This weekend, athletes’ passion was tested – and triumphantly proven – at the 2025 Challenge Barcelona Triathlon. Nearly 3,000 competitors from around the world battled unrelenting rain, slick roads, and chilling wind before finishing under clearing skies and warm applause along the Bogatell Promenade.
“This edition of the Challenge Barcelona Triathlon 2025 has been, without a doubt, one of the most epic that we remember,” said David Escude, Sports Councillor of Barcelona City Council. “The rain and adverse weather conditions have only demonstrated the spirit of improvement and the passion that define this sport and its participants. Barcelona continues to demonstrate that it is a city that lives, feels, and loves sport.”
No one embodied that spirit more vividly than South Africa’s Jamie Riddle, who claimed victory in 3:36:39 after a decade as a professional triathlete. Known for his strength in the water, Riddle’s swim averaged an astonishing 1:09 per 100m, setting the tone for the day. He followed with a blistering 1:58 bike split and pushed through a gritty half marathon at 3:19/km pace to seal the win.
Entering transition, Riddle slipped on the soaked pavement and went down hard. “Fall down seven, get up eight,” he later shared on Instagram, showing his bloodied knees and shins. His post continued: “Still chasing that overnight success. Cheers to my first international win. Thank you to my supporters, my team, my family, and Jesus.” Behind him, Spain’s Carlos Oliver (3:41:45) and Austria’s Martin Demuth (3:41:53) completed the podium.
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On the women’s side, Switzerland’s Cathia Schar delivered another commanding performance. Just a week after winning Challenge Peguera Mallorca, she ran her way to victory in 4:07:29, ahead of Britain’s Sophia Green and Italy’s Marta Bernardi.
The weekend was about more than elite performance. From the Sprint and Junior Challenge to the Aquathlon and Open Water events, the celebration of participation was evident across the beaches and streets of Barcelona. Nearly 30 percent of the entrants were women, and 35 percent represented international participation.
The debut of the middle distance format elevated the event’s prestige, distributing 25,000 euros in prize money to the elites and offering top age-group athletes entries to Challenge Gdansk 2026.
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