NEWS

ETU Weekend Preview - Stellar lineups ready to compete in Banyoles and Tabor

By David Peddie | 28 Jul, 2011

Banyoles (ESP) - Premium European Cup

Just five weeks after the exciting events at the European Championships, we are back in Spain for the ITU Premium European Cup series in the Catalan City of Banyoles.

With the course set in and around the beautiful Banyoles Lake, home to the rowing event in the 1992 Olympics, there is rich sporting history in this part of the country. This is the first time Banyoles has hosted an International Triathlon event.

Javier Gomez is the leading name on the start list for the Elite Mens race which features 70 athletes. The reigning World Champion currently leads the ITU Points rankings for 2011 and after a disappointing Championships in Pontevedra he will look to make amends to the passionate Spanish supporters.

The raucous home support will have 18 Spanish athletes to cheer around the course but Mario Mola, 4th at Pontevedra, and Jorge Naranjo Vichot, 5th and 7th in two previous Premium Cups in 2011, are likely to represent the best chances for podium.

Richard Varga (SVK) made a welcome return to form with 4th place at last week’s European Cup in Geneva and Etienne Diemunsch (FRA) can secure qualification for the U23 European Championships by finishing in the top eight here.

As expected there is a strong Spanish contingent lining up in the Womens Elite race but the outcome of the podium is anyone’s guess.

Amongst the leading contenders, Radka Vodickova features again, just a week after her second place in Geneva. The Czech athlete has shown her class and consistency with two runners-up spots in the previous Premium Cups in Brasschaat and Holten and will be hoping for third time lucky to claim top spot.

Again, a big threat will come from Down Under. Felicity Sheedy-Ryan (AUS) pipped Vodickova last week to win in Geneva and one to look out for is her young Aussie counterpart, Natalie Van Coeverden.

Van Coeverden has never finished outside the top two in any race in 2011. For the majority of these races she has raced in the Junior category but she has experience of Elite races and it will be interesting to note her step up here.

Tabor (CZE) - Junior European Cup

The ETU return to Tabor (CZE) for the latest instalment of the Junior European Cup series. Having debuted in the town last year we were treated to a thrilling weekend of racing in a fantastic location.

Race Director Karl Hotovŷ said: “The event in Tabor is very specific with its location. Even the race is based in the middle of the town. There is only one transition area in the TGM square.”

“The reason is that the Lake Jordan, which is about 3km long and lasts 50 hectares, is located directly in the nearest vicinity to the town centre. Therefore, all spectators can comfortably watch all parts of the race and don’t have far to walk from the lake to the square.”

In the Junior race all eyes will be on Martin Debnar and Lukas Kocar. Both young Czech athletes finished in the top five here last year and are currently 3rd and 4th respectively in the European Junior rankings.

They are both good friends and have a pleasant rivalry which can help each other during competition. Kocar said: “We are very good friends, so if we will have good race we can dominate here like Brownlee brothers”

Kocar is in confident mood ahead of this weekend’s race. He said: “I have just finished a training camp I hope for a good race in Tabor.I can win but it will all depend on how the swim and bike go

On racing at home, Kocar said: “It’s something very special because all my supporters can see European cup in Czech Republic and of course atmosphere for me is really magic”

The Junior womens race is wide open and there are some extremely talented athletes in the start list.

ETU Rankings leader Monika Orazem (SLO), Renata Fuchs (HUN), Estzer Pap (HUN, Alessia Orla (ITA) and Olga Agapova (RUS) have all posted victories this year. Hrista Stoyneva (BUL) was victorious last time out in Varna and Charlotte Deldaele (BEL), Aneta Grabmullerova (CZE), Alina Hambrusch (AUT) and Sara Vilic (CRO) have also scored some excellent results and shown real consistency in 2011. It is a potent mix.

For Grabmullerova, Tabor is close to her home town and she is looking forward to competing here. Vilic (CRO) was 15th in Tabor last time out and is expecting another tough race. She said: “I raced here last year and I’m already familiar with the course. I know it’s going to be a hard as well as very interesting race.”

“The concurrence is quite good and the course is pretty hard, hilly and technical on the bike and the run as well. It is a race definitely worth competing in and I will give it my best shot.”

“Last year it was well organized and the cheering people around you during the race are also a big support.”

 

Related Event: 2011 Banyoles ITU Triathlon Premium European Cup
31 Jul, 2011 • event pageall results
Results: Elite Women
1. Felicity Sheedy-Ryan AUS 01:58:11
2. Irina Abysova RUS 01:58:52
3. Radka Vodickova CZE 01:59:14
4. Natalie Van Coevorden AUS 01:59:24
5. Liubov Polyanskaya RUS 01:59:37
6. Gaia Peron TUR 01:59:45
7. Marta Jimenez Jimenez ESP 01:59:55
8. Kerry Lang GBR 02:00:26
9. Maria Pujol ESP 02:00:34
10. Maria Areosa POR 02:00:48
Results: Elite Men
1. Javier Gomez Noya ESP 01:45:49
2. Etienne Diemunsch FRA 01:46:28
3. Aaron Harris GBR 01:47:07
4. Jose Miguel Perez ESP 01:47:08
5. Thomas Bishop GBR 01:47:11
6. Todd Leckie GBR 01:47:37
7. Peter Kerr AUS 01:47:41
8. Peter Croes BEL 01:47:41
9. Mario Mola ESP 01:47:50
10. Jorge Naranjo Vichot ESP 01:47:56