The Portuguese capital city of Lisbon will this week be the focus of European Triathlon as the ETU Triathlon European Championships return to the city, which last hosted this event in the Olympic year of 2008. On that occasion the legendary Vanessa Fernandes won her fifth consecutive Elite European Championship Gold medal before going on to claim Olympic Silver in Beijing. Will Lisbon provide a similarly good omen for any of the Elite podium finishers this coming weekend?
Last years European Championship in Geneva saw British Age-Group athletes’ gain 26 medals in the Sprint and a further 20 medals in the Standard distance race, which included a total of 12 Gold. With an entry of more than 700 British athletes this year, hopes are high of another significant podium haul in Lisbon.
One Brit who has both a big incentive and great form to take to Portugal is James Phillips. James won the Silver medal in the M20-24 Sprint distance last year in a time which made him the fastest British athlete of the race. He has already had a great year, winning his category at the British Duathlon Championships and less than a fortnight ago he added the British Sprint Triathlon Championship at the Big Cow Triathlon, winning the race overall in the process. Can he add European Gold this year to his 2015 Silver?
“I can't wait for Lisbon - I'm on a high after the British Champs. Even though I didn't have the perfect race, I was really pleased with what I was able to do. There's still a lot more to come - I've just got to put it together on the day.”
Several defending champions from Geneva have returned to seek Age-Group success in Portugal, including Gwen Kinsey (F40-44, Sprint), Joyce Mark (F55-59, Sprint), Sue Bathgate (F65-69, Sprint), Georgina Jennings (F70-74, Sprint), Edward Castro (M25-29, Standard), Barry Johnson (M75-79) and Hilary Stevenson (F70-74, Standard).
Friday is a big day for the British Paratriathlon team. While defending champions Lauren Steadman (PT4) and Alison Patrick (PT5) have already met the selection criteria for the Paralympic Games, the remainder of the team are seeking qualifying points as competing against themselves for the sought after slot at the first Paralympic Games Triathlon event.
In Geneva last year Ben Dijkstra earned a Bronze medal in the Men’s Junior Elite event. Ben is not racing this year, but a strong British entry, which includes Alex Chantler Mayne, Sam Dickinson, Jack Willis and Alex Yee has the potential to secure more podium success for our up and coming future stars.
A winner already this season, on both the World Triathlon Series and World Cup Series, Jodie Stimpson heads a strong British Elite Women’s squad. Lisbon could well provide an opportunity for championship success after just missing out on Olympic Games selection. With the swim-bike strength of both Lucy Hall and Jessica Learmonth we can expect to see British representation at the front of the race from the start, while India Lee will be looking to build upon her breakthrough World Cup victory in Cagliari with another strong performance.
The racing in Lisbon takes place over three days, starting with the Age-Group Sprint and Paratriathlon events on Friday.
Medis Lisbon ETU Triathlon European Championships 2016
Schedule:
Friday 27 May: Paratriathlon and Age-Group Sprint Triathlon
Saturday 28 May: Elite and Elite Junior
Sunday 29 May: Age-Group Standard Triathlon, Elite mixed relay and Junior mixed relay
Event Website: http://www.mediseurotrilisbon2016.com/
Great Britain Elite athletes racing in Lisbon:
Elite Women:
Lucy Hall, Jessica Learmonth, India Lee, Heather Sellars, Jodie Stimpson
Elite Men:
Marc Austin, Tom Bishop, Morgan Davies, Grant Sheldon
Junior Women:
Elisabeth Hood, Olivia Mathias, Sian Rainsley, Kate Waugh
Junior Men:
Alex Chantler Mayne, Sam Dickinson, Jack Willis, Alex Yee
Paratriathlon:
PT1: Phil Hogg, Joe Townsend, Lizzie Tench
PT2: Andy Lewis, Ryan Taylor
PT4: Dave Hill, George Peasgood, Clare Cunningham, Faye McClelland, Lauren Steadman
PT5: Alison Patrick (guide, Hazel Smith), Melissa Reid (guide, Nicole Walters)
Full start list: http://www.triathlon.org/events/event/2016_lisbon_etu_triathlon_european_championships
