Writing about an event is always fun. Being at an event is infinitely better. Tulcea, being raced this weekend, is one event that I’d like to see first-hand.

The LOC have found an ideal location and the sporting focus there is fantastic. The LOC has the first word for this weekend’s ETU Triathlon Junior European Cup:

“Delta Rowmania ETU Triathlon Junior European Cup (3 September 2017) – a spectacular race on a beautiful course which goes along the shores of Danube river and Ciuperca lake, in Tulcea, the main gate to the Danube Delta.

The triathlon is part of RowmaniaFEST - The International Rowing Boats Festival, already at its seventh edition, a unique event in the Central and Eastern Europe, an authentic Danube Delta experience and an opportunity to discover the natural Danube Delta through its own landmarks: entertainment, tradition, culture and sports.

The Festival takes place during 1-3 September 2017, three days of paddling contest, rowing tours, triathlon, concerts on the Danube’s promenade, debates, film projections, Slow-Fish gourmet moments, presentations of social projects covering eco-tourism, slow-tourism and responsible tourism, expeditions in the Danube Delta etc.

Rowmania Fest is initiated by Mr. Ivan Patzaichin, one of the greatest athletes of Romania, born in Mila 23, a village in the Delta. Mr. Patzaichin is dedicated to the Danube Delta’s conservation and its future sustainable development as the most important eco-destination in Europe.

In a nutshell this is an opportunity to be part of a triathlon, to row and have fun for an entire weekend together with other 10,000 visitors of our festival, triathletes, canoeists and rowing amateurs and professionals from all of the Danube’s countries.”

Last year’s race was a great success.

In the women’s race, medals went to Austria, Ukraine and Azerbaijan, with Pia Totschnig taking the top prize.

This year, the Austrian is absent but, on great form at the moment and with a tough summer of racing giving her titles and medals, comes Ukraine’s Sofiya Pryyma. Silver last year but now she has the gold in her sights. She will have a good battle with Hungary’s Fanni Soós. The two have raced neck and neck this year and we can expect these two to push the pace at the front end.

With athletes from nine nations and a start list of just under twenty athletes, the spectators will get a great show.

Click here for the start-list for the Junior Women.

Last year’s winner, Gergő Soós HUN is back and will want to be at the front, defending his title and also hoping to collect some much-needed points for his Federation.

Amongst the Juniors, points that they win in ETU Triathlon Junior European Cup races are added together for the whole federation. At the end of each year, the winning three federations receive generous cheques from ETU that can then be used for further investment in the development of junior athletes.

Last year, Hungary did well last year and with some great end of season performances, stole the top position from Great Britain, with Austria taking third place.
This year, the league table looks a little different.

A threat to Soós will be Poland’s Kamil Damentka. A top ten finish in Tabor gave him confidence for the race in Malmö against the Elite. Wilhelm Hirsch GER had a great race in Riga with a bronze-medal finish. Good pace in the final run could make it hard work for Soós. He just edged out Latvia’s Savelijs Suharževskis and so we might see these two closely watching each other in this re-match.

Check out the start list here.

The junior athletes will be treated well in Tulcea. There is even prize-money for the top three.
Prize money distribution - Junior men and women

• 1st 375 EUR
• 2nd 225 EUR
• 3rd 150 EUR

The new course looks good; with greater emphasis on spectator opportunities.

We are all looking forwards to seeing how the Junior Ranking looks after this race.