Challenge Peguera 2025: Sold Out, Loud and with 600 Volunteers

1,600 starters, 600 volunteers and a promenade full of spectators: the eleventh Challenge Peguera brings sport, voices and business to the coastal town — and shows how well an island community can work.

Eleventh edition brings Peguera to life

In the early morning the metal of racing bikes clinks against house walls, seagulls cry over the bay and the scent of fresh coffee mixes with saltwater — Peguera feels like a large, well-oiled sports camp. The eleventh Challenge Peguera is sold out: 1,600 participants from 49 nations have registered, and about 60 professionals add further renown to the race.

At the press conference, Mayor Juan Antonio Amengual expressly thanked the organizers, sponsors — and especially the around 600 volunteers who make this event possible. The helpers are everywhere: at junctions, at refreshment stations, as course marshals or simply with a bottle of water in hand when the heat increases later in the day.

The course: sea, hills and promenade

The race follows a classic Mallorcan mix: the swim takes place along the Peguera coast, the cycling leads over the rolling roads of Calvià — with wind, a few steeper ramps and landscapes that invite you to stop and look — and the run is on the promenade and through the narrow village centers. Those who get up early can see the first scenes from 7:00 a.m.: bodies paddling in the water, the rhythmic clicking of gears, and spectators who create the atmosphere with whistles and applause.

Names on the start list included Lena Meissner, Daisy Davies and Ognjen Stojanovic, along with representatives from the hotel and organization sectors: Antonio Mayol from the hotel association, Yannik Ehrhart from Universal Beach Hotels and Zibi Szlufcik from the Challenge Family. Together they emphasized that sport and tourism go hand in hand here — at least for this weekend.

What residents and visitors can expect

Such large events bring life to the town: cafés are full, the square in front of the church feels like a marketplace, and parking spaces become scarce. The municipality has distributed information leaflets about road closures; residents should expect detours. The atmosphere is more excited-friendly than chaotic — and most people take the temporary restrictions in stride. After all, applause and waving are part of Peguera on these days.

The organizers place importance on safety and environmental protection: waste prevention, regulated refreshment stations and a strong presence of paramedics should ensure that the hustle and bustle ends the day cleanly and safely. It is the many small things — barrier tape, volunteer signposts, an extra bin on the promenade — that together carry a big event.

More than sport: the island benefits

For the local economy the participants and spectators are a welcome boost outside the high season: hotels fill up, restaurants serve long coffees, and the bakery next to the town hall experiences early-morning queues in running shoes. On the street you hear languages from around the world, and the faces of the helpers often reveal more than words — pride, exhaustion and joy when an athlete crosses the finish line.

A small, practical tip for anyone dropping by: charge your battery, pack sunscreen and arrive early. And if you need a break — the espresso in the small cafés is strong enough to get even tired cyclists going again.

In the end the simple truth remains: such days live from people who pitch in. Peguera shows that a small community with a big heart can pull off a major event — loud, colorful and a little proud at the end.