Europe Triathlon

The 2012 European Triathlon season enters its final fortnight of the season as athletes move to Italy for a sprint triathlon ahead of the finale in Alanya.

The seaside resort of Mondello, near to the City of Palermo, Italy, will host the 21st Edition of the ‘Triathlon Del Mediterraneo’ which will this year become an ITU Sprint Triathlon where World Ranking points are available to the athletes.

Last year, the race adopted the semi-finals and finals format but 2012 is a straightforward sprint race of 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run.

Rachel Klamer (NED) and Tony Moulai (FRA) were the respective winners in 2011 but neither athlete will defend their title.

A host of Italian athletes will enjoy strong support from the home crowd – including, amongst the Elite Women, Annamaria Mazzetti, Daniela Chmet, Alessia Orla and Gaia Peron.

Mazzetti suffered a disappointing DNF at the Sprint Triathlon in Cremona and will be desperate to make things right here. She showed her super sprint promise with a third place in Tiszaujvaros after negotiating the semi finals in first place.

Peron has improved her position in every European International race in 2012. Her season’s best was 4th in Karlovy Vary and if she continues the trend a first career podium beckons.

However, the Italian women face stiff competition from the likes of Eszter Dudas (HUN), Yuliya Yelistratova (UKR), Sara Vilic (CRO) and Kathrin Muller (GER).

Vilic, in particular, is fresh from an 8th placed finish at the European U23 Championships in Aguilas and she finished 5th in the Sprint Triathlon in Cremona.

Muller impressed early on in the year with two victories at Antalya and Istanbul – unfortunately it wasn’t enough to qualify for the German Olympic team and she will hope to end, what started as a promising year, on a high.

In the Elite Men’s race, home support will focus on Alessandro Fabien, Daniel Hofer and Luca Facchinetti.

Fabien has recorded some impressive finishes in 2012 including 10th at the London Olympic Games and 5th place at the European Championships in Eilat and the World Series in Madrid.

Aurelien Raphael (FRA) was second here last year and is capable of going one better and James Elvery will also be a threat.

RACE INFORMATION

Saturday, 29th September 2012

Elite Women Start List – 1430 (local time - CEST)

Elite Men Start List – 1630 (local time - CEST)