Challenge Family World Bonus ranking sees changes after Mallorca and Sardinia

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After the results of the last two races, CHALLENGEPAGUERA-MALLORCA and CHALLENGEFORTEVILLAGESARDINIA, there are now two male athletes sharing the lead in the Challenge Family World Bonus. Sebastian Kienle didn’t race either Mallorca or Sardinia, so his total points remain unchanged at 1550. Pablo Gonzalez Dapena, previously in second place behind Kienle, raced in Mallorca, claimed victory and earned 250 points. Because he reached his maximum amount of races (6), he was only credited with 50 points and now shares the lead with Kienle. Both athletes have 1550 in total so far. The women’s top three, with Yvonne van Vlerken still in the lead, saw no change after CHALLENGEPAGUERA-MALLORCA, but the results at CHALLENGEFORTEVILLAGESARDINIA had consequences for third place. Katrien Verstuyft was second to cross the finish line in Sardinia and earned enough points for a top three position in the Challenge Family World Bonus. She overtook Lisa Roberts, who didn’t race in Sardinia, and has since dropped to fourth place.

After victories at CHALLENGEGRANCANARIA and CHALLENGELISBOA, CHALLENGEPAGUERA-MALLORCA was the third win of the season for Pablo Gonzalez Dapena. Manuel Kung came second and earned 200 points. Added to the 100 points earned at CHALLENGEWALCHSEE, Kung now has a total of 300 points. Jaroslav Kovacic took third place at CHALLENGEPAGUERA-MALLORCA and added a further 150 points to his points earned earlier in the season at CHALLENGERICCIONE (100), CHALLENGELISBOA (150), CHALLENGEVENICE (500) and CHALLENGEALMERE-AMSTERDAM (500). Kovacic didn’t race in Sardinia but has 1400 points in total and lies in fourth position in the Challenge Family World Bonus rankings.

After Mallorca it was time to race at CHALLENGEFORTEVILLAGESARDINIA. The top three men after Mallorca chose not to race in Sardinia at the weekend. Sebastian Kienle and Pablo Gonzalez Dapena remain in the lead with 1550 points, closely followed by Jaroslav Kovacic currently on 1400 points.

Pieter Heemeryck took the win in the men’s race at CHALLENGESARDINIA. He picked up 250 points and overtook Dylan McNeice, now in sixth position with 1000 points and closed the gap on Cameron Wurf, currently in fourth place with 1050 points. Heemeryck is now in fifth position with 1040 points.

Matt Chrabot from the USA came second at CHALLENGESARDINIA and earned his first 200 points of the season. He has entered the rankings in 32nd place. Frederic Funk came third and added a further 150 points to his total. He currently shares 8th position in the rankings together with Timothy van Houtem. They both have a total of 500 points.

You can check the full male standings here: https://www.challenge-family.com/world-bonus/

Female rankings

The top three in the Challenge Family World Bonus didn’t race at CHALLENGEPAGUERA-MALLORCA but Yvonne van Vlerken was still able to keep the lead with 1500 points, closely followed by Laura Siddall on 1450 points. Lisa Roberts remained in third position with 1100 points. Lucy Gossage took the win in Mallorca (250 points) followed by Lena Berlinger, who came second (200 points) and Katrien Verstuyft came third (150 points). However these results had no influence on the top three in the Challenge Family World Bonus.

The situation changed slightly after last weekend’s CHALLENGESARDINIA. Katrien Verstuyft’s great performance paid off here when she was second to cross the finish line and earned enough points for a top three position in the Challenge Family World Bonus. She overtook Lisa Roberts in the ranking, who didn’t race in Sardinia and has now dropped to fourth place.

The women’s race at CHALLENGESARDINIA was a really exciting one. Due to the strong wind and huge waves, the swim unfortunately had to be cancelled and was replaced by a 5 kilometer run, to be completed before hitting the bike. At the end of the day, it was Svenja Thoes who took the victory and the corresponding 250 points. These were added to her 40 points earned previously at CHALLENGEWALCHSEE and she’s now 25th in the female ranking with a total of 290 points. As already mentioned, Katrien Verstuyft came second, added 200 points to her total and is now third in the rankings with 1130 points.

Yvonne van Vlerken still holds the lead in the female ranking with a total of 1500 points. Laura Siddall is still in second place, just 50 points behind Van Vlerken. Despite Siddall crossing the finish line in fifth place at CHALLENGESARDINIA, the 75 points won’t be added to her total because she has already reached the maximum number of qualifying races in the Challenge Family World Bonus. Lena Berlinger came third at CHALLENGESARDINIA and is currently in eighth place in the rankings with 600 points in total.

You can check the full female standings here: https://www.challenge-family.com/world-bonus/

Upcoming

The next opportunity to earn points is at the Asia Pacific Championship. This race takes place in Taiwan on the 18th November 2018. The $165k end-of-season bonus will pay five deep across both male and female with the top ranked Pro taking home $30k. Second place will carry a bonus of $20k, third, fourth and fifth positions will pay $15k, $12k and $5k accordingly. Ranking will be decided through a fair points system based on placings earned. The system is explained fully here: https://www.challenge-family.com/pro-athletes/

In the event of a tie, the prize money will be averaged between the two athletes and corresponding places.