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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 Walchshöfer. "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.
Elites shared a prize purse worth some 22,000 euro, with 4000 euro to the male and female winners. Prizes were also on offer for the best team performances.
Challenge France's sponsors include: Alsace, La Communauté des Communes de Niederbonn-les Bains, La Communauté des Communes du Pays du Verre et de Cristal, Lance Sport, MX3, Event System, Géodis Calberson, Celtic, Boelhi, France Express, Endurance Training Concept, Les3sports.com, Sport+, TV3V, La Regie, TV Cristal and the Quelle Challenge Roth.
Results - Challenge France - 25 May 2008; Niederbronn-les-Bains, France (1.9km/90km/21.1km)
MEN
1) Francois Chabaud (FRA) 3:51:47 (22:16/2:09:18/1:17:49)
2) Rutger Beke (BEL) 3:58:10 (23:43/2:12:37/1:18:53)
3) Patrick Bringer (FRA) 4:00:10 (22:08/2:17:32/1:18:11)
4) Maik Twelsiek (GER) 4:00:28 (22:14/2:15:06/1:20:00)
5) Luke Dragstra (CAN) 4:04:34 (22:12/2:17:07/1:22:28)
WOMEN
1) Belinda Granger (AUS) 4:35:05 (24:37/2:31:11/1:35:42)
2) Lucie Zelenkova (CZE) 4:35:10 (22:30/2:34:14/1:35:17)
3) Nina Eggert (GER) 4:37:27 (22:25/2:34:48/1:36:36)
4) Monika Feuersinger (AUT) 4:40:08 (31:52/2:28:53/1:35:33)
5) Dagmar Matthes (GER) 4:44:26 (25:31/2:38:15/1:37:11)
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