Kitzbühel in the Austrian Alps played host to the Europe Triathlon Sprint and Mixed Relay Championships from 18-20 June, with Great Britain returning as European Mixed Relay Champions.
Comprising individual Junior, U23 and elite racing, the weekend started on Friday 18 June with the male and female supersprint semi-finals for each category. The semi-finals qualified athletes for the final on the Saturday which saw athletes race across the supersprint distance in A and B finals for Junior and U23/elite.
Olivia Mathias was the fastest Brit in the U23/Elite Women’s A Final, finishing fifth overall. Mathias and fellow Brits Sian Rainsley and Sophie Alden were the first out of the water, however in was German Laura Lindermann who set the pace on the bike.
Mathias was part of the lead group that entered into T2 in succession before heading out on the run. Leonie Periot (FRA) led on the first leg of the run, but it was Lindemann who showed her strength to take the tape and become European Champion.
Crossing the line fifth, Mathias was the second fastest U23 athlete, coming home with silver from the European U23 Championships.
Rainsley finished seventh and Alden nineth overall, with Alden finishing fourth fastest in the U23s.
Reflecting on her result, Mathias said: I just tried to enjoy the whole process of racing again, I got so nervous for Leeds I lost that aspect of racing so my main aim was to go out and have fun! I’d also lost a lot of confidence in myself so was nice to prove to myself one race doesn’t define your fitness.”
In the U23/Elite Men’s A Final, Sam Dickinson finished seventh, with Conner Bentley a matter of seconds behind in nineth. Gordon Benson was the only other Brit in the race, crossing the line in 26th.
Dickinson was on the heels of the leaders heading out of T2 and onto the run. Swiss athlete Max Studer proved too strong on the run for the rest of the field to win, with a train of top-ten athletes including Dickinson and Bentley crossing the line in quick succession.
Dan Dixon was the sole Brit in the Junior Men’s A Final having won his semi-final the day before. Leaving the water at the front of the field, the young Brit rode well to put himself in a good position heading onto the run.
He was amongst the leaders at the end of the first run lap, crossing the line second as German Henry Graf ran clear to win.
Beth Cook and Daisy Davies raced in the Junior Women’s A Final having both finished sixth in their semi-finals. Cook ran the fifth fastest run time of the race as she finished 13th and Davies 30th.
Across the B Finals, Matt Howard finished first in the Junior Men’s race with fellow Brit Joe Sherman fifth. Cameron Main finished 16th in the U23/Elite Men’s B Final and Sophia Green 26th in the women’s.
Sunday 20 June saw national teams battle it out in the Junior mixed relay and U23/Elite combined mixed relay races.
Rainsley, Dickinson, Mathias and Benson teamed up for the U23/Elite race, crossing the line in a total time of 01:09:18 to win gold, 18 seconds clear of second-placed Germany.
The critical gap was established by Dickinson’s bike and run, and the handover to Mathias who completed her swim with a seven-second lead. Benson crossed the line for Britain as the quartet became European Champions.
Mathias said of her second medal of the weekend: “I always enjoy racing in mixed relay, it’s so nice to be able to race with the team and to win was the cherry on top for the whole trip.”
The Junior mixed relay saw Cook, Dixon, Davies and Howard come together and finish fourth as Germany took the title.
The four young Brits showcased their talent across the course to finish in a combined time of 01:13:06
All the results from the three days of racing are available below.
