With only a week to go until the 2014 ETU European Triathlon Championships, aniticipation and excitement is growing as Europe’s best athletes prepare for the challenge of Kitzbühel.

Reigning Olympic Champions Alistair Brownlee (GBR) and Nicola Spirig (SUI) will race and are amongst one of the strongest lineups at a European Championships event in years.

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.

In the Women’s Elite race, defending European Champion Rachel Klamer (NED) will be up against Spirig and Lisa Norden (SWE), who will evoke memories of their iconic London 2012 photo finish where the Swiss athlete claimed Olympic Gold.

Spirig is a double European Champion, will her victories in even numbers (2010, 2012) set a precedent for 2014? She also won here in Kitzbühel in 2012 at a World Triathlon Series race in what was a remarkable year. Norden has been on the European Champion podium twice, with two thirds in 2008 and 2010.

Alistair Brownlee is also a double European Champion, with back to back victories in 2010 (Athlone) and 2011 (Pontevedra). He has since embarked on World domination, including his Olympic Gold, and this will be his first European Championship since his victory in Spain.

The 2014 ETU European Championships will be held in Kitzbühel from 20-22 June. The Elite races will be streamed live on the ETU (etu.triathlon.org) and ITU (www.triathlon.org) websites.