2016 Kitzbühel ETU Triathlon Junior European Cup
This year sees just the Juniors racing at this fantastic location after the sad cancellation of the Elite event.
As an ETU European Championships in 2014 this event set new standards and as the scheduled Championship host city for 2017 this event will test the ability of the LOC to deliver once again a top-quality event.
For the Juniors it will be a chance to win more points that will count for their National Federation in the ETU Rankings.
The format will be slightly different to previous years and will see the athletes compete over two days. On the Saturday (18th) we will see a Super Sprint Distance Race.
Distances for the Qualifier (Time Trial format):
- 500 m Swim
- 12.3 km Bike – 3 Laps
- 3 km Run – 2 Laps
Then on the Sunday (19th) the top 30 athletes will race the final.
- 250 m Swim
- 7.8 km Bike – 3 Laps
- 2 km Run – 2,5 Laps
So who should we look out for?
The 29 Junior Women (sounds good for the final already) come from 12 nations and we extend a special welcome to the US and Australian athletes who have made the long journey. Taylor Knibb is on paper the strongest of the three women and her silver in Chicago as a Junior last year must certainly mean that the European athletes will have a battle on their hands. USA Triathlon President, Barry Siff will be hoping for great things from her as she is ranked #1 for this race.
The European athletes will not accept defeat and amongst them are some very accomplished and determined women. Slovenia’s Eva Skaza placed in the top ten in Lisbon and comes here race fit. From Italy comes Carlotta Missaglia. Her gold medal in Melilla was an early season indication of fitness but a tough race in Lisbon did not see her repeat her form. GB’s Bronwen Owen is familiar with this race format and might be in with a chance, having secured silver in Tiszaújváros last year.
For a full start list, please click here.
The men will see 44 athletes representing 13 national federations. Once again we see athletes from outside Europe racing here – we are good, they like Europe!
Welcome to the athletes from Australia, Canada and USA. Oliver Blecher CAN and Seth Rider USA race together in the Bundesliga and will certainly be hoping to use that team work experience to their advantage. Wearing #1 and #3 respectively they lead the rankings with Aussie, Jack Van Stekelenburg taking #2.
They will be up against Israel’s Omri Bahat and the Youth Olympic gold medallist from Great Britain, Ben Dijkstra. Dijkstra comes here with a raft of podium places behind him and is very definitely one to watch when it comes to a blistering final run. If he can work with Sam Dickinson then there will be fireworks. Dickinson so narrowly missed gold in Lisbon in a super-exciting sprint finish. Fired up and fast – these two together can change the race.