Europe Triathlon

The 2013 Winter Triathlon season draws to a close this weekend with the final event in Oberstaufen.

This is the third year in a row that Oberstaufen has hosted a European Cup race, but Daniel Antonioli, who has won the previous two Men's races, will not compete this year meaning  a new name will be on the winner's roll.

That name could well be Pavel Andreev. The Russian has obliterated the field in every race this year, claiming the European and World Championships titles in the process.

It is hard to bet against Andreev claiming a clean sweep but, having never competed in Oberstaufen before, this is new terrain for the Russian and perhaps an unfamiliar course will offer his rivals some hope of an upset.

Kristian Monsen (NOR) has played second fiddle to Andreev for much of this Winter campaign and he has failed to record a podium so far.

Oberstaufen represents his last chance for a Winter Triathlon medal in 2013 and having finished 5th here last year, prior course knowledge may well seem him improve.

In the Women's Elite race, Margarita Ovsyannikva (RUS) has the field to herself.

The European Cup race also acts as a German Championship and a host of German athletes will be out to claim the title and test themselves against the cream of European Winter Triathlon athletes.

Matthias Filser, of the LOC, said: “We have been organising our Winter Triathlon race for 12 years and we hosted the World Championships in 2003.

“We are very happy to have the ETU European Cup for the third year and we will do our very best to put on a good race and offer a platform for all athletes, sponsors and spectators.”

Filser says that the race organisers in Oberstaufen try to be as innovative and creative as they can to entice more competitors to the sport. He said: “We are the biggest event in Germany and a few races do not exist anymore. If Winter Triathlon was to be in the Olympic program I am sure that we all will profit.

“We always have new ideas to be innovative. From one year to another we only change the direction of the race course and it was a totally different race. We will have a surprise at this year’s race, you will see!”

There is still time for athletes in all categories to register for the European Cup. To register visit the LOC website, http://www.wintertriathlon.de/

There will be a live stream of the race on the LOC website, http://www.wintertriathlon.de/