Europe Triathlon

The international duathlon world has its eyes focussed on the first important battle of the new season; The European Championships, Long Distance Duathlon and European Championship, Sprint Distance Duathlon. This massive event kicks off this weekend, 12th and 13th April. The host for this event is the hugely experienced Powerman Holland Duathlon, led by John Raadschelders.

Titles will be fought over once again in and around Horst aan de Maas, in the northern part of the beautiful province of Limburg, Netherlands.

Powerman duathlon has a long history in this part of the world. Since 1995, this premier event has been on the world circuit and recognised for long-distance excellence. Since 2004, this event has been the chosen venue for the European Championships and last year, 2013, was the first time that the European Sprint Championships joined the weekend of sporting festivities.

In the Long Distance Duathlon Elite race, the big favourite for the title this year is the Belgian powerhouse Rob Woestenborghs. His strength places him firmly on the throne as the current King of Long Distance. The 37-year old won the sprint title in the World Games in Cali and was also victorious in the World Championships over the long and very testing course in Zofingen. Last year in Horst aan de Maas he was pipped at the post by his fellow countryman, Bart Aernouts, who will be absent from the start line this year. Woestenborghs won an impressive five Powerman races in 2013.

Woestenborghs can expect the greatest threat to come from Swiss duo Andre Moser and Andy Sutz. Moser was runner up to Woestenborghs in Zofingen last year and took the podium in Powerman Austria and Malaysia. Sutz finished third in Horst last year and is an experienced campaigner who knows how to win.

Other athletes to watch who will be pushing the favourites include Anthony Le Duey (FRA), Matt Moorhouse (GBR) and Dutch duo Evert Scheltinga and Armand van der Smissen, the 2005 winner.

In the Women’s Long Distance Elite race, Nicole Klingler (LIE) has built up a solid base racing long distance duathlons and Ironman events and has taken a bronze at Zofingen.

She will have a serious challenge from Susanne Svendson (DEN),  whose presence on the start line will shake up the race nicely. Katrin Esefeld and Jenny Schulz (both GER) will also carry a huge threat and an outside chance lies with Irish athlete Siobhan Horgan, who made life difficult for Svendsen in Geel last year.

Daniel Rieb from France will be the only Para-duathlete competing in the European Long Distance race in the PT5 category.

There will be over 170 Age Group athletes competing across 26 categories to become European Long Distance Duathlon Championships.

European Long Distance Duathlon Championships – Race Information

Elite Women Start List – 0900 start

Elite Men Start List – 0918 start

All information about the course, start times etc are to be found on the website, www.powerman.nl and on the ETU website here.