World Triathlon

Andreas Svanebo and Carina Wasle took the gold in Petzen-Bleiburg.

Last Saturday the popular winter resort of Carinthia, Austria hosted the next stop of the winter triathlon season in 2008. The international debut of Petzen-Bleiburg was very successful, as over 80 athletes with huge home field competed for the European Cup titles.

In the men’s field the pre-race favourite Andreas Svanebo of Sweden won the race with his great cross-county skiing achievement in a time of 55 minutes 27 seconds. Svanebo was followed by Heinz Planitzer from Austria (55:39) and the former Austrian world champion Sigi Bauer (55:52). A week before the ETU Winter Triathlon European Championships with his victory the reigning European Champion Svanebo confirmed his purpose to defend his title in Gaishorn.

Petzen-Bleiburg Winter Triathlon European Cup – 26 January, 2008
6 km run, 10 km bike, 8 km cross country skiing
Final Elite Men’s results
1. Andreas Svanebo (SWE) 0:55:27
2. Heinz Planitzer (AUT) 0:55:39
3. Sigi Bauer (AUT) 0:55:52
4. Silvio Wieltschnig (AUT) 0:57:28
5. Werner Uran (AUT) 0:58:22

For complete results please click here

In the women’s race Carina Wasle swept the gold medal easily. She was in the lead from the beginning and beat the silver medallist Marlies Penker almost 4 minutes. A further 2 minutes back Claudia Meisterhofer finished in third position. All medallists came from Austria.

Petzen-Bleiburg Winter Triathlon European Cup – 26 January, 2008
6 km run, 10 km bike, 8 km cross country skiing
Final Elite Women’s results
1. Carina Wasle (AUT) 1:04:36
2. Marlies Penker (AUT) 1:08:24
3. Klaudia Meisterhofer (AUT) 1:10:22
4. Angelika Perfler (AUT) 1:14:32
5. Ulrike Striednig (AUT) 1:14:55

For complete results please click here

The winter triathlon show goes on at the Gaishorn ETU Winter Triathlon European Championships this weekend in Austria. The elite races will be on Saturday 2 February and the Age-Group athletes and the team relays will compete on Sunday 3 February.

Click here for the Petzen-Bleiburg Winter Triathlon European Cup event page

Click here for the Gaishorn Am See ETU Winter Triathlon European Championships event page

Click here for the entire ITU Winter Triathlon calendar

Click here to see photos from Petzen-Bleiburg, Austria