Africa Triathlon

From duathlons to triathlons in Africa and Europe, the 2013 season carried on this weekend with Spain dominating the Banyoles ITU Premium European Cup, while South Africa swept the Potchefstroom ATU Duathlon African Championships.

Banyoles ITU Premium European Cup
Spanish athletes delighted the home crowd at Banyoles as they claimed four out of six podium places at the ITU Premium European Cup race. In the women’s race, Agnieszka Jerzyk (POL) got her 2013 season off to the perfect start with victory. This was Jerzyk’s first international race of the year and she put in a fantastic display to win her first European Cup since 2011 in Karlovy Vary. Spain’s success continued with Ainhoa Murua and Tamara Gomez Garrido claiming the remaining podium positions to bring their medal total to four. Garrido will be particularly pleased as this is her first career podium.

Fernando Alarza maintained his brilliant start to 2013, as he secured his second European Cup victory of the season in the men’s race. It came down to the final run as five athletes remained in contention approaching the last laps, but Alarza’s pace saw him streak ahead for gold. Frenchman Aurelien Lebrun finished behind Alarza for only his second ever podium in an European race and Vicente Hernandez cemented Spanish success with a bronze medal, mirroring Alarza’s finishes following his third place in Quarteira. Click here for full results.

Potchefstroom ATU Duathlon African Championships
South Africa scored big at the ATU Duathlon African Championships on Sunday, sweeping gold and silver in both the men’s and women’s elite races. Andrea Steyn enjoyed a lengthy win by nearly five minutes in the women’s race ahead of Liezl Van Der Merwe.

In the men’s race, Johannes Du Plessis out ran compatriot Travis Johnston in the final 5km run portion to claim the title. Johnston settled in for silver a minute and a half later, while Roger Randrianambinina (MAD) brought it home just over two minutes after Johnston for bronze. Full results are here.