30 October 2024 | 0 comments

breaking the course record

Challenge Peguera-Mallorca

Lieux

Peguera, Majorque, Spain

Site officiel

Challenge Mallorca

Date

19/10/2024

Colorful Shapes

On Saturday 19th October 2024, surrounded by my family and Marco, I won the 10th Challenge Peguera Mallorca on the Balearic Islands in Spain. We were 71 PRO men and 32 PRO women at the start, along with almost 1,100 amateur athletes. I finished in 1st place, ahead of Anne Reichsman (2nd) and Lisa Norden (3rd) – a top podium finish! It was an incredible experience from start to finish, and I came away from the race with immense satisfaction.

Victory and course record

The course was magnificent. The swimming took place in crystal-clear water, with waves and an Australian-style exit – everything I love! I was really able to enjoy myself in the water, but I had to stay focused to stay on course with the waves.

The bike course was very varied, with nice climbs and technical sections. On the two 45 km laps, I had a great battle with Lisa Norden, silver medallist at the London Games, which pushed me to give it my all. The bike course was completely closed to traffic, ensuring optimum safety for all athletes. Many thanks to the organization for this exceptional commitment.

As for the running, it was the highlight of the day! Four loops in the heart of the small town of Peguera, through the narrow streets and along the beach. Mallorcans and tourists alike were on hand to cheer, creating a crazy atmosphere. The course was tough, with many changes of pace: U-turns, climbs, descents, false flats, and a long straight stretch under the sun along the beach. On the first lap, I was neck-and-neck with Lisa Norden, but then I managed to take the lead and widen the gap.

I can’t tell you how much the support of my parents, my brother and Marco helped me! They were there, present, and that gave me enormous extra energy and motivation. The public and the other athletes also supported me, enabling me to reach deep inside myself to achieve this memorable victory and beat the course record. It’s a huge honour to have beaten the course record, held by my role model and mentor Nicola Spirig since 2021. I’m so grateful for this memorable moment!

I crossed the finish line with a time of 4:10:21. An unforgettable moment, buoyed by a crowd on fire! I loved every moment of the race, from start to finish. The day before the race, I’d seen the record board, but I honestly didn’t expect to finish first at all, especially with so much competition. I’d come to give my best and enjoy the race, but this victory is really the icing on the cake. It’s a memory that will stay with me forever.

What I remember most about this day is not so much the victory or the time, but how far we’ve come to get here. Two years ago, during my second race as a pro here, I suffered a lot, whether on the bike or on the run, I was fighting against the heat, my back and my legs were extremely sore. I had fought hard to cross the finish line and finishing the race had already seemed like an achievement, with a time of 1h37 for the half-marathon, compared with 1h20 today. In 2022, I remember finishing exhausted, but proud to have crossed the finish line. And it’s that pride and sense of achievement that keeps me motivated in training on the tough days. I’m all the more in awe of all those athletes who set themselves a goal, battled through difficult conditions and proudly crossed the finish line!

This Saturday, I was able to take full advantage of every moment of the race, and it’s incredible to see what you can achieve in two years. What has made the difference over the last two years is really the consistency of training and learning each event. Surrounded by a great team, and with a lot of patience, I’ve been able to reap the rewards of this work. Moments like this make it all worthwhile.

Thank you to everyone who has believed in me and supported me to get this far , especially my family, my coach, my teammates, my team and my sponsors; none of this would have been possible without you.

Photos by Challenge Family & Luis Hourcade

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