Lucy Hall and Jessica Learmonth combine to swim and bike the rest of Europe into the distance, while Grant Sheldon runs strong to claim Bronze in the men’s Elite race in France as the championship calendar extends to include an Elite ETU Sprint Triathlon European Championship for the first time.

(Image: French Triathlon Federation)

Having proven their world class abilities over the swim and bike disciplines on multiple instances already this season, good friends and training partners Lucy Hall and Jessica Learmonth produced another masterclass in from-the-front racing in Châteauroux on Sunday. Setting the pace through the opening 750m swim and then simply riding away from the entire field over the 20km bike leg, the British duo had established a lead of well over a minute and a half before hitting the run course. Leaving the large chase pack with no chance to catch them, Hall and Learmonth went head-to-head over the final run with the London 2012 Olympian Lucy Hall just getting the better of Jessica Learmonth over the closing stages to add a Senior individual European title to the Team Relay Gold earned in Lisbon last month. Hall also won the ETU Under-23 European Championship last season in Banyoles.

Despite their efforts on the bike, Bronze medallist Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) was still 43 seconds behind Learmonth at the finish. It was a brave and decisive effort from the British pairing, which paid off with a very impressive Gold and Silver medal.

The Elite men’s race followed a very different pattern, with a large group of over 20 athletes in close contention at the end of the bike leg, leaving everything to paly for over the final 5km run.

Home favourite and Rio-bound Vincent Luis (FRA) showed that he is back to fitness and form after missing most of the season to date, to delight the home crowd with a European Championship title. Rostislav Pevtsov (AZE) – third in the European Games last year in Baku – was clear in second place, but it was Grant Sheldon who added another Great Britain medal by winning what was a very tight battle for the final podium position and the Bronze medal.

Châteauroux ETU Sprint Triathlon European Championships – Sunday 26th June 2016
750m / 20km / 5km

Elite Women
1st - Lucy Hall (GBR) - 57:48
2nd - Jessica Learmonth (GBR) - 57:49
3rd - Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) - 58:32

9th - Heather Sellars (GBR) - 59:10

Elite Men
1st - Vincent Luis (FRA) - 51:59
2nd - Rostislav Pevtsov (AZE) - 52:06
3rd - Grant Sheldon (GBR) - 52:20

13th - Aaron Harris (GBR) - 52:58
18th - David Bishop (GBR) - 53:31
23rd - Liam Lloyd (GBR) - 53:48

Full results: http://www.triathlon.org/results/event/2016_chateauroux_etu_sprint_triathlon_european_championships