Following on from the excitement of the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Chicago, the Great Britain Team are back in action this weekend at the Sardegna ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships.
76 members of the Great Britain Age-Group Team are set to line up on Cala Ginepro beach on Sunday (26 September) where they will take on the 2-lap 1500m swim before embarking on the challenging mountain bike course, travelling 30km through Biderosa Nature park. Once through T2, athletes will the take on three run laps covering 9.8km along Cala Ginepro and Biderosa's white sanded beaches as well as sections on off-road trails.
Three of Great Britain’s five medallists from 2014 will be lining up again, looking to repeat their podium positions this weekend. Louise Hanley (W45-49) claimed silver in Zittau but moves up an age-group this year so will likely face a host of new competition. Paul Cooper (M40-44) and Simon Osborne (M55-59) will look to build on last year’s bronze medals, with Osborne also stepping up an age-group in 2015.
Marc Preece, Great Britain Age-Group Team Manager commented: “Cross Triathlon as a sport is growing and this season has seen a plethora of new talent. This year at the ETU Cross Triathlon European Championships we saw a host of medals collected by our athletes and with a stronger than ever assembled Great Britain team, I hope to increase the five-strong medal tally we collated in 2014."
There are a further four elite triathletes competing on the course on Saturday; Llewellyn Holmes, Rory Downie, Louise Fox and Jacqueline Slack.
Jez Cox, Great Britain Elite Team Manager, said: “I'm pleased to report from Orosei in sunny Sardinia that our team is acclimatizing well. It’s nearing the end of summer but the island is still very warm by midday; with dry and dusty trails.
“As we found on Wednesday, when it does rain it likes to do it properly! The weather this summer has been responsible for opening up some channels up and down the dusty hill sides, creating a challenging bike course for the riders. The swim however should be pretty straightforward for the athletes and the run, ending on the beach, will make a picturesque end to the season as well.
“Already there's a growing sense of togetherness amongst the Great Britain Age-Group and Elite teams and I’m looking forward to what’s to come this weekend.”
For full details of the event, please visit here. Follow @brittri to follow the action in Sardinia from Saturday morning onwards.
