Three big races this weekend plus the Paratriathlon World Cup. Athletes, officials and spectators will have difficulty choosing who and where to watch.
In Spain ITU are holding the Paratriathlon World Cup and no doubt there will be full coverage on the ITU pages. Our ETU attention is focussed upon the 2017 Altafulla ETU Triathlon European Cup and Mediterranean Championships. Located on the coast, we have a splendid line-up of athletes.
Altafulla is a small city located 10 km from Tarragona and one hour driving from Barcelona. The venue will be the same as in Tarragona 2017 Mediterranean Games; so this event will be an opportunity to test the course and the venue in the same conditions and dates, as in 2017. With a swim in the Mediterranean sea, a really hilly and technical bike and to finish with a totally flat run course, this will be an amazing opportunity for the athletes to compete over the Sprint Distance, with one lap of 750 m for the swim, a 4 lap bike course to make the 20k and a final 2 laps of 2.5 km.
The racing is on Sunday, Sunday 2nd July, with the Elite Women starting at 11:15 and the Elite Men at 13:00.
Prize money distribution.
- 1st. 900 EUR
- 2nd. 750 EUR
- 3rd. 600 EUR
- 4th. 450 EUR
- 5th. 300 EUR
Who is racing then?
On paper, Summer Cook USA, is a clear favourite. She won the Catania event last year as a guest athlete and had a number of World Cup podiums behind her. Recent form has not been at the same level but this race could well be the return to her previous pace. The strong swimming of Brazil’s Vittoria Lopes will potentially give Cook an advantage but it is the Spanish and Italian athletes who will be going for the medals and title. Watch out for Cecilia Santamaria Surroca ESP. A 5th in Cozumel in the Junior Women’s race, this is her chance to race the Elite over the shorter distance. Ines Santiago ESP was 4th and the two together could really boost Spain’s chance of a medal. Greece is fielding their triathlete, turned marathon runner, Deniz Dimaki. Her power on the bike and run is still there but with an open water, non-wetsuit swim, she needs to find that lead group to be in with a chance.
The men’s race is truly massive. Athletes from all over the world will race but of course, the Mediterranean title can only go to those who qualify. After a series of really solid performances, this could be the chance for Spain’s Uxío Abuín Ares to win gold. His silver in Quarteira, followed by a 5th place in a very fast Championship race in Kitzbühel and then by a top 20 in Düsseldorf shows that his stamina and pace are back. He will have to work hard against Israel’s Amitai Yonah who was clearly ahead of Abuín at the finish line last week in Germany. A better result will be hoped for on home soil by David Castro Fajardo ESP. With Abuín these two can really push the pace.