The Challenge Samarkand race, held from September 6 to 8, was a true celebration of sport, leaving unforgettable impressions on all participants. This event, filled with dramatic moments, featured some of the world’s top PRO athletes.
Among the men, prominent athletes such as Gustav Iden, Kristian Blummenfelt, Rico Bogen, Tom Haag, Ruben Zepuntke, Thor Bendix Madsen, and Bohdan Kovalenko took to the starting line. Unfortunately, Thomas Bishop was unable to participate.
In the women’s category, Laura Madsen, Marta Lagownik, Justine Guerard, and Alina Khakimova competed for victory, while Nicole Van Der Kaay could not start.
The men’s competition began with intense action.
Rico Bogen was first out of the water (22:49), followed closely by Ruben Zepuntke, Gustav Iden, Bohdan Kovalenko, and Kristian Blummenfelt.
Gustav Iden took the lead during the bike stage, with the race continuing on a stunning course through Samarkand’s historical landmarks. The route allowed high speeds – up to 75 km/h on descents and 60 km/h on flat sections. Soon, Bogdan Kovalenko surprised everyone by taking the lead for most of the second lap but later gave way to Rico Bogen.
Rico Bogen began the run stage in the lead, followed by Kristian Blummenfelt, Gustav Iden, and Bogdan Kovalenko. Rico led confidently for two laps, but in the final stretch, Kristian gained speed and finished first, overtaking Bogen by 21 seconds to claim a brilliant victory at Challenge Samarkand!
Men’s Race Winners:
1st place – Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR), time: 3:31:42
2nd place – Gustav Iden (NOR), time: 3:34:26
3rd place – Rico Bogen (GER), time: 3:35:35
Race results for the PRO athletes – HERE
In a brief interview after the race, Kristian shared his thoughts:
“The race left me with a great impression. We came out of the water as a tight group, which immediately added dynamics to the race. The first hour on the bike was calm and steady, but then Rico launched an attack, which made it tough for me. I felt low on energy, so I had to hang back and hope I could give my best during the run. Rico kept a good pace for the first 10 km, but by the end, he seemed to tire. This gave me a chance to catch up without having to push too hard in the final kilometers.”
“I wasn’t sure of the win, especially after the bike stage. I didn’t know how Rico would hold up during the run, and I was running low on energy. Pushing too hard or playing defense could have cost me a lot, so I hoped for a faster pace on the run.”
Impressions of Samarkand:
“It’s amazing! It was great to experience a new culture and visit Uzbekistan for the first time. I really enjoyed the short week we spent here.”
“There are only six or seven weeks left until Kona, so we’re heading to Flexath Altitude now to continue training at a good pace. I hope we can perform well in Hawaii.”
In the women’s race, Laura Madsen established a commanding lead from the start. She maintained her lead throughout the race and finished first with a time of 3:58:34, becoming the winner of Challenge Samarkand.
Notably, Alina Khakimova (UZB) made her debut in the Middle distance in this race.
Women’s Race Winners:
1st place – Laura Madsen (DEN), time: 3:58:34
2nd place – Marta Lagownik (POL), time: 4:08:37
3rd place – Justine Guerard (FRA), time: 4:18:34
Alina Khakimova finished the race with a time of 4:31:2
In her post-race interview, Laura Madsen shared her impressions:
“This was a great race for me. It was the first time I was able to come out of the water in the lead; I’ve never had that experience before. My legs felt fantastic on the bike stage, and I was able to push the pace during the run stage.”
“I love challenging myself, training to my limits, and giving it my all in the race. For me, it’s more about coming out and showing my best performance.”
“During the swim and the early part of the bike stage, I quickly realized I had a significant lead, so I just followed my own metrics throughout the race. It was great, though there was a strong wind, especially on some parts of the bike stage and the run along the canal. I felt it, but the race was amazing. The roads were completely closed for us, which was also fantastic. This is a great place for a race, and I really enjoyed it here.”
Race results for the PRO athletes – HERE
