Australian Michelle Mitchell wins Challenge Barcelona

After finishing second at Challenge Cairns in June this year Michelle Mitchell has gone one better and won Challenge Barcelona in 9:15. The race could have been anybody’s in the swim and bike but it was Mitchell who proved the strongest runner on the day. Erika Csomor couldn’t respond to Mitchell’s attack in the last 10km that saw Mitchell cross the line in 9:15:00, 3:37 minutes ahead of Csomor. “I am very proud to get this victory, it’s a great competition and Erika and Lucy were both here to win here”, said Mitchell.

Mitchell took out the title after a long battle with Erika Csomor that ended in a decisive win for Mitchell.

Spain’s Clemente Alonso has taken the men’s title and a new course record at Challenge Barcelona this weekend in a race that saw him lead from the start of the swim. Exiting first from the water in 48 minutes, Alonso set a blistering pace on the bike which none of the chase group was able to match. By 90km, he was three minutes ahead of Stephen Bayliss (GBR) and Anton Blokhin (UKR) and by the time he exited T2 he had built a comfortable eight-minute lead. However, he paid the price for pushing so hard on the bike and his marathon became a case of mind over matter as he steadily lost time to Per Bittner (GER) who had run up into second place. However, he managed to hold on to secure the best victory of his career and break the course record by 12 seconds.

“I have never suffered so much in a competition,” said Alonso. “Sometimes I thought I couldn’t win because Bittner ran too fast and I had a lot of pressure but I have got to keep the difference. The tactic in the bike segment was very brave and normally it’s a sport suicide but this it time got a big result. I am very proud and I want to enjoy this big victory in a fantastic competition”.

For further information and results, visit www.challenge-barcelona.es.