Europe Triathlon

Lake Bled provides the backdrop for one of the most spectacular Triathlon events on the European calendar this weekend.

Slovenia’s ‘Jewel in the crown’ has a proud Triathlon history and has hosted an ETU Junior Cup every year since 2007.

The Bled European Cup is traditionally a super-sprint triathlon race and this weekend is no different with a 400m swim, 13km bike and 3.3km run. This is a challenging bike course with up to 160m of elevation and the run is quite hilly alongside the lake.

Over 100 athletes are registered to start but the field is quite inexperienced with a host of fresh faces making their debut at this level of competition.

With so many new faces there is the opportunity for a new name on the podium but a number of the more experienced athletes will see this race as a golden opportunity for a high finish.

Erwin Vanderplancke (BEL) was second in Bled last year and this is a course he knows well. Compatriot Niels Ost proved his quality with third place at the European Cross Championships earlier this year but has yet to make a podium in a Junior European Cup and this could be his chance.

Nejc Jurjevicic, Matija Meden and Jaka Kaplan (all SLO) will carry the hopes of the home nation and it will be worth keeping an eye on Michelangelo Parmigiani (ITA).

The Italian finished 6th last year on this course in what was his European debut and he enters this race as a much improved athlete.

In the Women’s race, Lisa Schanung (ITA) will be buoyed by her 2nd place in Aguilas last week, the first podium finish of her Junior career.

She has posted a top ten finish in each of her last three races and is in good form.

Olga Agapova (RUS) may feel this is the race where she can post a first podium finish outside of Russia. Again, a 3rd place in Penza last month suggests good form but she needs a breakthrough result outside of home turf.

Hungarian duo Renata Fuchs and Eszter Pap are always contenders at this level. Fuchs won her first ever European Cup in Aguilas last week and Pap is defending her title from last year.

RACE INFORMATION:

SATURDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER

Junior Women Start List

Junior Men Start List

A full race report and results will appear on the ETU website in due course.