Aurélien Raphael and Ainhoa Murua were victorious in the European Triathlon season's opener in Quarteira.

Raphael lead home a French one-two, just pipping compatriot Pierre Le Corre to victory by four seconds. It was Raphael's fist European win since June 2010 and is a huge statement of intent in this most important of triathlon years.

Murua was dominant throughout at the front of the field and the Spanish veteran records her second International career victory.

ELITE MEN

For the second year in a row, the Quarteira European Cup was dominated by French athletes. In 2011, it was the turn of Vincent Luis and Frederic Belaubre to lead home a top two finish and the status quo was maintained in 2012 by Aurélien Raphael and Pierre Le Corre.

Fernando Alarza (ESP)  maintained his fine International form at the start of 2012 with his second podium finish in two races, and his first European podium since making the step up from Junior to Elite level.

Just outside the podium positions was home athlete Joao Pereira, the highest Portugese finisher in the race.

ELITE WOMEN

Ainhoa Murua (ESP) made a fine start to the 2012 season with her first victory since a European Cup race in Palermo in 2005. The Spaniard gave a dominant performance from start to finish to secure the victory in 2:03:00.

She finished ahead of Aileen Morrison (IRE) and Carole Peon (FRA) who completed the podium. Morrison was 11th after the 1500m swim but a solid bike ride and superb transition and run, in which she posted the fastest 10km time of the day, enabled her to clinch a podium place.