The Winter Triathlon series began in earnest in with a thrilling opening race in the idyllic spot of Lygna, Norway.

Current World Champion Andreas Svanebo (SWE) won the Men’s Elite race and Hanne Trønnes (NOR) was victorious in the Women’s Elite.

The Winter Triathlon involves Running, Mountain-biking and Skiing but in the build up to the race snow had been falling and the well-prepared courses were covered with a deep layer of fresh snow. The LOC set to work at 03:30 hrs on the morning of the race to clear the fresh snow and make the surface as strong as possible for the 80 or so athletes who were to race here. The field was a mixture of European Cup participants, Norwegian National Championship athletes and a strong contingent of juniors and youths – all rubbing shoulders together.

We had been promised sunshine by the weathermen – but instead we had more snow. As the race unfolded the Technical Officials took the decision to shorten the bike segment by one lap to avoid unnecessary exposure to the biting winds that were sweeping in.

The Elite Men’s race got underway and soon settled in to a battle at the front. Kristian Monsen (NOR), broke away on the second lap of the run to try and establish a gap, knowing only too well that behind him, Svanebo and Daniel Antonioli (ITA) had considerable power for the bike and ski. As his performance in Edinburgh at the World Duathlon Championships showed, Antonioli is comfortable with or without snow and 5th place at last year’s World Championships in Eidsvoll is testament to that. Svanebo and Antonioli paced themselves, confident that they would catch Monsen on the bike.

T1 came and went. A quick and professional transition from Monsen took him out onto the bike course. Svanebo and Antonioli were not far behind and by the end of the first bike lap had caught and overtaken Monsen. The conditions on the bike were getting tougher and tougher and it was after the leading Elite Men had completed their 3rd of a planned 5 laps that all athletes were advised the bike course was to be reduced to 4 laps. At this point Antonioli was leading Svanebo by some 50 seconds and the spectators were wondering if this would be a surprise victory for him over the Swedish World Champion.

Into the final ski section and the crowd were fully behind Svanebo. He was catching Antonioli, eating into the Italian’s lead and on the final lap, about half way around he swept past the Italian to cross the line 17 seconds in front. Monsen dug in and took a very well deserved third place beating the silver medallist from Eidsvoll, Tor Halvor Bjørnstad (NOR) by a convincing margin.

In the women’s race, Hanne Trønnes was in good form and looking to remind all the other Norwegian participants that she was out to make her mark on home turf. But immediately she faced competition from Brita Mustad (NOR) who gradually broke away and, by the third lap, had established a 45 second lead. The course had been chewed up by the leading men making it a very hard day at the office for anyone who was not out in front. T1 for Mustad was quick but behind her was a powerful Trønnes.

The bike course was reduced to 8km as the snow conditions worsened and the winds swept down the valley, bringing more snow off the spectacular fir trees that lined to course.

Trønnes’ biking strength allowed her to pass Mustad and by the end of the bike she had established a three minute lead. Once out on the ski section she cruised around the technical, hilly and rather tough course to take a convincing victory. Mustad held on to cross the line in second place and some way behind her was Frida Bustad in third.

ETU president Philip Schaedler presented the medals and wished all the athletes every success for the rest of the season and in particular in the European Cup Series.