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.

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.

Children in Spain whose parent fails to pay court-ordered maintenance could receive up to €300 a month from the state under new rules approved by the Government. The maximum advance has risen from €100, and support can continue until the child turns 18 if the maintenance obligation is still in force.

The change is part of a wider package of social protection measures approved by Spain’s Council of Ministers on Tuesday, October 20. It is designed to provide greater financial security for children whose parents fail to meet their legal obligations following a separation, divorce or other court proceedings.

According to an official announcement by Spain’s Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, the government has approved an increase in the maximum monthly advance available through the Fondo de Garantía del Pago de Alimentos, or Child Maintenance Guarantee Fund.

The reform does not mean that every single parent in Spain will automatically receive €300. The payments are intended for eligible families where court-ordered child maintenance has not been paid, and the amount depends on the maintenance awarded and the applicable conditions.

Who can receive up to €300 in child maintenance support in Spain?

Spain’s Child Maintenance Guarantee Fund provides financial advances to protect children when a parent fails to pay maintenance ordered by a court.

The scheme applies to qualifying cases involving divorce, separation, marriage annulment and legal proceedings concerning parentage or child maintenance.

Previously, the maximum payment was €100 per month for each eligible child. Under the reform approved on October 20, that ceiling increases to €300.

This is a maximum rather than a fixed entitlement. For example, if a court has ordered a parent to pay €200 a month in maintenance, the fund would not automatically provide €300. The amount of the court order remains relevant when determining the advance.

Families must also meet eligibility requirements, including financial conditions. Eligibility also depends on household income, meaning that not every family affected by unpaid maintenance will qualify for financial support.

The fund is particularly important for parents who have primary responsibility for their children but cannot rely on maintenance payments arriving regularly.

However, it is not the same as a general child benefit or a payment available to every separated parent. Applicants need to demonstrate that the maintenance obligation exists and that the required payments have not been made.

The advances are provided by the state, rather than representing an increase in the amount that a court has ordered the non-paying parent to contribute.

How long can families receive the payments under the new rules?

The second major change concerns the duration of support.

Until now, advances from the fund were limited to a maximum of 18 months, whether those months were consecutive or spread over a longer period.

The government has approved the removal of that limit. Under the approved reform, advances can continue until the maintenance obligation ends, but no later than the beneficiary’s 18th birthday.

This could make a substantial difference for families dealing with prolonged non-payment, rather than a temporary interruption in financial support.

Families considering a first application should nevertheless check the official requirements, including income limits, documentation and evidence of unpaid maintenance.

The reform was approved by the Council of Ministers on October 20. Its practical application depends on the legal text and its entry into force, so families should not assume that the higher amount is already available for payment.

The announcement forms part of a broader reform of Spain’s social protection system. Other measures include changes to support for parents caring for seriously ill children, protections for women affected by certain incapacitating health conditions, and expanded access to survivor benefits.

The government has also approved changes affecting unmarried couples with children who may qualify for a widow’s or widower’s pension. Euro Weekly News has separately reported on how unmarried parents previously refused Spain’s widow’s pension could benefit from the changes.

For parents in Spain facing unpaid child maintenance, however, the immediate significance of the latest announcement is the combination of a higher monthly ceiling and a potentially much longer period of financial support.

Instead of being restricted to €100 a month for a maximum of 18 months, eligible families could receive advances of up to €300 per child each month while the qualifying maintenance obligation continues, within the new age limit.