The final ITU Sprint European Cup of the season takes place in Tartu this weekend.
The Estonian town got the 2013 European season underway back in January with the Winter Triathlon European Championships and this race offers a complete contrast to conditions and the course from January.
Ain-Alar Johansson, of the LOC TriSmile MTU, said: “As race organisers we are very happy to be given an opportunity to host 29 Nations at the ITU European Sprint Triathlon Cup.
“We have worked hard to put on such a high profile race in Tartu. It is a huge compliment to us and our National Federation and we hope all participants will have a good experience here.”
This is a 750m swim/ 20km bike/ 5km run course which consists of a 2 lap river swim and a 4 lap bike course on the Old Town streets of Tartu. The final run is another 2 laps through the town.
In the Elite Women’s race, Alessia Orla (ITA) has impressed with two top ten finishes in two Sprint races in 2013; 10th at Cremona and 7th at Larache (Pan-American Sprint).
Lotte Miller (NOR) and Paulina Kotfica (POL) have also recorded top ten sprint finishes, in Cremona and Holten respectively, this year and possess the speed to succeed in this intense race format.
Miller, in particular, has had a fantastic season at junior level, finishing no lower than 6th in each race, and she has shown with her performance in Cremona that she can mix it with the Elite racers.
Two of the more experienced athletes on the start list are Arina Shulgina (RUS) and Yuliya Yelistratova (UKR).
Shulgina will be buoyed by her bronze medal at the European U23 Championships in Holten but she has yet to break the top 15 of a Sprint European Cup and this race offers her that opportunity.
Yelistratova has two sprint podium finishes to her name and is capable of gaining victory here.
In the Elite Men’s race, an exciting mix of youth and experience lineup with previous winners of Sprint European Cups also in contention.
Vladimir Turbayevskiy (RUS) has enjoyed the best spell of his career over the past two years with seven victories across Asian and European Cup races.
Last month he won a Sprint Asian Cup in Burabay (KAZ) so is in excellent form. Aliaksandr Vasilevich (BEL) finished 4th in the same race and his National Federation hold high hopes for his future – one to watch here.
Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) showed his incredible race pace during the Mixed Junior Relay European Championship race in Alanya when he started his leg in 4th place and finished in the lead for Norway. He finished 6th at the Cremona Sprint Cup earlier this year and should be confident of an improvement and possible podium here.
A number for younger athletes from host nation Estonia, Belarus, Latvia, Finland, Sweden and Hungary will all make their International triathlon debuts here and it will be intriguing to watch their progress.
Live images and race commentary will be available https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tartu-Mill-Triathlon
TriSmile TV will also provide video clips and interviews of both races, courtesy of Fotovabrik.ee
RACE INFORMATION:
Sunday, 21st July
Elite Women Start List – 1200 start (local time)
Elite Men Start List – 1600 start
