Almost 800 athletes enlivened the action-packed weekend of October 3–4 at the Geoplin Challenge Sanremo. In addition to a record turnout since the event joined the international Challenge Family circuit, the international presence is now firmly established (with 31 nations represented this year). This is complemented by a promising upward trend in registrations from Italian athletes, confirming the broad appeal of Liguria and the Riviera dei Fiori as both a tourist and sporting destination.
The organizing committee, led by Race Director and Riviera Triathlon 1992 President Daniele Moraglia, mobilized significant resources to stage the event, which is part of the Municipality of Sanremo’s official calendar of events. More than 300 volunteers were involved, including 130 personnel stationed along the cycling route; resources included 4 boats, 2 jet skis, 4 canoes, 8 rescue dogs, 2 Traffic Police cars and 2 motorcycles, and 10 ambulances. Beyond the 20 technical escort vehicles, 11 motorcycles were used to transport accredited media and race officials.
Furthermore, participants enjoyed authentic Ligurian flavors at the Pasta Party. Over 80 kg of pasta with pesto, 30 square meters of “Sardenaira”, and 30 square meters of focaccia were served, alongside more than 7,000 liters of water, 2,000 liters of mineral supplements, over 1,200 cans of Red Bull, and plenty of fresh fruit. “The Geoplin Challenge Sanremo exists and continues to grow precisely thanks to all these people; every one of their contributions is crucial to the success of such a complex event,” explains Daniele Moraglia. “I am very satisfied with the work of my entire team and with the presence and participation of the institutions that supported the event. Dialogue and collaboration have become increasingly close and productive with His Excellency the Prefect, His Excellency the Police Commissioner, the provincial heads of the Carabinieri, State Police, Guardia di Finanza, Port Authority, and Provincial Police, as well as the mayors and municipal police commanders of the towns along the race route, the Province of Imperia, and all the bodies that ensured compliance with the various regulations regarding athlete safety. The public and local citizens are coming to appreciate the value of this event, and the participants, in an event that has made Portosole its headquarters for the second year running, are increasingly enthusiastic. Finally, I would like to thank the authorities who chose to attend the event: I greatly appreciated the personal involvement and participation of Giovanni Berrino, Senator of the Italian Republic; Luca Lombardi, Councilor for Sport and Leisure for the Liguria Region; Alessandro Sindoni, Councilor for Sport and Tourism for the Municipality of Sanremo; Isidoro Di Mella, CEO of Geoplin Italia; and Giovanna Mascolo, Marketing Manager at Portosole.
EVENT PARTNERS
The 2026 edition marked the beginning of a new cycle: for the first time in its history, the Sanremo International Triathlon had a title sponsor, Geoplin. Shared values, collaboration, and joint initiatives made this partnership, which played a decisive role in the event’s growth, both productive and inspiring.
Great support was also received from institutions such as the Liguria Region, the Province of Imperia, the Municipality of Sanremo, and LaMiaLiguria, as well as from partners Portosole, Rouvy, Diba Ponteggi, Diba Stage, and Fratelli Diurno.” WHYSport, Powerbar, QuintanaRoo, Sanremo On, PhotoToday, Edilvetta, and Sistel.
MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Media coverage remained substantial and extensive, thanks to the significant prominence given to the event by local outlets, the attention of the sports press, and the involvement of national newspapers (including the three major sports dailies). Social media profiles, the primary point of contact with the sports community, saw explosive growth.
Over the last four weeks, the event generated 477,000 views and over 7,500 interactions (with international users accounting for nearly 50% of the total in the final week). The highest figures were recorded during race week, with 354,000 views. More than 650 pieces of content were published, including collaborations with Challenge Family, Portosole, the Municipality of Sanremo’s tourism page, Geoplin Italia, and the industry publication Triathlon Magazine. There was significant reposting activity, with over 250 Stories shared from athletes and their families attending the event, and more than 400 tags of @challenge_sanremo.
TOURISM IMPACT
The push to extend the season beyond peak periods—even more pronounced than in previous editions offered an additional tourism opportunity for the entire Riviera dei Fiori. As highlighted by Councilor Lombardi, the Geoplin Challenge Sanremo has tangibly demonstrated how tourism and sports can work together to boost visitor numbers and promote the region, even outside the traditional peak months. Once again, the local area played an integral role in the competition: the sea, the cycle-pedestrian path, the villages, the Argentina Valley, and the Poggio climb combined to create an experience blending tourism, sports, outdoor activities, landscapes, and local identity. Scheduling the event for the first weekend of October reinforces the vision of Liguria as a year-round destination—a concept supported by the fact that many athletes return throughout the year to test the courses, train, and participate in training camps.
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
Once again, the Geoplin Challenge Sanremo served as a “Cross-Curricular Skills and Career Guidance” (PCTO in Italian) program for over 40 local high school students, specifically from the “G. Ruffini” Higher Education Institute in Imperia (specializing in Sports Management/AFM) and the Gian Domenico Cassini State High School in Sanremo. Furthermore, 32 students from the Master’s Degree program in Sports Management at the University of Rome “Foro Italico” provided invaluable support across all aspects of the event’s organization, dedicating themselves fully to this educational experience while preparing for and managing a complex international event.
SPECIAL AWARDS
The Geoplin Challenge Sanremo once again served as a qualifying race for “The Championship”, the global final of the Challenge Family circuit, scheduled for May of next year. Special event awards were also presented: the Marco Gavino Memorial, the Ulrike Wachtler Memorial, the Daniele Rambaldi Trophy, and the Alessio Bianchi Memorial. To conclude the awards ceremony, ten race entries for Challenge Roth, the most iconic triathlon on the global circuit, which sold out in just 18 seconds this year, were awarded via a prize draw.
THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZING TEAM
“Organizing an international event is always a major challenge,” adds Daniele Moraglia. “Our relationship with Challenge Family improves and evolves year after year; beyond the consistently productive exchange, we value their global vision and the feedback they provide on the event, factors that drive us to make continuous improvements. We will soon be able to announce some exciting new developments as well”. This year, Challenge Family Quality Manager Juanan Fernandez was present at the race venue, offering valuable input throughout the race weekend and participating in the awards ceremony.
Closing remarks, acknowledgments and farewells from Race Director Daniele Moraglia. “I conclude this edition of the Geoplin Challenge Sanremo with one certainty: the true driving force behind the event is not the numbers, but the people. Never before have I seen such a close-knit, proactive team, one ready to turn intense days, unexpected challenges, and tight deadlines into a concrete, reliable, and high-quality result. Watching the team at work, I felt that you would walk through fire to ensure the event’s success. Never before have I felt such strong support from public institutions; almost all of them have finally grasped the significance of the Challenge Sanremo and are ready to collaborate in a more structured way to foster further growth. Only by joining forces can we think big, and I believe all the right conditions are in place to do so, thanks in part to the arrival of a major partner like Geoplin. I am proud to have involved so many young people, to have placed my trust in them, and to have watched them grow year after year. Each of them brought freshness, passion, and expertise, and demonstrated a willingness to take responsibility. Together, we have built something great, an event that lasts only a few days but leaves a lasting impact on the athletes, the staff, and the local community. When a team works well together, hard work transforms into pride and happiness. Thank you all for your trust, your support, and for making the Challenge Sanremo a project truly worth the investment of time and energy.”
