Europe Triathlon

This weekend saw a very busy race day on the Sunday. With the Juniors racing the morning and the Elite in the Mediterranean afternoon sunshine, it was a full programme for the organisers, Technical Officials and athletes but the spectators had a fantastic time.

The streets were lined with spectators. In 2015, they got their first taste of international triathlon and word went around quickly that the event, such a 2015 success, would be returning to this tiny corner of Spain on the African mainland.

Some of the athletes and officials found they had arrived before their luggage but with no real panic, the bags and bikes were delivered later to the hotels. We saw the streets lined in Quarteira for the bike familiarisation. It gave a clear signal to the city there that “Triathlon is in town!” Sadly, due to municipal works the bike familiarisation was cancelled in Melilla but the whole field of play is packed tightly into 12.3 km sq. and so checking out the course on foot was relatively easy.

It was the Junior Women who raced first. The sea, still trying to shake off the winter chill, was not warm enough for a non-wetsuit swim. The athletes lined up, were introduced one by one to the crowds and …. Then they were off.

Out into the calm waters, they had a short run in knee-deep water before they could swim. It was spectacular, with the sea glistening in the early morning sunshine and shows that a beach start, when properly managed, can be as exciting if not more so, than a pontoon start.

Coming back to the swim exit after 750m, the athletes again were forced to use different sets of muscles that gave the press great photo opportunities.

Fabiola D’Antino ITA led them out of the water and along the long run up the beach into T1 took the athletes in to a spacious transition area before the 20k bike, which is pretty flat but with some tight turns. No rain on the streets here, so the crashes that marred last week’s race in Quarteira were avoided.

Out onto the bike and D’Antino held her place in the lead, with three others taking turns at the front. Her Italian team mates did well to work together with her but very soon they were joined by Spanish and Dutch athletes and the pace increased. D’Antino was dropped and that left Michela Pozzuoli and Carlotta Missaglia ITA. Simona Šimůnková CZE joined Cecilia Santamaria Surroca ESP and Rianne De Croock NLD, whose crash in Quarteira denied us all the chance to see her strong biking. These five worked hard and it looked as if they would be the ones to fight over the three medals. #

Behind them came a chase group with Rani Škrabanja NLD and Hungary’s fast runner, Flóra Bicsák but it looked as if they had lost too much time on the leaders.

This leading group came in to T2. The blue carpet welcomed them but amongst them, surely was the feeling, “which ones of us will get the medals?” Missaglia led them to the racks. Šimůnková lost time trying to rack her bike and Santamaria, with the crowds behind her, was pumped up for the run. It was Missaglia who led and Santamaria who chased along the palm-tree lined run course. Would the bronze be the battle between the Czech, Dutch and Italian athletes?

The chase pack came into T2 and it was Bicsák who left last. Once out onto the run course though, she flew! Soon Bicsák was leading the chase pack. Then she had left them and was trying to bridge the gap to the leaders.

Back at the front, it was Italy and Spain neck and neck.

Onto the blue carpet, leading to the finish and Missaglia kicked. Santamaria was unable to stay with her and it was a jubilant Italian who took the title. A stunningly fast run from Bicsák took her comfortably into third.

After the race Missaglia could hardly contain herself, “It was a beautiful race and I felt very good when I was on the finish line, it has been incredible. I had a great start on swim and out on the bike course there were five of us working together and we created a big advantage. I had a fast T2 and set off on the run with Cecilia, the Spanish girl. On the second lap I took control and it was about 500m from the finish that I broke away from her. During the last lap Italian Girls supported me a lot and this helped me greatly. I am really happy with this victory; I really didn’t expect it !”

Santamaria, “Well… my plan was to be in the front swimming to get the first group on bike. So the first swim was very calm and clean. Some girls made a mistake in the course and went the wrong way as they left the sea, but I was right so that enabled me to make up several places and I went to the transition 1 on second position, then I got surprised because all girls in first group collaborated so we work together to get more time between chase group and us. There were 5 of us fighting for the podium. Finally out onto the run I was really battling for the first place with the Italian girl Carlotta, who was stronger than me and get the victory for 5 seconds. The third was a girl for the chase group, from Hungary. I feel very happy for my second place because last year was hard for me because of an injury that became a problem for me during the whole year! So last year was hard for me and I didn’t compete well at all. I came here hoping to feel strong this season! I love this city because people get so involved in our sport and I hope we all have the chance to race in Melilla for many more years. A great event!”

