The people of Limerick could be forgiven for waking up this morning with the strains of ‘Le Marseillaise’ still echoing in their ears. The French national anthem was called into action three times in the closing ceremony of the European Duathlon Championships as the team conquered the podium, winning three out of four elite events.

Limerick is the European City of Sport for 2011 and fully justified the title after hosting a fantastic Championships. The City was bathed in glorious sunshine for the majority of the weekend and a passionate and enthusiastic crowd gave great encouragement to all of the athletes over the two days of action.

WOMENS ELITE & U23 RACE REVIEW

There was nothing to separate the field of the Women’s Elite race after the first two laps of the first run segment. Sandra Levenez (FRA) and Ruth Van der Meijden (NED) were leading at the front but the pack was close together. On Lap 3, Levenez made a break and established a lead which she maintained into T1. Van Der Meijden and Godard (FRA) tried to stay with her and they were both neck and neck into T1, ten seconds behind Levenez. Over the bike course the field became fragmented. The top three of Levenez, Van Der Meijden and Godard built up a commanding lead and they exchanged order at the front many times in what developed into a real tactical race with the two French athletes working together. The battle for fourth was also close with Schulz (GER), Cassan-Ferrier (FRA) and Csomor (HUN) tight together. Csomor had been behind on the run but made up excellent ground on the bike. Cassan-Ferrier was the leading U23 athlete but holding her own amongst the more experienced pack and young Alice Capone (ITA) was some distance behind.

The top three all entered T2 neck and neck but it was Levenez who exited just ahead of Van der Meijden. Levenez then made another break which would define her race. With one lap to go she had a clear lead which she extended and ended up cruising home to victory in a time of 1:53:02. Van der Meijden finished over thirty seconds behind Levenez, but comfortably in second place ahead of Godard. Cassan-Ferrier finished strongly and in fifth place overall to win the U23 title.

We must also pay tribute to brave Alice Capone. The 20 year old was lapped by the leading pack and was always some distance behind throughout the race. But she kept on going much to the delight of the crowd who cheered her all around the course.

Speaking after her victory, Levenez said: “Today, I’m really happy to win. Last year I finished 7th and I have been working really hard and I did my best.

“On the last lap, I knew that if I maintained my pace I would win and so I really enjoyed the last km.”

MENS ELITE & U23 RACE REVIEW

There was a real international flavour to the Men’s race with a host of European nationalities being joined by two Australian athletes. Pavel Andreev (RUS), who had such a successful winter triathlon season, also lined up at the start. Local heroes Robert Wade (IRL) and Mike Yelverton (IRL) enjoyed strong support from the home crowd which created a fantastic atmosphere for what proved to be a thrilling race.

The leading pack were quickly into their stride and after a couple of laps, ten athletes were at the front jockeying for position. It was really open and anyone’s race at this stage with only seven seconds separating the first group as they entered T1. The U23 trio of Gunby (GBR), Arraiolos (POR) and Uccellari (ITA) were right in the mix with the older Elites after the first run segment.

But after a speedy transition, it was Mark Buckingham (GBR) who emerged at the front from T1 and onto the bike closely followed by Lino Barruncho (POR). Benoit (FRA), Baugh (AUS), Del Corral Morales (ESP) and Wylie (GBR) were all lurking behind in the pack. There was a bit of a gap back to Wade (IRL), who was becoming isolated as he led Hobby (GBR) and Vicente (ESP) by eighteen seconds but couldn't close make any ground at the front.

There were many exchanges of the lead over the 40km bike course. Del Corral Morales (ESP) held a narrow advantage at the front on the final bike lap but as they entered T2 it was U23 athlete, Miguel Arraiolos (POR) who was the overall leader. The leading pack had been cut to six with fellow Portugese athlete Barruncho, Nicolas (FRA), Del Corral Morales (ESP), Valenti (FRA) and Baugh (AUS) all following Arraiolos out of T2 and onto the final run segment. Buckingham (GBR) had slipped back on the final bike laps and dropped out of contention for the lead.

It remained anyone’s race with one final push required from the athletes if they were to claim victory. Ultimately, it was the Frenchman Nicolas who made a break which the rest of the pack could not live with. Del Corral Morales (ESP) battled hard but couldn’t catch him and Nicolas crossed the line in a winning time of 1:40:21. Del Corral Morales finished second, fifteen seconds behind Nicolas and just ahead of Australian Raphael Baugh, who impressed amongst his European counterparts. There was a touching moment for the two Portugese athletes, Barruncho and Arraiolos who crossed the line one after the other, with Arraiolos confirmed as the U23 winner and fifth place overall. It was a great performance by the U23’s as Gunby and Uccellari also finished in the top seven overall with 6th and 7th respectively. Robert Wade (IRL) delighted the home crowd with an 8th place category finish.

It was a special day for Nicolas who was also celebrating his birthday and his victory was the perfect present. He said: “It was a strange race, it was very close. I had a good first run but I had some difficulty in the early part of the bike.

“I am a stronger runner than on the bike and so I knew that if I could stay close to the front I could win on the last run. It was hard but I managed to leave T2 in second place and I finished strongly.”

JUNIOR RACES

Matthias Steinwandter (ITA) gave a commanding performance in the Men’s Junior Elite race. The Italian lead from the start and finished with a lead of over ninety seconds from Gordon Benson (GBR) in second place. Hugo Alves (POR) was third. Steinwandter’s winning time was 0:57:17.

Renata Fuchs (HUN) just pipped Lucy Hall (GBR) to victory in the Women’s Junior Elite race. The leading four athletes were involved in a close race from start to finish. Nothing could separate Fuchs (HUN), Hall (GBR), Petrini (ITA) and Schwiening (GBR) throughout the first run and bike. But it was Fuchs who emerged the strongest on the final run. She was in third place leaving T2 but attacked at the right time and crossed the line five second ahead of Hall in a time of 1:03:58.

OPEN RACE

A special mention must go to Team ETU who competed in the Open Race. President Philip Schädler, Vice-President Helmut Kaufmann and Secretary General Jem Lawson formed a relay team in the 3km-20km-3km course.

Philip Schädler led the way with a run of 16:51. Jem Lawson powered through the bike laps in 26:51 and Helmut Kaufmann brought the team home with a final run time of 15:16. A total time of 1:01:37 gave a 156th place finish overall, but a second place category finish.


The full list of results from the European Duathlon Championships can be on found here.