Team Ireland at the Kitzbühel European Champs

This weekend sees the 2021 Europe Triathlon Sprint and Relay Championships Kitzbühel take place in Austria. Returning for the first time since the 2019 event in Weert, we are promised three days of thrilling racing from one of the most scenic locations on the circuit.

Taking place over the Super Sprint distance, this shorter version of racing means more opportunity to compete, with semi-finals taking place today, Friday, and finals on Saturday. Triathlon Ireland’s High Performance Director Stephen Delaney explains;

“It’s an exciting format and it gives people more opportunity to race as well.  The junior champs have had this format for quite a while and it works well.“

While the 500 metre swim, 12 km bike and 3km run might appear easier on paper – this fast and furious course holds some challenges;

“There’s a very sharp hill on the bike course and it’s a very technical decent afterwards with a 180 degree turn. It’s a biker’s course. Then it’s a hard run as well. It’s a good course and the atmosphere here is really good.

“Kitzbühel is the location of locations in world triathlon – it’s just stunning”

Delaney is looking forward to be fielding a team at the event and, following all the necessary protocols, to have the opportunity for the group of triathletes to race at Championship level once more; “We’re very grateful to Sport Ireland and the Return to Sport Group for giving us the permission to travel to this event and to take this opportunity.”

Manthey and Pollard in Senior Event

In the Elite Men’s event, Ian Manthey races for the first time since Arzachena World Cup a couple of weeks ago. In a competitive men’s field, Manthey can’t wait to take on the challenging bike course, Stephen Delaney says;

“He’s feeling good, looking forward to it and he’s delighted with the bike course. Really looking forward to tackling that.”

Chloe Pollard last raced at the 2021 Africa Triathlon Cup Yasmine Hammamet where she finished seventh. The strong swimmer will be hoping to get into the front pack of the bike;

“We’d expect her to be close to the front coming out of the swim. It’ll be a hard bike course so a good chance to see the improvements she has made. There’s opportunities in this short format of this racing, in particular developing the skill and being comfortable in this environment.“

Maeve Gallagher & Erin McConnell in U23

Maeve Gallagher and Erin McConnell will both take on their first Under 23 European Championship this weekend, with the semi-final taking place later today. It’s a step-up in championship level for both athletes, something the pair are looking forward to;

“For Maeve, she will be looking now to back up a solid swim in Arzachena and the bike here will really, really suit her. She’s raced this format at youth level so she has that positive experience and has the pace to run well here.“

“Erin has raced Super League previously and done really well so she has that experience. She hasn’t raced this year yet but she is looking forward to this opportunity and to seeing what happens.”

Kulczynski tackles final Junior European Championship

Now in his final year as a junior athlete, Sabian Kulczynski will be hoping to make his mark this weekend. Sabian is familiar with this format of racing having competed previous junior super sprint events as well as the junior Super League.

“Sabian raced the European Youth Champs here but unfortunately crashed out on the bike course so he is really looking forward to returning and doing the course, he knows it. It’s also his last year as a junior so his last chance at junior European level.“

Mixed Team Relay

On Sunday, Ireland will field a team in the Mixed Team Relay European Championships. The team will be announced over the weekend.

How to Watch

All of the action will be streamed for free on https://europe.triathlon.org/live/, or if you have a triathlonlive.tv subscription, you can tune in there.

Friday, 18th June
12:15 Semifinals Elite/U23 Women
14:30 Highlights Semi-finals Juniors
14:55 Semifinals Elite/U23 Men 

Saturday, 19th June
9:45 Finals Juniors Women/Men
15:15 Finals Elite/U23 Women/Men

Sunday, 20th June
15:00 Mixed Team Relay Elite/U23