On Sunday, June 4, OTSO Challenge Salou will be held for the 8th year running, one of the most outstanding international triathlon events on the Costa Daurada. The event has more than 700 participants registered who will swim 1.9km, bike 90km and run 21km in the Middle Distance and a 1.9km swim, 60km bike and 11km run in the Short Distance.
The race will start on Sunday 4 at 8:00am CEST, expecting the arrival of the first athlete at 11:50am at the finish line, which will be located in the Plaza de las Comunidades Autónomas, the epicenter of triathlon all weekend. With a bike course of 3 fast laps and a run course along the promenade, the race is a great challenge for every athlete. In addition, the race will be broadcast live via streaming and you can also follow the timings of the athletes with live tracking.
It should be noted that OTSO Challenge Salou will not only distribute a total of €25,000 for the first 6 athletes (men and women) in the Middle distance, but it is also a qualifying race for Challenge Family’s The Championship to be held in Samorin, Slovakia. It will also be handing out points towards the Challenge Family World Bonus, with $125,000 in winnings.
With this prize purse, Salou becomes a SILVER category race of PTO so that athletes will add valuable points for the world ranking of the Professional Triathlon Organisation. Also, for the third consecutive year, Salou will be a valid race for the national FETRI (Spanish Triathlon Federation) rankings of Middle Distance.
Registration is still open on the official website of the event until May 26, 2023 at 11:00 pm.
The Festival: activities all weekend
OTSO Challenge Salou 2023 will offer activities designed for those who do not dare to take part in the longer distances so that families can have a unique experience and enjoy the weekend together.
A total of five new events have been added to the already established Middle and Short Distances: FAST (950m swim, 30km bike and 5km run), for those looking for a fast and short triathlon with one lap in each circuit; AQUABIKE (1.9km swim and 60km bike), for experts in two disciplines; SAILFISH OPEN WATER (1.9km swim), a distance for lovers of open water swimming in the sea; FAMILY RUN (4km run), for people who want to run and enjoy the Challenge Family atmosphere; and SCHOOL CHALLENGE (2km run), for the little ones and students of the schools of Salou.
In any of these new races, participants can experience OTSO Challenge Salou from within and enjoy the Finisher Experience as if they were real professionals. They will also have access to all the additional services of Challenge Salou, such as the Paella Party, courtesy of Arròs Montsià.
Facilities for participants
For this edition, OTSO Challenge Salou has launched the BEYOUNG program, an initiative to make it easier for young people to compete in triathlon. For this reason, the organization is offering all participants under 25 a 20% discount to participate in the Middle, Short, Fast, Open Water or AquaBike events.
In addition, since January 2023, OTSO Challenge Salou has given athletes the opportunity to pay their registration in installments without any interest, commission, or additional expenses.
Hotel Calypso, the official accommodation
This popular hotel in Salou will be the official accommodation of OTSO Challenge Salou 2023. Recognized for its quality and service, it is located 1 km from the swim start and 1.5 km from the finish and expo area of OTSO Challenge Salou.
As official accommodation of the event, it will allow participating triathletes staying there to leave their bike in the room, give free late check-out, and provide an early breakfast and specific menus for athletes in the hotel’s buffet restaurant.
Road to Challenge Roth
This triathlon event, held in the city of Roth, Germany, has a long tradition dating back decades. Since its creation in 1984, Challenge Roth has attracted the world’s best athletes and thousands of fans who gather in the Franconia region for a unique experience.
Challenge Roth is more than a race, it’s a celebration of human resilience and the triathlon community. This year the event is expected to attract thousands of people again. As an example of its popularity, registration for more than 5,000 places for this 2023 event was opened in July 2022 and sold out in 60 seconds. For this reason, the organization will offer the winning relay team of OTSO Challenge Salou 2023 a guaranteed place to participate, as a team, in Challenge Roth 2024.
