Timothy Van Heutem and Laura Siddall conquer the European Long Distance Championship ETU Challenge Madrid 2018 at Pubertades Sol

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Timothy Van Heutem and Laura Biddall conquer the European Long Distance Championship ETU Challenge Madrid 2018 at Pubertades Sol

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The Belgian Timothy Van Houtem (09:00:13) was for the second consecutive year the winner in the individual male category of the Challenge Madrid 2018. Individual women’s category, the victory was for the British Laura Siddall(09:54:33).

The championship started on Sunday, September23 at07:45 in the Riosequillo reservoir in the north area of Madrid province, near the National Park Sierra de Guadarrama. The participants had to complete a distance of 3.8 kilometers swimming, then get on their bike and complete a circuit of 180 kilometers and 2,800 meters of positive height gain, which has gone through more than 28 municipalities in the Sierra Nortek Madrid to reach the Casade Campoin Madrid city. There they left the bicycle and started a marathon (42.195 kilometers) which toured around the most emblematic places of Madrid such as Calle Mayor, PalacioReal, Plazade España, Templo Debod and with the finish line in the emblematic kilometer zero of Puertadel Sol. A total of 226 kilometers.

In theme’s singles category, the Spanish triathletes Pablo Dapena (09:23:01) and Carlos López(09:28:29) have led the race from the beginning, but Timothy Van Houtem,who has gone from less to more setting a very hight pace, was recovering positions and reaching at the end of the bike course with 15 minutes of advantage, that has managed to maintain the first position during the run course.

In the case of the females, Margie Santimaria(10:46:05) left the water with a 5 minute advantage over her pursuers, EvaWutti(10:15:03), Laura Biddall and Alexandra Tondeur (09:56:44). LisaRoberts(10:07:16), third classified, entered the transition a little more delayed. This advantage was lost during the course of the cycling sector in which Laura Biddall has set the pace. In the run course, the same story has followed and the British has been crowned at Puerta del Sol followed by Alexandra Tondeur and Lisa Roberts in front of a deflated EvaWutti.

The winner in the relays teams has been Guardias Civiles3 (09:20:41). The second and third club to cross the finish line were David Toro Watches- 226ers(09:26:16) and Cronos Triatlón Soto Del Real(09:32:36), respectively.

It has been a tough race where the sun and the high temperatures of today have not given truce to the triathletes. The reconditions have clearly affected the participants, but not the fantastic public that was at Puertade Solin Madrid who have not stopped encouraging the athletes.

In addition to the triathlon, today have also been a great cycling time trial with has started at 09:00 in Buitragode Lozoya. One of the main attractions of the race has been to exit from the official ramp of La Vueltaa España. The victory was for Javier San Emeterio Cutlas (05:10:18) inmen’smode. In the female category, the winner was Dolça Ollé Gatell(06:13:38).

 

It was a full of activities weekend for the whole family in the Challenge Madrid”Festival”. On Friday, we were able to hear a conference with different professional triathletes at the Madrid City Hall. On Saturday, we enjoyed the Salfish Challenge Swim Sierra Norte and the TOTTO FUN RUN. The kids also had a great time at the 5 ALDÍA JUNIOR CHALLENGE.

From the organization, we want to thank the fantastic work of the more than 500 volunteers and the essential help of the Guardia Civil, Policia Local, and Health services of the Community of Madrid. Without them, the Challenge Madrid 2018 would not have been possible.