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European Cup race offers gateway to Rio

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This weekend’s ETU European Cup race in Antalya, Turkey, features thirteen British athletes vying for the opportunity to race on the Rio 2016 Olympic triathlon course at the test event in August.

The standard distance race in Antalya features a sea swim, and flat sea front bike and run courses. Five British women and eight men will start, with the women going off first on Sunday morning (3 May) followed by the men in the afternoon.

Britain’s major international medal winners have already secured their slots at the Rio test event (1-2 August). Jodie Stimpson, Non Stanford, Helen Jenkins and Vicky Holland are set to compete in the women’s race, whilst Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee are set for the men’s event.

This weekend’s races will decide who takes the two remaining women’s places and the four spaces that are open in the men’s race.

The highest placed British female medal winner in Antalya will be automatically selected, and the second slot will be decided by a panel next week.

The men’s race is more open with four slots available. The top two medal winners can secure their places, and the remaining two slots will be selected by a panel.

Emma Pallant demonstrated that she’s in good form by finishing in the top ten at the Discovery World Triathlon Cape Town last Sunday. India Lee also showed good bike and run form with an elite bronze medal at the ETU Duathlon European Championships in Spain last weekend.

In the men’s race, Adam Bowden is the top ranked athlete in the field with Tom Bishop second. Bowden is starting his season, whilst Bishop has the confidence of having had a great ITU World Triathlon Series race in Auckland. Gordon Benson comes in having won the previous ETU European Cup event in Melillia, Spain, two weeks ago.

British Triathlon Performance Director, Brendan Purcell, explained: “We place a great emphasis on the ability to perform under pressure on a given day, so we hope to see some great racing this weekend with the big incentive of going to Rio in August.”

He added: “In previous test events the results have given a strong indication of who might feature at the Olympic Games a year later. It’s an exciting opportunity to be part of that, and I’m looking forward to seeing who puts their hands up this weekend.”

British athletes racing at Antalya ETU Triathlon European Cup, 1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run

Hannah Drewett
India Lee
Emma Pallant  
Heather Sellars
Lucy Smith

Gordon Benson
David Bishop
Thomas Bishop
Adam Bowden
Mark Buckingham
Matthew Sharp          
Grant Sheldon
Philip Wolfe

 

 

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