Europe Triathlon

Two races, two winners, incredible performances.

The Junior Women’s race was a thrilling one from the very moment they hit the water. No single athlete was able to escape on the one-lap, 750m swim and so a steady stream of them made their way in to T1.

It was Portugal’s Gabriela Ribeiro who led them out of the water. Always the strongest in the water, she had Anja Weber and Ella Doherty, representing Switzerland and Ireland as company.

About 30 seconds back was the race favourite, Beatrice Mallozzi but as the athletes made their way through T1 and out onto the bike course, the pack formed and by the end of the first lap, there was a huge peloton, in which Mallozzi had found sanctuary.

The technical course proved safe enough for the athletes and coming into T2, the Italian was pretty much assured of a clear run, with her supreme pace.

By the end of the first lap she had made her mark on the race and behind her, the race for silver and bronze was underway. The biggest threat to her seemed to be Austria’s Magdalena Früh but her silver medal position was snatched in the final stages of the race by Switzerland’s Nora Gmür who ran so well to claim that runner-up medal.

With the excitement of the Junior Race still fresh, the focus moved to the Standard Distance and the Elite Women. With the defending title-holder not present and with some strong swimmers on the start list, it was expected that there would be a break away.

Coming out of the water on the first lap, it was Spain’s Sara Perez Sala who led them out of the water after the first lap. On her heels was the Russian, Diana Isakova and Theresa Feuersinger AUT. Sandra Dodet FRA and GB’s Olivia Matthias. This would be a powerful combination out on the bike course.

A massive swim from Beth Potter placed her in the leading group and she held this position for the second lap, to exit the water in an incredible 9th place.

The breakaway had not taken place and once out on the bike, a strong peloton of 18 athletes started to work hard to close down any threat from the chase group. The lead grew until it was over 90 seconds and at this stage, with Potter well-placed in that group, it was more or less a certainty that she would claim the title.

No spills or crashes meant that this group of 18 would come as one into T2. Potter soon established a lead, with Dodet and Claire Michel chasing. Three laps on the run and Potter’s style was so easy. Every pace seemed to propel her forwards but Dodet dug deep and kept the Brit in her sights. Michel did her best to keep both in view on the twisting and technical course and the three were able to pull away from the next threat, Emilie Morier FRA, who only 5 years back had qualified for the Youth Olympics on this very course.

The final lap saw the run power of Potter settle the score and with a 33:23 10k, she smiled all the way down the blue carpet, to the delighted cheers of the many British Age Group athletes and supporters who had lined the street and especially the finish area.

Gold to Potter. Silver to Dodet and Bronze to Michel.

ETU feels obliged to apologise for the numerous technical difficulties caused by a regional power outage that prevented the live feed from delivering to you the races that were truly so very exciting.