Europe Triathlon

On Saturday, June 3rd, early in the morning, the Para Triathlon races for the PTS5 category took place at Casa De Campo, a beautiful park in the city of Madrid. Following shortly after, other categories such as PTVI1 and 2/3, as well as PTS2/3/4, started their races. The race courses for the day were based around the beautiful park and stretched out to some sections of the city, providing some scenic views to accompany the athletes in their challenge.

Around 10:15 in the morning, the age groups participating in the Olympic distance race began. They all set out to represent their country and make it to the finish line in their best time. The closing of this race was highlighted by the successful “Talk of Fame” talk show, part of the new Nation Stars Tour initiatives, which aimed at getting to know the stories of the athletes, what their experience was and more! It was hosted at the Walk of Fame (a 9m long backdrop), another initiative meant to highlight the athletes as the true stars they are, and also give the chance to fans and family to take pictures. You can watch the full streaming here: https://www.youtube.com/live/0bB2-q5yXbw?feature=share 

In the afternoon, the last race of the day featured Para Triathletes from the PTWC1 and 2 categories, also held at Casa De Campo. In the PTWC men’s category, legend of the sport Jetze Plat from the Netherlands took the lead, followed by Austrian Florian Brungraber in second place, and another Dutch athlete, Geert Schipper, in third place. In the women’s category, Spanish athlete Eva Maria Moral Pedrero claimed the victory, with English athlete Melissa Nicholls in second place and a thrilling sprint finish by French athlete Mona Francis, who beat Italian Rita Cuccuru by just one second to secure the third place.

The following day, early in the morning, the Age Group participants started their Sprint distance race, with the first run and the first and second transitions taking place at Casa De Campo, and the second run finishing in front of the magnificent Royal Palace! It was an incredible spectacle to watch so many age groupers arrive in the backyard of such an iconic landmark of the city of Madrid.

Subsequently, the spectacle of the Elite women’s race was followed by the Elite men’s race. New European Triathlon Kings and Queens emerged with outstanding performances, such as, David Castro Fajardo and Jeanne Lehair. This momentous event took place under the watchful gaze of thousands of spectators in Madrid, right beside the Royal Palace, a fitting backdrop for this royal coronation. Missed the action? You can watch the full race streaming here: https://www.youtube.com/live/Zn_-wqTgnp0?feature=share

David Castro Fajardo, hailing from La Roda, achieved the ultimate victory, clinching his win in the final few metres against triple Olympic medalist Jonathan Brownlee. This adrenaline-filled showdown is set to be an enduring image that will resonate with the thousands of enthusiastic fans who turned out to witness this spectacle.

Fajardo’s victory was undoubtedly a result of his remarkable comeback during the run segment. From a 31-second deficit after the cycling portion, he pushed his limits, fighting hard to break into the top 10, before overtaking his competitors. “I still can’t believe it,” a euphoric Castro commented. “Getting off the bike, I was only hoping to fight my way into the top 10. But bit by bit, I managed to catch up and then lead. It’s been incredible to win against Jonathan Brownlee here in Madrid, amidst such a spectacular atmosphere.”

The bronze medal was bagged by Swiss Adrien Briffod, who was the most decisive in the bike portion of the race trying to push the group to work harder. Spanish legend of the sport Super Mario Mola finished the day in the 20th position after an incredible first half of the race!

Turning our attention to the Women’s category, Jeanne Lehair from Luxembourg claimed the title of European Champion, surging past Germany’s Lisa Tertsch, who secured the silver medal. The bronze went to young Swiss athlete Cathia Schär.

Spanish athlete Casillas commented about the unfortunate removal of the swimming segment at Casa de Campo Lake by Europe Triathlon, as the water did not meet the high standards set by the European Federation. Despite this last-minute change, all the athletes displayed commendable adaptability, reinforcing that triathlon is a sport that depends not only on the athletes’ prowess but also their ability to adjust to changing conditions.

Europe Triathlon congratulates all participants for their performance and resilience during this event. The competition was a testament to the high standard of European Triathlon, and we look forward to continued success and more unforgettable moments in the future.