Last week we had great racing in Fredericia, Tulcea and Karlovy Vary and this weekend will see a huge haul of medals for Age Group athletes aa they race the half-distance in Walchsee.
Challenge Walchsee-Kaiserwinkl is situated in one of the most scenic places in the Austrian Tyrol with its spectacular mountain views and crystal clear lake. The race begins in the lake at the foot of the imposing Kaiser mountain range close to the German and Italian borders. Walchsee is 1.9km long and the water is so clear you can drink it. The 90km bike course is 2-laps (each 45km) through the beautiful region of Kaiserwinkl with spectacular mountain views and will, over the 90k see a total of 1,100 m of climbing.
The 21k run is pretty flat, well, not entirely, as there are a few hills to keep things interesting! Athletes will be running along the lake shores before heading off to run past farmhouses with their colourful window boxes and through alpine meadows and always there will be the views up to the Kaiser Massif and down to Lake Walchsee. The finish line is situated in the heart of Walchsee, next to the transition area with beautiful view on the lake and on the Kaiser Massif and it is here that the crowds enthusiastically cheer the athletes as they finish their race.
One thing that is rather special to this event … a final treat for athletes at the end of the race. This region is renowned for its Kaiserchmarrn; a delicious pancake dessert that’s sure to put power back into tired limbs – most athletes can’t get enough of it in the recovery tent!
This event is one more example of the several years of cooperation between ETU and the CHALLENGE FAMILY GmbH and this event will be the first time that the official European Middle Distance Triathlon Championships are held in Austria.
Prize-money for the Elite amounts to €19,000
- 1st. 3,500 EUR
- 2nd. 2,100 EUR
- 3rd. 1,400 EUR
- 4th. 1,150 EUR
- 5th. 850 EUR
- 6th. 500 EUR
For full race details, please click this link.
It will be the Elite who race for money but the vast majority of athletes here this weekend will be Age-Groupers. There will also be strong competition amongst the para-athletes.
For the full listing, please click here.
Follow the leaders.
Next up and in Spain, is the inaugural 2016 Banyoles ETU Triathlon Clubs European Championships. This was the race planned for last year in Nice but, due to the deadly storms that wrecked the region, leaving behind it a trail of death and destruction, the race was cancelled and only now do we get a chance to see this exciting new format of racing.
Victory will not just be medals for the mixed relay team but also €17,000.
Prize money distribution. Mixed Team Relays
- 1st. 4,250 EUR
- 2nd. 3,400 EUR
- 3rd. 2,550 EUR
- 4th. 1,700 EUR
- 5th. 1,360 EUR
- 6th. 1,190 EUR
- 7th. 1,020 EUR
- 8th. 680 EUR
- 9th. 510 EUR
- 10th. 340 EUR
20 teams will race against each other, representing 10 federations. The biggest team presence is from Belgium, Italy and the hosts, Spain. Each nation has three teams set to do battle.
We await the final decision about who is racing but keep checking the start lists for updated information.
Our final race of the weekend is in Slovenia.
A more picturesque location you are unlikely to find. Lake Bled really is beautiful. The 2016 Bled ETU Triathlon Junior European Cup will once again be a super-sprint and will be located at the Mala Zaka Rowing Centre. This has been the venue for the past 12 years and has seen ETU Prestige races and ETU Junior Cups over the years between 2004 and 2015. The venue is walking distance from Bled city centre.
The 400m swim takes place at the rowing centre, with the bike, over 2-laps, covering 13k but with a tough climb on each lap. The run, 3.3k is along the lake shore to the city centre of Bled and back.
Head of organizers is Miro Kregar, Vice-President of the Slovenian Triathlon Federation and he has arranged a special treat for anyone wanting to follow the race.
LINKS ETU JUNIOR CUP BLED 2016:
43 Women will race. 11 nations will be there and some of the fastest Juniors in Europe will be testing themselves over this super-fast course. Eva Skaza SLO, wears the top number and will be hoping for a home advantage. Sofiya Pryyma UKR with a gold and a silver already this year will be hoping to maintain her form from last week in Tulcea but will have a tough fight on her hands against Austria’s Therese Feuersinger who won bronze here last year. Fellow Austrian, Pia Totschnig must still be buzzing from her victory in Tulcea and she will pose the biggest threat to the other athletes. Along with Daryna Moskalenko AZE we can expect a fast and determined race from the Junior Women.
For a full start list, please click here.
Amongst the men we have a massive line-up. 75 athletes; 15 nations and leading the rankings, from Hong Kong, comes Oscar Coggins. He will have a tough race against the others, who come here fired up from recent performances. The Austrians played great tactical cards last weekend in Tulcea and that delivered medals a-plenty. Lukas Gstaltner and Philip Pertl took bronze and silver thanks to the hard work of their teammates, which was combined with their own pace and determination. However, nobody was able to beat Hungary’s Gergő Soós and he really is the man to beat on this course.
