Challenge Peguera-Mallorca returns on Saturday 17 October with a competitive professional field and sold-out entries. Cathia Schär is back to defend her 2025 title, while Will Draper is the leading men’s favourite in Challenge Family’s pre-race release.
Schär returns; Pohle aims to extend an outstanding season
Peguera holds special significance for Schär: the Swiss athlete took her first professional victory here last year, then won again at Challenge Barcelona a week later. She now returns to a course that demands more than outright speed.
Caroline Pohle looks her strongest challenger. The German arrives with five wins in 2026: Challenge Mogán-Gran Canaria, The Championship, Challenge St Pölten, Trumer Triathlon and IRONMAN 70.3 Leipzig. She also finished fifth on her long-distance debut at Challenge Roth.
The release lists Pohle at number 17 in the PTO world rankings, four places ahead of Schär. The podium contest extends beyond those two: Merle Brunnée, Sarah Schönfelder and Marta Bernardi feature among the top-100 entrants, with Barbora Besperát, Anne Reischmann and Laura Jansen also in contention.
Draper and Driesen lead the men’s contenders
Will Draper heads the men’s favourites with the number 27 ranking quoted in the preview. In 2025, he won at Mogán-Gran Canaria, Samarkand and Almere-Amsterdam, claiming the European long-distance title at the latter. His 2026 results include victory at Challenge Salou and third places at The Championship and Samarkand.
Joran Driesen is expected to be one of his strongest rivals. After ninth at Mogán early in the season, the Belgian has won IRONMAN 70.3 Alghero and OpenLakes Belgium and reached the podium at Kraichgau and Swansea. Jack Hutchens and Louis Buttrick complete the men’s top-100 names highlighted by Challenge Family.
A Mediterranean season finale
The race combines a 1.9 km swim, 90 km bike and 21.1 km run. Elevation changes and technical cycling sections will demand careful pacing before athletes reach Peguera’s streets and seafront.
How to watch: live coverage at challenge-family.live, with English commentary by Belinda Granger. The broadcast starts at 08:50 CEST, with racing at 09:00 CEST. In the Canary Islands, those times are 07:50 and 08:00.
Sources: Challenge Family press release supplied to TriSpain; official Challenge Peguera-Mallorca website; 2026 official schedule. PTO ranking positions are those stated in the pre-race release.