path, the Blue Flag that flies on our beaches and the suggestive views of the hinterland. All in the spirit of competition, very tough and fascinating at the same time, but with an eye also to the beauty of the territory and its hospitality capabilities”.
Jort Vlam, Challenge Family CEO
“We’re delighted to be back here on the Italian Riviera for the third edition of Challenge Sanremo. This course is simply unforgettable with it’s spectacular views and challenging climbs and descents, not to mention being our only run course through tunnel! The warm Italian welcome from is exceptional and I’d like to thank the local community for welcoming Challenge Family to your beautiful part of the world. I wish everyone a successful race and see you at the finish line!”
