Hogenhaug, Langridge Take Challenge Salou
Kristian Hogenhaug of Denmark, the reigning World Triathlon long distance champion, set a personal best in the half marathon run as he closed out a 43 seconds margin of victory over Robert Sanchez of Spain in the impromptu weather-driven duathlon at Challenge Salou. Sanchez topped third place finisher Emil Holm of Denmark by 6 seconds at the line.
Thanks to frigid air and very cold water, the Challenge Salou switched to a duathlon that started with a 4k run, followed by an 85k bike leg, then concluded with a 21-kilometer run. Fenella Langridge of Great Britain chased early leaders Lisa Norden of Sweden and Els Visser of the Netherlands for the first two legs, then passed Norden and Visser midway through the final leg – the 21-kilometer run. Langridge finished the approximately half distance event in 3:50:41 with a 1:55 margin over Visser and 2:28 over third place finisher Norden. Due to illness and the cold weather, Anne Haug of Germany was a last-minute scratch.
Men
Robert Sanchez of Spain led the opening 4k run, but Emil Holm of Denmark emerged from T2 with a slim lead over closely packed pursuers. On the bike leg, Hogenhaug surged to an early lead, then was joined by Robert Kallin of Sweden and Ruben Zepunkte of Germany.
After the second of three bike laps, Hogenhaug, Zepunkte and Kallin broke into a 55 seconds’ lead. Upon arrival in T2, Kallin had a 30 seconds lead on Hogenhaug and 41 seconds over Zepunkte.
On the first of four 5-k loops Hogenhaug grabbed the lead and on the fourth and final lap Hogenhaug had a 26 seconds margin on Zepunkte.
As Kallin fell back, Sanchez, Holm and Thomas Steger converged on the main chase pack. Hogenhaug then finished it off in 3:24:07 with a 43 seconds lead on runner-up Sanchez and 49 seconds on third place finisher Holm.
Women
Lisa Norden led the opening 4k run over a tightly packed chase group of 10. Norden led the first lap of three on the bike, and was soon joined by Els Visser, who led a group of three chasers including Langridge, Lucy Byram and India Lee of Great Britain.
On the second lap, Langridge took the lead, followed closely by Visser and Norden. Midway through the final 21k run leg, Langridge surged into a 2 minutes lead on Visser, Lee accelerated into 3rd, 2:28 back of the winner. Elisabetta Curridori of Italy took 4th, 3:37 arrears, and Norden fell to 5th, 3:56 behind the winner.
Challenge Salou
Salou, Costa Daurada, Spain
April 3, 2022
R 4k / B 85k / R 21 k
Women
1. Fenella Langridge (GBR) 3:50:41
2. Els Visser (NED) 3:52:36
3. India Lee (GBR) 3:53:09
4. Elisabetta Curridori (ITA) 3:54:18
5. Lisa Norden (SWE) 3:54:37
Men
1. Kristian Hogenhaug (DNK) 3:24:07
2. Roberto Sanchez (ESP) 3:24:50
3. Emil Holm (DNK) 3:24:56
4. Thomas Steger (AUT) 3:25:03
5. Ruben Zepuntke (GER) 3:25:17
