After winning multiple Challenge Family Awards in recent years, Challenge Almere-Amsterdam has now achieved the ultimate honor: this weekend, the event was crowned Challenge Family Race of the Year at the Challenge Family Awards Gala on Gran Canaria.
“This is a tremendous recognition for our team, and especially for the hundreds of volunteers who dedicate themselves – sometimes for an entire year – to making Challenge Almere-Amsterdam the outstanding event that it is,” said Race Director Richard Belderok, who received the award together with colleagues Jort Vlam (Commercial Director), Jefry Visser (Event Director), Jolanda Felix (Event Manager), and Tim Moria (Head of Marketing).
“What makes this award even more special is that the Challenge Family Awards are true audience awards: athletes were able to vote for weeks across all races. That Challenge Almere-Amsterdam is regarded as the Race of the Year means a great deal to us. Every year, our event is organized with immense love and passion. You can clearly see that appreciation reflected on race day, especially at the finish line. To experience that appreciation once again in this way is simply fantastic.”
The Challenge Family Awards are presented annually, with prizes awarded across various categories to Challenge Family races worldwide. The Challenge Family Race of the Year Award is, logically, the most prestigious of them all.
As tradition dictates, the awards were presented during the annual Race Director Meeting, where Challenge Family Race Directors from around the globe gather for several days of discussions and knowledge sharing. The goal of the meeting is clear: learning from one another and continuously improving races across the entire Challenge Family. This year’s meeting took place on Gran Canaria.
Below is an overview of the winners per category of the Challenge Family Awards:
Race of the Year – Challenge Almere-Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Best Race Venue – Challenge Peguera-Mallorca, Spain
Best New Race – Challenge Sir Bani Yas, Abu Dhabi
Best Swim – Challenge Forte Village, Sardinia
Best Bike – DATEV Challenge Roth, Germany
Best Run – SAIL Challenge Québec, Canada
Best Finish Line Party – DATEV Challenge Roth, Germany
Best Atmosphere – The Championship, Slovakia
Best Pasta Party – The Championship, Slovakia
Best After Race Food – Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee, Austria
Best Video Content – Challenge Taiwan, Taiwan
Most Eco Friendly – Challenge Peguera-Mallorca, Spain
Most Family Friendly – Challenge Salou-Costa Daurada
