Challenge London field to include top triathlon talent

The professional field for this year’s Challenge London has been announced, with an array of international triathlon talent set to head to the world’s biggest city centre triathlon.

Among those announced to race the event’s new Middle distance are GB’s Fenella Langridge, ranked 13th in the world, and Australia’s Caleb Noble who is currently sitting in second position in the Challenge Family World Bonus rankings following wins at Challenge Taiwan and Challenge Korea.

Second in the women’s Challenge Family World Bonus ranking is South Africa’s Magda Nieuwoudt, who will be looking to continue on her impressive recent performances after winning 2023’s Ekoï Challenge Fréjus and Challenge Korea.

PTO ranked 48 triathlete James Teagle (GB) is also set to compete, having recently won at IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire, and world no.43 Matt Trautman (South Africa) who took the win at Challenge Vansbro in a time of 3:34.59.

Challenge London is the world’s biggest city centre triathlon open to all abilities, seeing participants ride by Big Ben, the London Eye and Houses of Parliament, setting off from the ExCeL Centre in East London, the heart of the Docklands.

It consists of six distances and challenges, including: Super Sprint, Sprint, Sprint Relay, Olympic, Olympic Relay and Middle. The professional athletes will be joined by over 5,000 athletes across a range of abilities and experience, from first timers to age group.

This year marks the first time the event has hosted a pro field over the Middle distance, providing the required competition for many high-level and elite triathletes as part of their competitive season, with many striving for qualification for The Championship or ranking points for professional athletes as a PTO Silver Tier event.

The Middle distance race will feature a 1.9km swim, 80km bike (with plans to increase to 90km in 2024) and finish with a half marathon on the same iconic course already enjoyed by thousands of triathletes over the years as London Triathlon.

The swim will take place in the sheltered Royal Victoria Dock while the three-lap bike will take athletes from Docklands to Westminster and back, taking in some of London’s most memorable sights, while the multi-lap run will take place within Docklands, perfect for spectator support.

“I am really looking forward to returning to the capital, at this year’s Challenge London. I raced in the event when it was an elite super series race a while ago so it will be nice to go back, in a new light, over a different distance,” said Langridge, 13th in the PTO rankings.

“For me, London is a home race which is very exciting as there aren’t many opportunities to race so close to home. Having raced there before, I will have an element of familiarity, with the added plus of cycling, swimming and running in iconic London, which I don’t get to do very often.

“I have been a full-time professional triathlete since roughly after the last time I was last racing in London, so around six or seven years ago, so it will be nice to do a full circle when I return this year and reflect on how far I have come. It’s also nice because my parents have never watched me race professionally, so this will be the first time they can.

“It’s been a hectic few years for me, particularly adjusting to the full-time lifestyle of being a professional athlete, and it’s taken a lot of getting used to, especially around the mental acceptance that this this is my job now, and finding the right personal life balance.

“But it’s all paid off and it’s been the best decision ever. I am happy with how things are going, although as always there is still lots to improve on and I always want to get better, but the key thing in triathlon is the little marginal gains, especially given the growth of the sport itself which is getting more competitive, so it’s vital to pick your races well and understand which events to focus on, whilst finding right personal balance.”

The professional field for Challenge London 2023 (subject to change) is – male: Matt Trautman (RSA), James Teagle (GB), Caleb Noble (AUS), Thomas Davis (GB), Jack Hutchens (GB), Harry Palmer (GB), Charlie Quin (AUS), Joshua Lewis (GB), James Scott-Farrington (GB), Cameron McNair (RSA), Tom Davies (GB), Will Munday (GB), Brett Halliwell (GB), Nicolas Quenette (CAN), Jack Shayler (GB), Will Cowen (GB), Harry Leleu (GB), Dominic Pollizzi (USA), Kieran Lindars (GB), Benjamin Goodfellow (GB), Ori Mendel (ISR), Will Draper (GB); female: Fenella Langridge (GB), Susie Cheetham (GB), Magda Nieuwoudt (RSA), Eloise du Luart (FRA), Lizzie Rayner (GB), Megan McDonald (GB), Courtney Gilfillan (AUS).