More than 2,000 athletes and thousands of spectators descended on Peguera over the weekend as Challenge Peguera-Mallorca delivered a thrilling day of international triathlon, close finishes and a festival atmosphere along the Calvià coastline.

The 12th edition of the event took place on Saturday, October 17, with elite athletes, amateur competitors, relay teams and families helping transform the popular resort into a sporting hub. From the first swimmers entering the Mediterranean to the final runners crossing the finish line, the event showcased Mallorca as a destination for sport and autumn tourism.

Dramatic finishes crown international champions

The men’s professional race produced a remarkable finish, with Slovenia’s Matevž Nunar claiming his first professional victory after overtaking Germany’s Alexander Kull in the final kilometre.

Nunar crossed the line in three hours, 42 minutes and 38 seconds, just 21 seconds ahead of Kull, who finished in 3:42:59. Britain’s Jack Hutchens secured third place in 3:43:12, narrowly beating Belgium’s Michiel Stockman by a single second.

The women’s competition was equally compelling, as Switzerland’s Cathia Schär successfully defended her title despite suffering stomach problems during the early stages of the run.

Schär finished in 4:10:13, ahead of Germany’s Caroline Pohle in 4:11:48, while fellow German athlete Laura Jansen took third in 4:13:17.

The middle-distance challenge tested competitors across a 1.9-kilometre swim, a 90-kilometre cycle and a 21.1-kilometre run, demanding endurance, tactical judgement and determination right to the finish.

Peguera turns out to cheer on the athletes

Away from the elite battle, the atmosphere across Peguera was a major part of the weekend’s success.

Residents, holidaymakers and triathlon fans lined the course to encourage competitors along the cycling and running routes, with the finish area at Torà beach providing a focal point for celebrations.

The event extended beyond Saturday’s headline race, with four days of activities from October 15 to 18. The programme included relay competitions, Challenge Women, inclusive sporting activities and children’s events, ensuring that the occasion appealed to more than experienced triathletes.

The weekend concluded on Sunday with the Junior Aquathlon, giving younger participants an opportunity to experience the excitement of competitive sport.

Organisers also benefited from the contribution of more than 650 volunteers, alongside local sports clubs, police, civil protection teams and municipal services. Their involvement helped deliver an event that brings the community together as well as attracting international competitors.

A boost for Mallorca’s autumn tourism

Challenge Peguera-Mallorca has become an important fixture in the island’s sporting calendar, helping demonstrate that Mallorca’s tourism appeal extends well beyond the traditional summer season.

According to Calvià Town Hall, more than 85 per cent of participants in the event come from outside the Balearic Islands. Athletes travelling to compete, often accompanied by family and friends, bring additional visitors to Peguera during October.

That international audience creates opportunities for hotels, restaurants, cafés, shops and other local businesses, with competitors and supporters able to combine the sporting weekend with time enjoying the resort and its surroundings.

The event also promotes Calvià internationally, showcasing its coastline, mild autumn climate and facilities for outdoor activities at a time when many Mediterranean destinations are winding down for the season.

The race is organised by Calvià Town Hall and the Calvià 365 Foundation, working with Spanish and Balearic triathlon federations and supported by tourism bodies, local hotel associations and private sponsors.

With packed participation across the programme, thousands of visitors and a dramatic finish to the professional races, this year’s Challenge Peguera-Mallorca once again demonstrated how major sporting events can combine elite competition with community spirit and tourism opportunities.

For Peguera, it was more than a race: it was a weekend that put the resort firmly in the international sporting spotlight.

Palma, capital of the Balearic Islands and sun-drenched star of Mallorca’s southwestern coast, has hosted more power struggles than an over-the-top splashy Shakespearean subplot.

First embraced by the Romans in 123 BCE, it was later looted by Vandals, rebranded by Byzantines and in the 8th century fell to the Arabs: until James I of Aragon swept in, sword aloft, in 1229. Palma’s destiny flip-flopped until the royal marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella in 1469 finally settled it under the Spanish crown (probably inspiring countless soap operas!).

Palma’s old town flaunts history like a peacock in a cathedral. Started in 1230 but finished only a few centuries before Brexit, its Gothic cathedral dominates the skyline. Nearby are Bellver Castle, Almudaina Palace and more architectural gems than you can shake selfie sticks at.

The modern city unfurls along the sea like an elegant sun lounger: seven miles of promenades, cafés and luxury hotels. Additionally, it turns out everything from embroidery to olive wood trinkets – perfect for suitcases or impulse purchases after too much sangria. Oops!

Palma is both island idyll and cultural cocktail with its lively university scene, art museums, excellent transport links to Barcelona and Valencia and impressive history.

So, wherever in Spain you’re reading this GREAT newspaper, put on your walking shoes and get exploring!

Thanks for emails to my website below. Delighted you also enjoy my novels – invited for inclusion in the prestigious Book Riot’s 2026 Read Harder Challenge!

Nora Johnson’s 15 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers, including the latest ‘The Girl in Red’ (www.nora-johnson.net), all available online at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity. 

It sounds wrong to say you’ve been watching people, but I do watch people. How can I not? So many come into my life through television, events and charities. Unfortunately, I watch most businesses disappear after about 18 months. Many spend fortunes on decoration, cutlery, glasses and tables, but don’t train staff or have continuity in service, presentation or ingredients. They think that just by building it, people will come.

This also applies to associations and charities where the main objective is to be president or treasurer, to have the title.

I’m not criticising, just observing.

Puerto Banús is particularly prone to this, with businesses coming and going. It can’t be easy maintaining a shop or restaurant off-season. That’s why I’m particularly impressed with Humberto and Noelia of Gaucho Group. Their Argentinian restaurant survived, then they opened Picú and La La La; probably because they wholeheartedly support the community and are always visible in their businesses. Being there, leading by example.

That same commitment is what I admire in Elena Olcina. I’ve watched her since she arrived from Madrid, doing social media, having her employment company, then creating Sinergias Club. The objective isn’t just getting people together, but helping each person succeed, feel seen, appreciated and have their moment to shine.

Seeing 300 people at their gala dinner at Hard Rock Hotel last weekend was heartwarming, almost a personal triumph. This person I bet on hasn’t “let me down”. She’s still excitable, humble and curious.

I got to present the honorary awards with Humberto which was a treat and I really enjoyed the whole evening: it was fun, luxurious and totally unpretentious.

Congratulations to all the Sinergias team and attendees, may the success continue.