Africa Triathlon

6 October, 2006

Welcome to sunny Rimini, where the best European duathletes and many triathlon specialists gathered for the weekend. Rimini already hosted the World Duathlon Championships in 2001, but now the European bests are coming in four categories (elite, U23, junior, age group). Futhermore the competiton is part of the duathlon World Series, so the athletes from all over the world can compete for better ranking position.
The Italian Federation and the local Triathlon Duathlon Rimini made a wonderful job and everything is ready for tomorrow start.

STRONG FIELD
There will be more than 500 athletes from 28 countries on the Duathlon European Championships in Rimini according to the previous start lists. Great Britain has the largest team with 140 athletes, cloesly behind there is the host Italy (108). Germany (44) and France (25) follow them on the top.

The defending male champion Jurgen Dereere from Belgium obviously wants to keep his gold position for this event as well. Has the former silver medalist Filip Ospaly from Czech Republic a chance to beat him? He is in a very good shape as he finished 4th on the Beijing BG World Cup two weeks ago.

The first three women - Vendula Frintova/ CZE, Ana Burgos/ESP, Erika Csomor/HUN from the last year championships will compete on Saturday as well. The main opponent comes from the triathlon world. The multiple triathlon European Champion and World Cup winner Vanessa Fernandes from Portugal will do her best to surprise the defending medallists and extend her medal collection with a special duathlon one here in Rimini.
Triathletes against duathletes?
We will see tomorrow…

PRE-INTERVIEWS

Vendula Frintova (CZE)
The concurrency is much better than last year was in Debrecen. Vanassa Fernandes is on the start list… Anyway I did not prepare especially for this race, because the triathlon is my main discipline and I will compete last two triathlon world cups in November. But as defending champion I will do my best tomorrow.

Erika Csomor (HUN)
I am a little bit tired, because of the long season. According to my experiences the autumn is not my season. My outstanding results are originated from the first part of the year. In 2005 I competed in a huge pressure at home, in Hungary. In Rimini I am going to get rid of the home stress. So I will do everything for my best performance.

Benny Vansteelant (BEL)
I have a very good memory from Rimini. There was a great World Chapionships in 2001. This time is a little bit different, because this year I am focusing more the long distance. Few weeks ago I was in Zofingen and then I took a rest. Finally I am not in my top shape, but I am still not here as a tourist. I will do my best. About the favourits of the Champs we have four guys in the Belgian team who are very strong and we have to calculate on Lino Barruncho from Portugal, Filip Ospaly from Czech Republic, Sergey Yakolev from Russia and also the French team.

Alessandro Alessandri (ITA)
I am at home here in Rimini. I know all corners of the courses very well. The course seems to be easy and fast, but very technical at the same time. And the wind may make a game of the participants. My family and friends will support me along the courseand it will be fantastic.

Sergio Santos (head coach - POR)
Vanessa likes the duathlon. She was junior world champion in Switzerland, in 2003. We have already finished with the triathlon world cup for this year. She is already the winner of the world cup series. Three months ago when we spoke about the season and I asked her opinion about racing in Rimini to finish the season. She was really happy with the decision, because she likes to be with the duathletes, to learn. Anyway the main goals of the season have already been achieved, so she just comes for fun. If she can win, she will do it.

Stay tuned on etu-triathlon.org and triathlon.org for more details of the weekend, results, photo gallery,…
For more information and high resulution photos, please contact Zita Csovelyak. (etu-office@triathlon.org and +36304785717)