Triathlon continues at the European Games in Krakow this week, with the action kicking off with the women’s elite race on Tuesday 27 June, a day before the men’s elite race. The event ends on Saturday 1 July with the mixed team relay.
The six triathletes named to represent Team GB make up a wider squad of 168 athletes from across 18 sports. This year’s triathlon competition is the second time the sport has been included in the Games after not being included in 2019’s edition and will see the athletes race at Nova Huta Lake.
In the women’s elite race Sian Rainsley takes her place on the start line after putting in a strong performance at the Europe Triathlon Cup Caorle, earning a second-place finish. Joining her is former Under 23 mixed relay European Champion Sophie Alden, who finished inside the top 10 at Caorle. A late edition to the team sees Hollie Elliott replace the injured Mathias. Elliott comes into the Games having competed four times already this year and is fresh off a third-place finish at 2023 Europe Triathlon Cup Rzeszów.
The trio representing Team GB in the men’s elite race are Hamish Reilly, Barclay Izzard and Connor Bentley. Reilly, who is the youngest member of the team, comes into the race off the back of competing at both the Europe Triathlon Cup Olsztyn and Caorle earlier this year. He’s joined on the start line by Izzard, who boasts 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series experience having raced in Cagliari, Yokohama and Abu Dhabi. Making up the team is current Under 23 World Champion Barclay, who has continued his fine form with back-to-back Europe Triathlon Cup wins in Caorle and Olsztyn to start his 2023 season.
Heading into the Games, Bentley said: “I feel really good, training is in a great place. I have come off the back of some good racing heading into the Games. Everything feels like it’s fallen into place so I’m really looking forward to it.
“To be selected for Team GB at a European Games is amazing. It’s definitely something growing up that I’ve always looked up to, to try and get to that level.”
You can watch all the action live on European Games TV with the women’s race getting under way from 09:00 on 27 June with the men’s race at the same time the following day. The action concludes with the mixed-team relay on 1 July at the same time.
