After being spoiled with spectacular races over the past two weeks – Challenge Barcelona and Challenge Peguera-Mallorca – the denouement of the Challenge Family World Bonus is getting closer and closer. Never before has that denouement been so exciting, because with two races on the program only this coming weekend, many of the protagonists are getting ready to race once again.
In the men’s standings, Caleb Noble and Mathis Margirier are in the lead of the Challenge Family World Bonus; they have 1050 points. They can’t take it easy though, because Thomas Bishop follows very close behind with 1000 points, and behind them Menno Koolhaas (850), Frederic Funk (750), Aaron Royle (650), Youri Keulen (610), Magnus Ditlev (600) and Sam Laidlow (600) are also very close. Patrick Lange (575) completes the provisional top ten.
Spread across Challenge Vieux Boucau (FRA) and Challenge Egnazia (ITA), Margirier, Koolhaas, Funk and Royle will be back in action this weekend anyway. They will obviously want to make the most of themselves in the battle for important points and thus a top ranking within the Challenge Family World Bonus.
In the women’s rankings, Magda Nieuwoudt (1450 points) seems certain of victory; after a great season, the South African athlete can look forward to a very important cash bonus. Behind Nieuwoudt, however, the battle is still completely open between Imogen Simmonds (1000), Lucy Byram (980), Els Visser (950), Anne Haug (750), Margie Santimaria (735), Fenella Langridge (610), Grace Thek (600) and Daniela Ryf (600), among others. Of all those women, Simmonds and Santiamaria will be in action this weekend; Simmonds will try to solidify her second spot in the rankings, while Santimaria has a serious chance to move up quite a few spots in the rankings.
Full standings here.
About the Challenge Family World Bonus:
Challenge Family is proud to have a pro athlete world bonus scheme connected to its races. The initiative provides professional athletes with the opportunity to race for a share of a US$125,000 end-of-season bonus as well as a prize purse at the races. The World Bonus starts with the first Challenge Family / Clash event in 2023 and ends with the last race taking place in 2023.
The US$125k bonus pays five deep across both men and women with the top ranked pros taking home $25k, second will earn $16.5k and third will win $12k, fourth $6k and fifth $3k.
Ranking is decided through a points system based on placings earned. Athletes are only able to count their six best Challenge Family or Clash races during the season, of which no more than one can be a long distance race (226km). In the advent of a tie, the prize money will be shared.
