The 2024 edition of the Challenge Cagnes-sur-Mer saw the victory of Sven Thalmann (SUI) and Aurélia Boulanger (FRA), who established their domination on the grueling Côte d’Azur course with respective times of 3: 58:53 and 4:33:27.
After an early start at the Hippodrome beach, Thalmann (SUI) led the men’s swimming, finishing in 25:45, closely followed by Tom Vaelen (BEL), Simon Viain (FRA) and Antonio Limoli (ITA).
The 85km cycling course, including the famous Col de Vence, was marked by a strategic competition. Viain took the lead, but Thalmann regained the lead after the descent. However, it was Jordi Montraveta Moya (ESP) who set the fastest cycling time, 2:17:22, setting a new record on this course.
Thalmann started the run at a brisk pace and by km 6.3 he was 42 seconds behind Viain, with Montraveta close behind in third. At the halfway mark, Thalmann increased his lead to a minute, maintaining his position to finish first in 3:58:53, a new course record, bettered by more than 10 minutes. Montraveta took second place in 3:59:47, and Simon Viain finished third in 4:01:20.
“I was stung twice by a jellyfish and suffered a lot on the climb. After Simon had a mechanical problem, I took the lead, which I managed to keep,” the winner explained.
Aurélia Boulanger
The women’s race was equally exciting after Chloe Sparrow (GBR) came out of the water first in 28:45, ahead of Justine Guerard (FRA) and Milan Agnew (AUS). But Heini Hartikainen (FIN) came from behind and took the lead at the start of the cycle course. However, Aurélia Boulanger moved into the lead at T2, finishing the cycle course with the fastest time in 2:37:44 and also setting a new record on the cycle course.
After 6.5 km of running, Boulanger had a two-minute lead over Hartikainen. Boulanger won at home in 4:33:27, breaking the course record as well, with Hartikainen in second place in 4:35:16 and Agnew completing the podium in third in 4:40:03. After Cesenatico and Salou, this is the Frenchwoman’s third success on the Challenge circuit this year.
THE COMPLETE RESULTS
Photos Jose Luis Hourcade
