This Saturday Serbia will host the Belgrade ITU Triathlon European Cup, which doubles as the Balkan Championships. A number of Beijing Olympians will toe the start line for the elite women’s and men’s races. Highlighting the women’s field are a trio of Olympians: Irina Abyssova of Russia, Deniz Dimaki of Greece and Zita Szabo of Hungary. Svetlana Blazevic and Ksenija Bodlovic will carry Serbian hopes as the only Serbians in the women’s field.
Click here for complete women’s start list
On the men’s side, double Olympian Igor Sysoev will be aiming for his third straight podium in as many weeks. The Russian has won in Poland two weeks ago and took bronze in Vienna last weekend. He’ll wear the number one start number as he faces 49 other men in the field. In all 18 countries are represented. The home team includes 7 athletes including teenager Ognjen Stojanovic who’s fresh off participating in the BG-ITU European Junior Select Camp in Tiszaujvaros, Hungary this past week. He was part of a group of 18 athletes who had the opportunity to train with some of the best coaches in Europe at the camp. Stojanovic won a European Junior Cup in Pulpi, Spain earlier this year.