With exactly eight months to go until the start of the fifth edition of Challenge Sanremo, the positive trend in registrations for the international triathlon festival on the Riviera dei Fiori continues. Although the race is still a long way off, the number of provisional entries has doubled compared to the same period last year. To give an idea of the confidence athletes from around the world are placing in the race organized by Riviera Triathlon 1992, it’s enough to note that today’s number of entries was reached in June 2025 for the previous edition and at the end of July for the first edition in 2022. Most registrations have been received for the middle distance, the main event of the weekend of October 3-4, but the list of participants for the sprint triathlon distance and the Swim & Run is already growing, with several international athletes already confirming their participation, with obvious positive effects on the local community. This year, the event will once again be hosted by Portosole, an appreciated location by the athletes, which will provide spaces for the transition area, start, finish line, and race office, as well as hosting the courses for the youth races and the Swim & Run race.
The Impact on the Liguria Region
The race, which passes through 11 municipalities in the province of Imperia (Sanremo, Taggia, Riva Ligure, Santo Stefano al Mare, Terzorio, Pompeiana, Castellaro, Badalucco, Bajardo, Ceriana and Ospedaletti) and generates online articles, social media posts, and a promotional video for each location broadcast on the event’s official channels, is also increasing its positive impact on the local area.
On the one hand, there is the promotion and direct economic return for the province of Imperia and the Liguria Region, with a total impact of over €900,000, the result of over 4,000 attendees distributed over the 14 days preceding and the 7 days following the event (based on surveys and studies conducted in collaboration with Challenge Family and students from the University of Foro Italico in Rome). On the other hand, the passage of an international race on secondary roads leads local governments to be more sensitive to road maintenance. From 2022 to September 2025, the asphalt has been renewed or repaired on some sections of the Riviera dei Fiori cycle and pedestrian path in the municipalities of Sanremo, Taggia, Riva Ligure and Santo Stefano al Mare. This includes the long climb from Vignai to the top of Bajardo, the descent from Ceriana to Poggio, the connecting road from Pompeiana to Castellaro, the descent from Castellaro to Taggia, the Vignai-Bajardo, Ceriana-Poggio and Poggio-Sanremo descents, plus the new surface laid between Terzorio and Pompeiana in recent weeks, for a total of 28 km.
A special race
The Challenge Sanremo, a demanding challenge for both the athletes and the organizing committee, is a truly special and unique race in the Challenge Family circuit and on the international scene. Athletes are thrilled to ride the cycling leg on the roads of the Milan-Sanremo: the legendary Poggio di Sanremo is part of the race course, both for the medium and sprint triathlons, a feature that is also a strong draw for international spectators. Furthermore, the running leg passes through the Milan-Sanremo Tunnel-Museum, a true journey through the history and emotions of the Classicissima that makes the third leg unique.
“The numbers for the Challenge Sanremo are starting to look impressive, not only in absolute terms, but also in terms of the very positive percentages compared to previous years – adds Daniele Moraglia, Race Director – In addition to the competitive aspect, we enjoy networking with local communities, developing fruitful and lasting collaborations, focusing on sustainability, and working collaboratively with institutions. In this regard, I’m pleased that, thanks to the dialogue between the Province of Imperia and the municipalities, roadwork is continuing, an important aspect for both those competing and those who live on the Riviera year-round. Furthermore, a study of Challenge attendance revealed that 15% of participants had been in Sanremo the year before the event to test the routes or for sports gatherings organized in the area. This is also an important aspect that improves the value of Sanremo as a destination for triathlon and sports, offering an additional opportunity for seasonally adjusted, yet attentive and informed, tourism”.
