Europe Triathlon

Yuliya Yelistratova (UKR) and Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) were the speed demons in Tartu as they won gold in the final European Sprint Cup of the year.

It was a watershed moment for a number of athletes, with career high finishes the order of the day.

For Yelistratova, this is her first Sprint win and her first European victory since 2010, marking a gradual and steady return to form over the last six months.

The Ukrainian pipped Malgorzata Otworowska (POL) to victory but the Polish athlete will be absolutely thrilled with what is a career best result. It is her highest ever finish in an International European race and her first podium in the Elite category.

The impressive Ivana Kuriackova (SVK) completed the podium in third place. It is the Slovakian’s sixth podium of the season and her first as an Elite athlete.

In the Men’s race, Kristian Blummenfelt demonstrated his lightning quick pace to win his first Sprint Cup victory and the 4th win of his career.

The Norwegian dazzled throughout and had enough of a lead to slow up at the finish line.

That gave Patrick Rhyner (SUI) the honour of posting the fastest run split of the day and it was enough to secure second place, his first ever European podium and a career best finish.

Rhyner finished just ahead of Italy’s Andrea Secchiero who settled for third place.

He has impressed with two top seven finishes in his previous two Sprint Cups and he showed just enough speed here to breakthrough onto the podium.