Bicsák made her way back to Hungary but with a huge smile on her face, “It was my first race in the season and I wasn’t expecting that I could be able to stand on the podium that day. So it was a surprise for me! I was a bit nervous before the race, as first races are always a bit more stressful. But luckily everything went well, and I am satisfied with my result. I also loved the city and the venue, so it was a good race for me.” The selection process for the National Team has not yet been made but with the Hungarian National Duathlon Championships coming soon, this podium place in Melilla will have shown the selectors just how powerful she is on the run.

Big thanks to

#MelillaCiudadEuropeaDelDeporte  #MelillaTurismo
And for a massive gallery of images, click here

For the Junior Men, the sun had risen and the sand on the beach was warmer for the Junior men. A huge line-up ensured that the waiting crowds got a good show. As the athletes stood waiting, the heartbeats started and an all too familiar Spanish voice brought them to their marks.

The sprint to the water and then the short run in the sea saw some jostling for position and then they settled down into their stroke.

Many Elite athletes had come down to the beach to see the start and perhaps to get an idea of how they would race to the water.

To the delight of the local crowds, it was Spanish athlete and race favourite, Alberto Gonzalez Garcia who led them out of the water and up into T1.

Behind him, another three athletes had managed to create a very small gap. Fellow Spaniard, Carlos Brion Sampedro just led the Hungarian duo of Bence Lehmann and Botond Karai.

Into T1 and in the rush to get out onto the bike Brion was dropped and replaced by Javier Lluch Perez. Karai was dropped and replaced by the powerful cyclists from Italy, Matteo Gala, Franco Pesavento and Giulio Soldati. 

Out onto the bike and it was a joint effort from Lehman and Gonzalez that took them clear.

Behind came a chasing group but despite their efforts to bridge that gap, they were unable and were caught before cautiously making their way into T2.

Having kept their lead, it was Gonzalez who exploded out of T2. Lehman was on his heels but could not match the pace.

Behind him Lluch was picking up places but would have to find some real pace to catch fellow Spaniard. As Lluch made his move, the Belgian athlete, Noah Servais locked on to him and they moved steadily forwards. Servais had a stunning ride but would he have enough in his legs to split the Spanish podium?

Gonzalez ran with confidence and with 2015 in his mind, was certainly wanting to make that improvement to gold.

Behind him Lluch had broken away from Servais but could he hold it together? Gonzalez had the gold and behind him, it was silver to Lluch who, upon seeing the carpet, kicked once more and decided the medals. Servais came home to take Belgium’s bronze.

For Gonzalez, “Sensational ! Junior Cup Winner in Melilla and I get to race Lisbon too for the Europeans ! All the effort and training is now showing the right result. Many thanks to all who supported me day to day.”

For Lluch, “The swim was very explosive due to the first 80-100 metres of the course which made me hop and jump until we were able to swim properly. I had to make a lot of effort to get to the first boy in the first pack. The same happened to get out of the water. I did a good transition and the first kilometres of the bike were decisive to try and catch Alberto Gonzalez and the Hungarian, Lehmann. Unfortunately we were caught by a large pack from behind and we went at a normal pace up to t2 were i decided to hop off the bike first of the chasing pack. I ran progressively and I started to cut down the difference between the two guys in front of me. Finally I was able to catch Lehmann and win the silver medal. I am very happy and proud of my performance as it was the first triathlon of the season. Looking forward to the classification for the European Championships in Lisbon.”

Servais explained that the race was not your usual Cup Event, “The race a bit strange with a long run in the sea during the swim and I lost time on the race leader. Out onto the bike and we tried to organize a good chain-gang in the chase group but unfortunately, it didn’t work. I had really “heavy legs” on the first lap of the run but it was better in the second. Happy to take the bronze and finally, get on the ETU podium!”

Once again, thanks to #MelillaCiudadEuropeaDelDeporte & #MelillaTurismo
The gallery for this event can be found here

Spanish Federation Photos – credit to Jorge Jiménez