The penultimate stop of the 2026 Europe Triathlon Cup calendar takes athletes to Alanya, Türkiye, where more than 100 competitors will line up on the shores of the Mediterranean as the season approaches its conclusion. Alanya, is the oldest race on the Europe Triathlon calendar and always supplies an exiting race with this weekend hoping to do the same.
Elite Men
Martin Hubner arrives in Alanya following a successful season that has seen him claim multiple medals. His most recent podium came at the World Triathlon Cup in Rome, while the French athlete also secured gold in Wels earlier in the year. He will be looking to carry that form into the penultimate race of the season.
Starting just behind him in bib number two is Germany’s Jan Semmler, who is still searching for the first gold medal of his elite career. Having raced in Ceuta just a few weeks ago, Semmler will be hoping that recent competition has put him in the right mindset to challenge for the top spot in Alanya.
Belgium’s Joris Bassle also arrives with recent race experience, having secured a top-ten finish in Tenerife two weeks ago. That was his second outing in October, following his previous result in Elbląg in August. Bassle will be aiming to round off his season with another strong performance on the Mediterranean coast.
Great Britain’s Sam Hart narrowly missed out on a medal in Tenerife, finishing fourth and improving on his sixth-place finish in Derry in September. Hart also raced in Alanya last year, where he finished fourth, matching his result in Tenerife. With the season drawing to a close, he will be determined to turn another strong performance into a place on the podium.
Home support will be firmly behind Taha Eren Coşgun, who leads the Turkish contingent in the start list with bib number ten. Just behind him, wearing bib number 11, is France’s Etienne Le Roux, who claimed bronze in the City of Derry earlier this season and will be looking to build on that result.
Croatia’s Gabriel Barac has not raced since Pontevedra but has already enjoyed success this year, claiming gold at the World Triathlon Development Cup in Vlasina Lake. As the only male athlete representing Croatia in Alanya, he will be hoping to add another positive result to his season.
Lucas García Picón has spent much of his recent racing campaign on home soil, competing in Pontevedra, Ceuta and Tenerife. Alanya will mark his first race away from Spain since Elbląg, presenting a different challenge as he looks to maintain his form without the familiar support of the home crowd.
Mack Downey heads to Türkiye with plenty of momentum after a standout season. The British athlete claimed the U23 Duathlon World Championship title in Pontevedra before following it up with gold at the Africa Triathlon Cup in Larache. He will be keen to carry that winning form into Alanya as he looks to finish the season strongly.
The Turkish home crowd will have seven athletes to support across the men’s field, including Burak Cağdaş, who already has experience of competing in front of home fans after racing at the World Triathlon Development Cup in Gallipoli in June.
Following a series of strong performances from American athletes on the Europe Triathlon Cup circuit, Aiden Monistere will be hoping to continue that momentum. The American makes his elite debut in Alanya after claiming gold in his age group in Pontevedra and silver at the Junior Cup in Derry.
Elite Women
A more compact field of 36 athletes will contest the Elite Women’s race, with Germany’s Anabel Knoll leading the start list. Knoll has experienced a mixed season, with her standout result coming in Kitzbühel, where she secured third place. She has since continued to demonstrate her consistency, recording top-ten finishes in Wels, Tata and the City of Derry. She will be aiming to turn that consistency into another podium finish in Alanya.
Hungary’s Dominika Peszleg starts just behind Knoll and will also be looking to rediscover her medal-winning form. She claimed gold at the World University Triathlon Championships in August but has yet to replicate that success on the Europe Triathlon Cup circuit. Alanya presents another opportunity to challenge for the podium.
Germany’s Felipa Herrmann arrives following a recent gold medal at the Africa Triathlon Cup in Monastir, alongside a top-ten finish in Coimbra. Although a 17th-place finish in Tenerife was not the result she would have hoped for, Herrmann has already shown her ability to compete at the front of the field and will be aiming to return to the podium in Alanya.
Junior World silver medallist Anouk Danna returns to racing for the second time since Pontevedra. The Swiss athlete claimed silver at the Junior World Championships before recording a DNF in Rome just one week later. After a few weeks away from competition, Danna will be hoping that the break has allowed her to recover fully and arrive ready to challenge on the streets of Alanya.
Isabela Hayes finished just outside the top ten in Tenerife but has already demonstrated her potential this season, claiming bronze at the World University Triathlon Championships in August. Starting in bib number seven, she will be looking to build on that success, while Carlotta Bülck, who claimed bronze in the City of Derry, will also be targeting another strong result.
Italy’s Sara Crociani recorded her best result of the season with a fifth-place finish in Ceuta. She will be hoping to improve on that performance in Alanya and finish the campaign on a high.
Serbia’s Lana Gavrilović added another medal to her collection with silver at the World Triathlon Development Cup in Vlasina Lake. Following a 12th-place finish in Cholpon-Ata, she will be aiming to break into the top ten in Türkiye.
Representing the host nation in the Elite Women’s race is Mürya Karayel, the only Turkish athlete in the field. Although she will be racing against a competitive international line-up, the home crowd will be firmly behind her as she looks to make the most of racing on familiar soil.
With the penultimate stop of the 2026 Europe Triathlon Cup season offering another opportunity to secure valuable results, Alanya promises a competitive weekend of racing.
You can find the full start lists here.
Photo: Yagyshoots
