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Monday, 26 May 2008
Granger, Chabaud win inaugural Challenge France
Australia's Belinda Granger and home-country favourite Francois Chabaud took out wins in the inaugural Challenge France on 25 May in Niederbronn-les-Bains. The race, a 1.9km/90km/21.1km contest in the growing Challenge family of events, had filled with a capacity field of 1200 athletes from 18 countries competing on the scenic course through the Vosges region near Strasbourg.
The women's race came down to a spirited contest between Granger, a veteran long-course star and past Quelle Challenge Roth champion, and rising Czech athlete Lucie Zelenkova. The pair battled head to head on the run, with Granger surging in the last stages to win by just 5 seconds. Germany's Nina Eggert took third another 2min in arrears.
The men's race, which was stacked with some of Europe's top long course athletes, saw Chabaud put on a display of dominance on the bike backed by a strong run to cross the tape the clear winner in 3:51:57. In second was Belgium's Rutger Beke with France's Patrick Bringer third.
"We're thrilled with this debut race," said TEAMChallenge Roth's Felix Walchshofer. "It was a great day out for the athletes and the spectators." Thousands turned out to watch the day's events, which included age group races and a teams competition.
The French race was the first race in Europe outside Roth to bear the Challenge label. Its course covered a one-lap swim in Moutherouse Lake, a two-lap bike through the nature park of the northern Vosges and a run over two challenging loops on forest roads and trails.
The women's race came down to a spirited contest between Granger, a veteran long-course star and past Quelle Challenge Roth champion, and rising Czech athlete Lucie Zelenkova. The pair battled head to head on the run, with Granger surging in the last stages to win by just 5 seconds. Germany's Nina Eggert took third another 2min in arrears.
The men's race, which was stacked with some of Europe's top long course athletes, saw Chabaud put on a display of dominance on the bike backed by a strong run to cross the tape the clear winner in 3:51:57. In second was Belgium's Rutger Beke with France's Patrick Bringer third.
"We're thrilled with this debut race," said TEAMChallenge Roth's Felix Walchshofer. "It was a great day out for the athletes and the spectators." Thousands turned out to watch the day's events, which included age group races and a teams competition.
The French race was the first race in Europe outside Roth to bear the Challenge label. Its course covered a one-lap swim in Moutherouse Lake, a two-lap bike through the nature park of the northern Vosges and a run over two challenging loops on forest roads and trails.
posted by Challenge Wanaka # 12:32 
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