Europe Triathlon

After a great race hosted by the Portuguese Triathlon Federation, focus moves this weekend to an event in Africa, hosted by the Spanish Triathlon Federation. Melilla is a tiny patch of history on the northern-African coast. With its back to Morocco, it looks out Eastwards towards Algeria. Packed tightly into 12.3km square, the city welcomed international triathlon in 2015 and has been eagerly awaiting its return ever since. The streets were lined with spectators and the athletes who raced there were full of praise for the event, despite the less than straight-forward journey that took them there.

2016 has seen hard work from the LOC to ensure that their event is even better but, as we have heard today, road works have meant that the bike familiarisation has had to be cancelled and many are sat in their hotels awaiting their luggage.

The Technical Delegate, Tom Roberts, is similarly without luggage but the LOC have been advised everything will be sorted and Iberia, the airline company, trying to transport bike boxes in propeller-driven small planes, simply did not have the capacity.

This weekend there will once again be races for the juniors and for the elite.

Last year saw a clean-sweep for the Spanish in the Junior Women’s race; Gold to Cecilia Santamaria Surroca, Silver to Ines Santiago and Bronze to Meritxell Velasco but that full collection of medals was prevented in the Junior Men’s race by some strong running by Italian athlete, Franco Pesavento who took bronze. Silver and gold went to the González brothers, with Alberto González García just losing out to his brother, Ignacio González García.

The Elite race was exciting. In fact so exciting that a four-footed spectator tried to get into the sprint along the finish carpet in the men’s race. Elite gold went to Germany Marlene Gomez-Islinger, with Spain, Anna Godoy Contreras taking silver and Italy, Elena Maria Petrini once again giving Italy the bronze.

The men’s race saw gold going to GB’s Gordon Benson, who later went on to take gold in Baku. He just held off the two Spaniards, Antonio Serrat Seoane and Uxío Abuín Ares who went on to win the ETU 2015 Ranking Series.

So, who should we be looking out for?

Well, last year’s winner, Cecilia Santamaria Surroca, is back but she is the only 2015 medal-winner. She will face stiff competition from several athletes. Many of them raced last weekend in Quarteira on a course that saw 18 athletes skid and crash on the wet zebra crossing. Top swimmer, Rianne de Croock NLD, led them out of the water and was then in the lead group but the crash sheared her rear mech and that was the end of her race. No doubt she will be seeking better conditions so that she can consolidate her performance in Portugal. From the Czech Republic comes 2015 Junior Aquathlon champion, Simona Šimůnková. If these two can somehow get together on the swim … Also from the Netherlands, also one of the athletes who crashed in Quarteira, is Rani Škrabanja.

24 athletes from six nations will start.

Check the start lists here.

Amongst the junior men only one of the González brothers is racing. Alberto, the silver medal-winner is there. Pesavento, the bronze medal-winner returns but they will face a 47-strong field of athletes from 9 nations.

Check the start lists here.

The Elite races will see some of Europe’s top athletes on the start line. Amongst the women is the 2015 silver medal-winner, Anna Godoy Contreras but wearing number 1 is Hungarian Margit Vanek who has been collecting points on the world circuit and who will be keen to get a podium place and valuable ETU points in this early-season race. Meritxell Velasco is back and will hope not only for the podium again but also to improve upon her bronze.  With a strong silver in the race in Catania in 2015, comes Italy’s Verena Steinhauser. Hoping to improve on her 2015 race and to get a place on the podium is Spain’s Sara Bonilla Bernardez but watch out for Netherland’s Kirsten Nuyes. Her crash in Quarteira probably lost her five places in that race.

21 athletes from 9 nations will race.

Check the start lists here.
 

The men will see the 2015 ETU Ranking Champion, Uxío Abuín Ares ESP arrive and he is on form. Having last weekend won the Spanish Duathlon Championships, where he showed a great final kick to take him comfortably to the line, he is really the race favourite. He will be up against Matthew Sharp GBR who will be hoping to re-discover his run pace after a disappointing performance in Portugal last weekend. Sharp, winner in the 2015 Tongyeong ITU Triathlon World Cup, has shown tremendous pace. Perhaps Quarteira was just a warm-up. From Switzerland comes Adrien Briffod who has also shown an ability to kick on the run.

53 athletes from 13 nations will race.

Check the start lists here.
 

Live Timing will be available.

Elite Men
 

Elite Women
 

Junior Women
 

Junior Men