FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: After the development of partner races in Wanaka, New Zealand and in Neiderbronn-les-Bains in France, the global race organization behind the popular Quelle Challenge Roth in Germany has announced its expansion into Spain, where two new events in the gorgeous Costa del Maresme region will join the Challenge family.

Both Spanish races will be centered around Barcelona, starting with the Evolution Challenge Costa Barcelona Maresme over the half distance on 10 May 2009. On 4 October 2009, athletes who want to tackle a full long-course race can sign on to the Challenge Costa Barcelona Maresme. Lined with white-sand beaches, this section of the Catalonian coast lies about 50km from Barcelona and south of the Costa Brava. The race start and finish will be at the resort area of Calella de Mar, one of the tourist centers of the region.

The courses for both events will be identical, with competitors in the half distance race completing single loops of a 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21km run course; competitors in the long distance race in October will simply complete two laps of each. The bike course is expected to be fast, covering smooth coastal roads with small rises but no major climbs—and it will be completely closed to traffic in both races. The run course heads from Calella del Mar to Malgrat de Mar and back along many beach promenades with soft trails and little asphalt underfoot.

The race will offer the large Spanish triathlon market a long-desired long course race on the Spanish mainland. It is also expected to draw on the triathlon-mad French market, especially in southwest France.

“The half distance date on May 10 is absolutely perfect as preparation for the Quelle Challenge Roth, with beautiful, settled weather on the Mediterranean,” said TEAMChallenge director Felix Walchshöfer. “With the long-distance race in October we’ll be offering the latest long course race date on the European calendar. With temperatures of about 22 degrees in the water and 28 degrees on land, conditions for the race will be ideal. We believe the race will appeal to athletes who’d like to do two long distance races in a year and to those who’ve perhaps failed to qualify for Hawaii but would like to do one more long race before winter.”

TEAMChallenge has taken some three years in the licensing process for the Spanish race, leaving organizers not only satisfied but really happy with the outcome. Local race organizers will be the sport-marketing firm Evolution, led by Jordi Gonzales, Roberto Mondéjar and Eduardo No. Gonzales, for many years the technical manager for Ironman Lanzarote, has long served as the liaison for the Quelle Challenge Roth in the Spanish, Portuguese and South American markets.

In addition to its manifold attractions for visitors—sunny Mediterranean beaches and delicious Catalonian cuisine, for a start—the region is easily reached via airports in Barcelona and nearby Girona.

Gonzales estimates the half distance race will attract some 1500 starters in its debut with 2000 estimated for the long distance race in October. Registration will open on 15 May. Entry fees for the half distance will cost 120 euro through 30 September, and 300 euro for the long course through 30 September.

More information and online registration (from 15 May) can be found on the race website at www.challenge-spain.com.

The half distance Challenge France will debut with a capacity field on 25 May near Strasbourg, with the flagship of the organization, the Quelle Challenge Roth, set to kick off on 13 July in Roth.