Izvorani Junior Cup Preview
The Europe Triathlon Junior Cup continues in Izvorani, Romania, where a large international field will line up for another opportunity to test themselves on the European stage. More than 80 athletes from across Europe will compete in an exciting weekend of racing with mixed relay races also taking place in Romania.
Junior Men
Home hopes will be high as Romania fields one of the largest squads in Izvorani, with 11 athletes set to race on home soil. Alexandru-Rares Popa leads the Romanian challenge and starts with bib number one, while Rares Andrei Laiu and Fabian Stefan Paun will also look to make an impact near the front of the race. Alexandru-Rares Popa finished inside the top ten in the Ohrid Development Cup last month and will look to grow from this at the weekend.
Romania's younger generation is strongly represented, with several 2009 and 2010-born athletes gaining valuable experience on the international stage. Rares Mihai Dobre, Rares Bobe, Andrei-Victor Lupan, Mihnea Daniel Giura, and Tudor-Mihai Costea are among those looking to impress in front of the home crowd.
Croatia arrives with one of the strongest teams in the field, with nine athletes lining up in Izvorani. Vito Linarić starts with bib number two and is one of the youngest athletes in the field, born in 2010. Konrad Kralj and Jan Štefanac add further strength to the Croatian team, while Patrik Dinjar and Juraj Janković will also aim for a strong performance.
Kazakhstan brings two athletes to Izvorani, with Arseniy Shevchenko starting in bib number three and Alham Murat wearing bib number six. Both will look to challenge among a diverse international field.
Turkey also has two athletes competing, with Dorukalp Azizoğlu and Seymur Anthony Caglayan representing the nation. Caglayan hasn’t races since 2025 with Azizoğlu finishing 18th last year in the same race.
Great Britain, Italy, Hungary, Estonia, Spain, Moldova, and Israel add further international depth to the start list. William Pridden and Alexander Rix lead the British challenge, while Italy fields four athletes including Leone Aruffo, Riccardo Mannini, Davide Faldini, and Edi Roiz.
Israel brings one of the largest delegations outside of the host nation, with 13 athletes set to race. Yoav Yannay and Erel Levy lead the Israeli contingent, while several younger athletes, including Nir Ben Asher and Leon Hirsh Gimpelson, will gain valuable Junior Cup experience.
A number of athletes take to the international stage for the first time this weekend with them all looking to start their international career off well in Romania.
Junior Women
30 athletes line up on the startline in the Junior Women's race with more home hopes resting on Tunde Georgiana Crisan who starts in number three. Raluca Vilcu also begins with a high starting position at bib number six and will be among the athletes looking to challenge near the front.
Kazakhstan's Diana Yerzhanova leads the field and starts with bib number one. The 2007-born athlete will look to set the pace in Izvorani, with Kazakhstan bringing one of the strongest international squads to the race. Alongside Yerzhanova, Alua Nurmuhamet, Aida Kim, and Kaleriya Shneider add further depth to the Kazakh team.
Turkey also arrives with a strong pair of athletes, led by Mürya Karayel, who starts with bib number two. Ayşe Simay Sahan, born in 2010, joins Karayel on the start list as she continues to gain valuable experience at junior level with races in Wels and Olsztyn already this season for Sahan.
Romania's next generation of athletes is strongly represented, with several younger competitors gaining experience on the European stage. Madalina Giorcovici, born in 2011, is one of the youngest athletes in the field, while Andra Cinciulescu is another 2011-born competitor making her mark in the Junior Cup.
Bulgaria brings two athletes to Izvorani, with Mirolyuba Nenkova and Stefani Mihaylova both looking to make an impact. Serbia's Petra Vasilić also lines up, while Czechia is represented by Nela Bednárová.
Estonia's Etriin Etverk starts with bib number four and will be one of the athletes to watch, with Minna Li Mäesepp also joining her teammate in Romania. Hungary brings a talented group of athletes, including Bernadett Nyíri, Kira Dobrovoczky, Miléna Kovács, and Emma Urban. Urban, born in 2007, brings additional experience to the Hungarian team.
Italy's challenge is led by Giorgia Abbatantuono and Alice Ventre, with both athletes aiming to compete strongly in an international field. Moldova's Flaviana Panzaru completes the international representation.
All start lists can be found here.