Challenge Peguera-Mallorca 2024 results: Hug and Siffert continue upward trajectory

Germany’s Tom Hug claimed another impressive Challenge Family victory while Alanis Siffert (SUI) set a new women’s record at Challenge Peguera-Mallorca.

A 1:08 half marathon proved decisive for Hug as he got the better of in-form Jack Hutchens (GBR). And Siffert also moved to the head of affairs on the run before powering to a clear-cut triumph.

Here’s how the action unfolded…

Men’s race – Hug overhauls Hutchens on the run

It was Peter Denteneer (BEL) who led the swim, exiting the water first with a time of 23:24, with a pack of close behind him

So onto the bike and Cenzino Lebot (FRA) surged into the lead during the opening kilometres, quickly building a 40-second gap.

Hutchens, who claimed first middle-distance win recently at Challenge Vieux Bocau, made a move as the bike leg progressed, overtaking Lebot at kilometre 35 and maintaining a tight lead.

The two men arrived at T2 neck-and-neck but Hutchens was out first and led the race going into the run.

Hug and Quentin Barreau (FRA) were closing the gap through the run and it was Hug’s pace that proved decisive. He stormed to victory, setting a new run course record with a time of 1:08:35 and finishing the race in 3:44:25.

Hutchens took second place with a final time of 3:44:58. Ognjen Stojanović (SRB) secured the last spot on the podium, finishing third in 3:45:34, further cementing his World Bonus second place and closing the gap to leader, Jack Moody to just 200 points.

“Unbelievable, last year I raced here, and I came 15th. I could not have imagined that I would come back here this year and take the win. It feels unreal” said Hug, who won Challenge St Pölten in May and hasn’t been out of the first six in his six races in 2024.

Tom Hug wins Challenge Mallorca 2024 photo credit Challenge Family — Tom Hug came out on top [Photo credit: Challenge Family]

Women’s race – Siffert sets new record

In the women’s race, Therese Feuersinger (AUT) dominated the swim, exiting the water in 24:38, more than two minutes ahead of her closest competitors. Siffert and Lisa Norden (SWE) led the chase, with Feuersinger maintaining her gap well into the bike leg.

At kilometre 60, there was a shift as Norden and Siffert began closing in on Feuersinger and with less than 20km to go on the bike, Norden eased into the lead.

However, it was Siffert who ultimately took the victory, not only finishing in 4:10:21 but setting a new course record. Runner-up Anne Reischmann (GER) took second place in 4:15:01, while Norden, struggling with the heat, managed to hold on to third place in 4:15:24.

“I saw course record on the board, and I thought it would be such an honour for me to break it, but I didn’t have it really in mind,” said Siffert at the finish line. “We had a great battle with Lisa, and the crowd just helped me to push.”

Siffert’s win extends her lead in the Challenge Family World Bonus to 275 ahead over nearest rival Aurélia Boulanger.