The second ever ETU Cross Triathlon European Championships will take place this Saturday September 13th on the Island of Ameland in the Netherlands.  Twenty-two elite men and nine elite women will decide who becomes the next European champion. The championships consist of a chilly 1500-meter swim in the Wadden sea followed by a mountain bike course of 35 kilometres which takes the participants through the polder, dunes, forests and over the sandy beach. The race ends with a 12-kilometer run that also goes through dunes, forest and over the beach. 

Over two days more than 500 athletes compete on Ameland. Making it one of the biggest cross triathlon races in Europe.  The weather forecast is dry and not warm. The harsh easterly wind will make the cycling on the beach particularly hard as the athletes will face the wind on the 8-kilometer stretch.

Last year the European Cross Triathlon Championships were held in Santa Eularia des Riu, Spain.  The inaugural event was won by Carina Wasle of Austria on the women’s side.  Wasle, best known for her regular podium appearances on the ITU Winter Triathlon circuit, will defend her title this weekend.  Last year’s silver medallist Sibylle Matter will also be racing looking to get back on the podium.

The Spanish men swept the podium last year much to the delight of the home crowd.  Eneko Llanos led the sweep by taking gold in a thrilling finish over his brother Hector.  Ruben Bravo completed the all-Spanish podium with the bronze. 

2007 Ibiza ETU Cross Triathlon European Championships
Women’s Results
Gold - Carina Wasle (AUT) 1:34:12
Silver - Sibylle Matter (AUT) 1:35:51
Bronze - Ingrid Van Lubek (NED) 1:37:30

2007 Ibiza ETU Cross Triathlon European Championships
Men’s Results
Gold - Eneko Llanos (ESP) 1:23:03
Silver - Hector Llanos (ESP) 1:23:04
Bronze - Ruben Bravo (ESP) 1:25:13

Click here for more event information

Click here for the official website of the Ameland ETU Cross Triathlon Championships