Europe’s finest triathletes take centre stage in Kitzbühel for the 2014 ETU European Championships this weekend.
Stunning Kitzbühel played host to a World Triathlon series race last year and over 2,500 athletes are expected to descend on the Austrian town. This includes 1,650 Age Group athletes, a children’s race and Europe’s star-studded Elite, with one of the strongest lineups in years ready for the biggest race in the European Triathlon calendar.
In the Elite Women’s race, reigning Olympic Champion Nicola Spirig (SUI) is aiming for her fourth European Championship title. A winner in 2009, 2010 and 2012, the Swiss superstar has also won in Kitzbühel in a 2012 World Triathlon Series race.
Sadly, Lisa Norden (SWE) has had to withdraw from the race due to injury but a host of talented women will push Spirig all the way. Rachel Klamer (NED) is the defending champion and will look at this race as the ideal opportunity to get back on to the podium. Her form in 2014 has been mixed, with a top ten at the WTS in Auckland her best to date.
Vendula Frintova (CZE) has never been out of the top five in the last three European Championships but the number one spot remains elusive. She will certainly be one to watch and maybe 2014 will be her year? An impressive 10th place finish in London three weeks ago mean she is in good form going into this race.
Annamaria Mazzetti (ITA) is another athlete who has come close in previous European Championships (3rd 2011, 4th 2013) and will hope to make an impact in Kitzbühel.
In the Men’s race, Alistair Brownlee (GBR) lights up the start list. The two times European Champion will be gunning for his hat-trick after recording back to back victories in 2010 and 2011. He hasn’t competed in this competition since 2011, but since then has won in Kitzbühel in World Triathlon series races three years in a row.
He will start the race as a huge favourite but with the likes of Alessandro Fabian (ITA), Alexander Bryukhankov (RUS) and Portuguese duo Joao Silva and Joao Perreira will make life difficult for the Brit.
Perreira is in great form with two back to back top ten finishes in the World Triathlon Series, including his breakthrough podium in London three weeks ago. Joao Silva is a three time European U23 Champion and finished 6th in the 2013 World Series Rankings.
Fabian produced a stunning performance to finish second in last year’s competition in Alanya and he will be hoping to produce something as special in Kitzbühel.
The 2014 ETU European Championships will be held in Kitzbühel from 20-22 June. All races will be streamed live on the ETU website at etu.triathlon.org.
