Challenge Salou 2026: Draper and Curridori Win

Will Draper knew he had the race after one lap of the bike. He caught the leaders, went straight past them, and rode the remaining 65 km solo, stretching the gap every kilometre. He finished in 3:36:11. Challenge Salou on the Costa Daurada belonged to the British.

Draper settled it on the first bike lap

The race started on 10 May 2026 in Salou, on Spain’s Costa Daurada. A British front group formed as soon as the swim exit shook out, Will Draper and Jack Hutchens among them. On the first of four bike laps Draper attacked. He did not join the group, he rode past it, and from that point he was alone.

Over the remaining 65 km on the roads around Salou the gap kept growing. Hutchens tried to hold contact and could not. Draper ran through the finish in 3:36:11, with Hutchens 1:36 back in 3:37:47. Arthur Berland of France took third in 3:38:23.

Curridori lost 90 seconds in the water and still won

The women’s race ran the opposite way. Defending champion Elisabetta Curridori came out of the swim more than 90 seconds down on the leaders.

She took the deficit back in pieces across the bike and the run. Curridori finished in 4:04:02, 40 seconds clear of Milan Agnew in 4:04:42. Marta Sánchez of Spain was third in 4:08:23.

Curridori also won in Salou in 2025. Defending the title after that kind of swim is rare.

Challenge Salou 2026 final results

Men:

Will Draper (GBR), 3:36:11
Jack Hutchens (GBR), 3:37:47
Arthur Berland (FRA), 3:38:23

Women:

Elisabetta Curridori (ITA), 4:04:02
Milan Agnew, 4:04:42
Marta Sánchez (ESP), 4:08:23

Two different ways to win the same race

Draper won by dominating the bike: one attack, a clean break, then control to the line. Curridori won from a swim deficit, clawing it back in pieces and finishing with 40 seconds in hand. Neither race was tidy. Both athletes found a route through.

For Draper the signal is clear enough. His bike is at a very high level, more Challenge Family starts are on the calendar, and the season is only warming up.

Read next: IRONMAN 70.3 Mont-Tremblant 2026: Boulanger, Klau Win. Racelify lists triathlons worldwide, each with a link to the organiser.